Revue Instrumentale Et Electronique

A short suite of electroacoustique works – sound sculptures with some form but still abstract in melody and such. The “Revue” part of the title implies a variety show of sorts, a one-ring circus of movements, developing ideas, restatements in different timbres and contexts. Play this if you want something to send your show off on an eclectic track, but not off the rails. (And there’s a track-by-track review/explication of developments and intent in the liner notes!) Recommended.

*** 1. The various elements of the ensemble parade by, one or a
few at a time, gaily and pleasantly, sometimes a bit
menacingly; a good short track to get a taste
** 2. As contrasted with the quick first track, this takes a bit
more time to unfold. At first, slowly sweeping strings;
then a bit more grating sounds
*** 3. The whole ensemble gets in the act – strings, woods,
brass, rhythm – in a rapidly changing and thrilling whirl of
mostly staccato (as the title “Cuts” implies) contributions;
and holy crap but when the tuba and piano go at it near
the end of the track, you need to get the hell out of their
way
** 4. A slow, relatively static piece of short-ish, parallel sound
structures
** 5. Similar to tk. 4, but shorter in duration, a sort of breather
before …
*** 6. The finale, subtitled “Virtual Dance”; the dance is
constructed in your mind only, from the seemingly cross-
purposes stabs of various subsets, until, near the 5:00
mark, there is a quick fusion of the ensemble, only to
dissolve again in short order, this time into meditative,
off-kilter rhapsody, which, in turn, grows into a plodding
and tiptoeing hybrid rushing toward a chaotic, abrupt
finish. Dare I invoke Steve Reich?