Works by Stephen Paulus

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Paulus (b. 1949) is of a younger generation of American composers who are finding their own way, their own voice, outside the fads of either post-modernism or minimalism. He is also one of the few composers to believe in the importance of melody. This is all too evident in the engaging Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1986). His Concertante (1989) is more free-wheeling with its tonality. Paulus stretches and contorts it, as a wide number of instruments get their solo parts. His Symphony for Strings (1989) is more conservative, wistful in places, but tonally restless. Very intelligent, listenable music. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra: l. Allegro con fuoco
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra: ll. Cantabile
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra: lll. Allegro di bravura
Concertante
Symphony For Strings: l. Moderato
Symphony For Strings: ll. Allegro vivo
Symphony For Strings: lll. Misterioso
Symphony For Strings: lV. Presto

Amazon.com

Paulus (b. 1949) is of a younger generation of American composers who are finding their own way, their own voice, outside the fads of either post-modernism or minimalism. He is also one of the few composers to believe in the importance of melody. This is all too evident in the engaging Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1986). His Concertante (1989) is more free-wheeling with its tonality. Paulus stretches and contorts it, as a wide number of instruments get their solo parts. His Symphony for Strings (1989) is more conservative, wistful in places, but tonally restless. Very intelligent, listenable music. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Tonality is back in force.......2000-08-25

If you think that modern music is all random notes sounding like computer-generated bleeps and bloops, think again. A lot of music that young composers produce these days is very much concerned with communicating with a large audience. This CD is a good place to start.

Stephen Paulus' language is very much rooted in Stravinsky, Bartok and many of the great composers from the beginning of the 20th century.

The Violin Concerto is in a traditional three-movement structure with a gorgeous slow movement in the middle. This is a superb, well-crafted score.

Concertante, as the name suggests, is a mini Concerto for Orchestra. It's cast in three sections, slow-fast-slow, with the last section using ideas from the first section. I definitely think orchestras will have a ball with this piece.

The Symphony for Strings is cast in four movements, slow-fast-slow-fast. His writing for the strings is marvelous.

Both Shaw and Levi draw oustanding performances from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

This is a must-have CD if you want to start your new music collection.

Track Listings: