The Lyris Quartet, described as 'radiant' and 'exquisite' by Mark Swed of the LA Times, is a sought-after ensemble on the West Coast, known for premiering new works and collaborating with contemporary composers.
Composer Biography
Ben Johnston, born in Macon, Georgia, in 1926, was a major figure in the Midwestern new-music world in the 1970s and '80s, comparable to John Cage or Lou Harrison.
Recording & Production
This album marks the Lyris Quartet's debut recording with MicroFest Records, though they have previously recorded for Toccata Classics, ARS, and Naxos.
Composer Biography
Ben Johnston worked as an assistant to Harry Partch, an outsider composer who developed his own 43-tone scale and built custom instruments, after encountering Partch's book 'Genesis of a Music' in 1949.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ben Johnston was a visionary who believed musicians could master new difficulties in harmonic and rhythmic complexity, yet his music maintained an earthy tunefulness that resonated with audiences.
Compositional Technique
Ben Johnston's microtonal notation for just intonation uses an expanded system of accidentals, including sevens, arrows, pluses, and minuses, added to sharps and flats.
