Music Of Justin Dello Joio

Contemporary classical. Lots of clusters, intriguing counterpoint, super tight compositions, wide stylistic range. Dynamic performances, especially with the articulations - on track 3 the pianist's staccato is so crisp it sounds like he's plucking the strings. Exciting music, lots of feeling.

*1. Fast exuberant dense, clusters, up and down fast. sounds a little angry.
*2. Still, eerie, dark, clusters / nice chords, some almost-impressionist scale flourishes.
3-6: piano trio, played damn well.
*3. Obstinate march, detailed staccatos on all instruments, dissonant.
4. Slow, romantic harmonies and feel.
*5. Disjointed out-of-synch march - very varied track.
6. Almost a lullaby, slow gentle rocking, consonant.
7. Theme and variations - the theme sounds dry and serial, the variations sound like Chopin etudes but more complicated. Takes patience... It's nice to hear the very tight theme developed.
8. Starts slow, with the theme from track 7 audible. Between new age, serialist, and romantic - seems like it would be hard for any performer to interpret. Exciting pacing - varies from slowing almost to a stop to gushing with descending runs. Clear climax then slow and tense ending. Ends with ~0:25 left.
*9. Lush, mercurial, switching between sparse and dense/fast. Nice detailed articulations. Romantic but not vapid.