Axelrod: The Heart Revived

Featuring

Lawrence Axelrod
J. Lawrie Bloom
Marcus Ostermiller
Julia Bentley
Scott Ramsay
Ensemble Nouvelle Époque

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Performer Biography

Marcus Ostermiller, the pianist on this album, specializes in performing works by American composers who died of complications from AIDS during the late twentieth century.

Performer Biography

J. Lawrie Bloom, the bass clarinetist on this album, was invited by Sir Georg Solti to join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1980 as Clarinet and Solo Bass Clarinet.

Composition History

The piece "Common Threads" was written after composer Lawrence Axelrod viewed the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt for a second time.

Composer's Artistic Vision

For his piece "Night of Stars," composer Lawrence Axelrod decided to write the text himself, marking the first time he had ever done so.

Composer Biography

Lawrence Axelrod, the composer, pianist, and conductor on this album, has had his musical activities take him around the United States, Europe, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Recording & Production

The pieces "Pos Metaphonos," "Night of Stars," and "Saisons" were recorded on June 2, 2015, at the Music Institute of Chicago.

Compositional Technique

In "Four Postcards," composer Lawrence Axelrod uses extended techniques inside the piano to evoke ancient Egypt and the temples in the Valley of the Kings.