Michael Nicolella: SHARD

Editorial Reviews
The Washington Post
Since the passing of Andres Segovia the guitar world has needed an advocate... perhaps Michael Nicolella is that person.

Album Description
Classical guitarist Michael Nicolella's new CD Shard is a stylistic follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2000 release Push. Shard features an eclectic mix of new music for classical and electric guitar including Nicolella's Guitar Concerto for classical guitar and orchestra performed with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Spain. Also included is Jacob ter Veldhuis groundbreaking genre bending piece for electric guitar and boombox - GRAB IT!; modern masterworks by Elliott Carter and Steve Reich (an orchestration of Reich's Electric Counterpoint for a plethora of varied electric and acoustic guitars); as well as premier recordings of music by Joshua Kohl, Christopher DeLaurenti and David Mesler.

Michael Nicolella: SHARD, Music, Steve Reich; Elliott Carter; Michael Nicolella; Jacob ter Veldhuis; Joshua Kohl; Christopher DeLaurenti; David Mesler, Anthony Spain, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Michael Nicolella, An eclectic mix of contemporary music for classical and electric guitar, (including works by Steve Reich and Elliott Carter), from critically acclaimed classical guitar virtuoso Michael Nicolella along with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.

Michael Nicolella: SHARD
Average customer rating:

In a word . . . outstanding!!

Michael Nicolella: SHARD
Michael Nicolella , Northwest Symphony Orchestra , Anthony Spain , and Steve Reich; Elliott Carter; Michael Nicolella; Jacob
Manufacturer: Gale
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Michael Nicolella: PUSH

Transit

ASIN: B0009JVNGW
Release Date: 2005-05-01

Tracks:

Toccata and Fugue - Michael Nicolella
I. Forceful and Driving (Guitar Concerto) - Michael Nicolella
II. Pensive (Guitar Concerto) - Michael Nicolella
III. Lilting (Guitar Concerto) - Michael Nicolella
IV. Joyous and Driving (Guitar Concerto) - Michael Nicolella
Surfacing Through the Mire - Michael Nicolella
I. Fast (Electric Counterpoint) - Steve Reich
II. Slow (Electric Counterpoint) - Steve Reich
III. Fast (Electric Counterpoint) - Steve Reich
Shard - Elliott Carter
GRAB IT! - Jacob ter Veldhuis
Ode Tounami - Joshua Kohl
grey angel - Christopher DeLaurenti
Lullaby - David Paul Mesler

Product Description

Classical guitarist Michael Nicolella's new CD Shard is a stylistic follow-up to his critically aclaimed 2000 release Push. Shard features an eclectic mix of new music for classical and electric guitar including Nicolella's Guitar Concerto performed with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Spain. Also included is Jacob ter Veldhuis groundbreaking piece for electric guitar and boombox - GRAB IT!; modern masterworks by Elliot Carter and Steve Reich (an orchestration of Reich's Electric Counterpoint for a wide mix of acoustic and electric guitars); as well as premier recordings of music by Joshua Kohl, Christopher DeLaurenti and David Mesler.

Customer Reviews:

In a word . . . outstanding!!.......2005-06-04

I'm a big fan of Michael Nicolella, and this latest CD further confirms his incredible musicianship and broad vision. Like his CD "Push," "Shard" offers excellent recordings of myriad works that taken together create a dramatic sweep. The CD begins with three of Nicolella's own compositions, all of which highlight his brilliant technique as a player and his lyrical gifts as a composer. His "Toccata and Fugue" is a terrific piece (formally tight and inventive throughout), and in particular, I loved the gorgeous Passacaglia movement from the "Guitar Concerto" as well as his solo guitar piece that follows,"Surfacing Through the Mire." After that, Nicolella offers a revelatory and brand new multi-tracked version of Steve Reich's classic "Electric Counterpoint." There are other commercial recordings of the work available, but in my opinion, none of them best this recording. This piece and "GRAB IT!" by Jacob Ter Velhuis totally rock! I can't think of many guitarists today (or for that matter, many players on ANY instrument) who can handle rocking out on electric guitar on a piece like Ter Velhuis's, and then can switch to classical guitar and nail Elliott Carter's dissonant and virtuosic little masterpiece, "Shard." That Nicolella can traverse these musical landscapes without even breaking a sweat gives you an idea of his immense range as a musician. The CD concludes with its darkest composition, Christopher DeLaurenti's "grey angel," before giving way to David Paul Mesler's lovely and restive "Lullaby." All the individual tracks are great, but like Nicolella's previous CD "Transit," I think the drama he builds up in "Shard" might best appreciated by listening to the CD all the way through. It's a heck of a ride.

If you're looking for the umpteenth recording of standard classical guitar repertoire, then this CD may not be for you. But if you have curious ears and a range of musical tastes, I think you will totally love "Shard." Like Matt Haimovitz on cello, Nicolella is breaking ground on guitar and engaging new audiences; these are truly musicians of the new century. As for "Shard" . . . GRAB IT!

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