Grant Chu Covell

Managing Editor Grant Chu Covell works in the Boston area. He once worked for a global technology company that made hardware which Xenakis and Babbitt used to good effect. He was the publisher of the brilliant but forgotten The Periodic Journal of Bibliography (1990-95), and his music reviews have appeared in EAR Magazine and InMusic. His instrumental and electroacoustic music has been performed in the U.S. and abroad, and he has shared many CDs of his music with family and friends (one piece was recorded in a refrigerator). A short article about a composition he wrote for piano and tape can be found in the Csound Magazine. Two electroacoustic works have appeared in commercial compilations: Presence III and The Door Project. A recent CD can be found here, and another is in preparation. A long departed family dog’s name was taken from a character in Wagner’s Ring.

Pièces de Clavecin 9: Older and Newer Rameau

Esfahani’s complete Rameau moves towards the front of a crowded field. It’s possible to hear Esfahani maturing as does Rameau.

Pièces de Clavecin 9: Older and Newer Rameau

Esfahani’s complete Rameau moves towards the front of a crowded field. It’s possible to hear Esfahani maturing as does Rameau.

Beethoven and Schnittke in Boston with the Danish String Quartet

At Jordan Hall in Boston this past Saturday, the Danish String Quartet offered spotless performances of two Beethoven quartets. There’s not much that can stand up to Beethoven, but the group made a persuasive and unflustered case for Schnittke.

Beethoven and Schnittke in Boston with the Danish String Quartet

At Jordan Hall in Boston this past Saturday, the Danish String Quartet offered spotless performances of two Beethoven quartets. There’s not much that can stand up to Beethoven, but the group made a persuasive and unflustered case for Schnittke.

Love and Lust, Near and Far

As a Christmas Eve grouping, L’Amour de Loin and Salome are an unthinkable pair, but those were the operas on the roster this past December 24, 2016.

Love and Lust, Near and Far

As a Christmas Eve grouping, L’Amour de Loin and Salome are an unthinkable pair, but those were the operas on the roster this past December 24, 2016.

Piano Factory 18.

If you like your Bach straight up, then Chan’s minimalist constellations will not amuse. Chan doesn’t provide the familiar melody, but instead organizes or jumbles the chorale’s pitch materials into chowder, deeply obscuring Bach’s poignant original.

Piano Factory 18.

If you like your Bach straight up, then Chan’s minimalist constellations will not amuse. Chan doesn’t provide the familiar melody, but instead organizes or jumbles the chorale’s pitch materials into chowder, deeply obscuring Bach’s poignant original.

String Theory 23. / EA Bucket 24: Violin, sometimes with tape

There will be those who get the pun in Rynes’ title, but I wasn’t one of them. Rynes’ nine-item program presents old and new friends.

String Theory 23. / EA Bucket 24: Violin, sometimes with tape

There will be those who get the pun in Rynes’ title, but I wasn’t one of them. Rynes’ nine-item program presents old and new friends.

EA Bucket 23.

Herbert is contemplating the experience of listening and ruminating upon the Adagio of Mahler’s unfinished Tenth.

EA Bucket 23.

Herbert is contemplating the experience of listening and ruminating upon the Adagio of Mahler’s unfinished Tenth.

String Theory 22: Ensembles with Piano

Plowright and the Szymanowski Quartet offer a second release of Polish chamber music.

String Theory 22: Ensembles with Piano

Plowright and the Szymanowski Quartet offer a second release of Polish chamber music.

Mostly Symphonies 30.

In 16 intentionally disjointed tracks, with internal repetitions and drop-kicked transitions, Play.list unspools like a pocket Strauss tone poem tracked randomly.

Mostly Symphonies 30.

In 16 intentionally disjointed tracks, with internal repetitions and drop-kicked transitions, Play.list unspools like a pocket Strauss tone poem tracked randomly.

Mostly Symphonies 29: Keep Going, Keep Going… Two new Berio Sinfonias

Berio the finisher and arranger was asked to orchestrate several Mahler songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Knowing Sinfonia lurks around the corner, these songs take on an innocent, even archaic quality when we know the postmodern age is just moments away.

Mostly Symphonies 29: Keep Going, Keep Going… Two new Berio Sinfonias

Berio the finisher and arranger was asked to orchestrate several Mahler songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Knowing Sinfonia lurks around the corner, these songs take on an innocent, even archaic quality when we know the postmodern age is just moments away.

Mostly Symphonies 28: Untangling Schnittke

For a full 48 minutes, there’s nothing ambiguous here, nothing that suggests its composer could command many styles and would with apparent frivolity combine them in the same work.

Mostly Symphonies 28: Untangling Schnittke

For a full 48 minutes, there’s nothing ambiguous here, nothing that suggests its composer could command many styles and would with apparent frivolity combine them in the same work.

String Theory 21: Mostly Viola(s)

Royer is an inspired Scelsi performer. He plays as if improvising, easing into Scelsi’s languid microtones with grace notes flicked away like involuntary twitches.

String Theory 21: Mostly Viola(s)

Royer is an inspired Scelsi performer. He plays as if improvising, easing into Scelsi’s languid microtones with grace notes flicked away like involuntary twitches.

Piano Factory 17.

Craven provides only pitches and permits repetitions, octave displacement, variable dynamics, etc.

Piano Factory 17.

Craven provides only pitches and permits repetitions, octave displacement, variable dynamics, etc.