Just out., June 21, 1996, Page 37, Image 37

ju s t out ▼ ju n * 2 1 . 1 0 9 0 ▼ 37
feeling a little
A N ew P antheon
fruity?
Check out this engaging sampler of the finest in modern
music, by U.S. composers who just happen to be gay
▼
by Bob Roehr
then t r y the latest flavored
condoms and lubricants
including
grape, banana
and strawberry.
CONDOM CAPERS
531 5W Broadway
2 4 1 -0 3 0 3
TW ENTY-THIRD AVENUE
BO C
) •
KS
1015 N W 23rd A venue, Portland, Oregon 97210, (503) 2 2 4 -5 0 9 7
Monday-Friday 9 :3 0 - 8 pm □ Saturday 10 am - 8 pm □ Sunday 11 am - 4 pm
Clockwise from left: Chester Biscardi, Robert Maggio, Conrad Cummings, David Del Tredici and
Ned Rorem (center)
the best of Northern Californian music in a com­
our eye is caught by the packaging of
position by the septuagenarian composer and a
nubile, half-naked young men à la
superb performance by the Kronos Quartet.
Out Classics or Frank Browning’s
Then there is Chester Biscardi’s sensuous
book jackets. But the music inside
Incitation to Desire: Tango, and Robert Maggio’s
this CD is much deeper than the pho­
Desire-Movement.
tos might imply, and, in its own way,
more
Those who enjoy compositions for voice will
enjoyable.
find plenty to sample. Soprano Phyliss Bryn-
Out Classics scoured the serious music pan­
theon of dead guys to throw together cuts com­ Julson beautifully sings four of Ned Rorem’s art
songs. Conrad Cummings offers a duet: “In the
posed by those who probably were, might have
Department of Love.” Chris DeBlasio and Lee
Hoiby both turn to Walt Whitman for stirring
songs of manly love.
A 23-page booklet allows ample room for
discussion of the composers’ work and lives. “I
personally feel there is no artistic difference be­
tween ‘gay’ music (music written by gay compos­
been, or whom somebody wishes were homo­
ers) versus ‘straight’ music (music written by,
sexual. There is no such ambivalence with Gay
presumably, ‘straight’ composers),” offers com­
American Composers: all eleven of these men are
poser Robert Helps. That
very much contemporaries
and attest to their taste in
In this instance the selec­ thought is echoed by others
in insightful notes on mu­
bed partners.
tions
are
both
old
and
new,
sic, homosexuality and the
The 20 cuts on the disc
creative
process.
share little else. They are
instrumental
and
vocal.
Aurally and in print, Gay
akin to what used to be
called a “sampler,” a com­ They share an accessibility, American Composers is a
wonderful primer to some
pilation of excerpts from
a
fealty
to
lyricism
in
the
of
the finest contemporary
new releases that a com­
pany would assemble to
mainstream tradition of music; the composers just
happen to be gay and
entice you to buy the full
recording. In this instance western music, while at the American. In the best tradi-
the selections are both old Same time nudging it along ¡ion of a sampler, the CD is
°
°
° leading me to purchase oth-
and new, instrumental and
with late-20th-century
ers by several of the com­
vocal. They share an acces­
posers.
sibility, a fealty to lyricism
sensibilities.
in the mainstream tradition
Gay American Composers,
of western music, while at
CRI; $15.99 CD.
the same time nudging it along with late-20th-
CRI, Composers Recordings Inc., is a nonprofit
century sensibilities.
organization that fo r four decades has champi­
I was particularly taken by selections from
oned the recording o f contemporary music.
Lou Harrison’s String Quartet Set. It represents
Y
T h e A d L ib #
]
fM
Boy From NAv York City
B e s s ie B a n k s
fi
Jr ‘
Go Now
B a re n a k e d Lad ies
*
M
What A Good Roy
1
T h e B u t t e r f l ie s
dp
Gee Baby Gee
l '
&
I
J u d y G a r la n d
Zing Went The Strings O f M y Heart. Over The (Rainbow
P a t t i L a B e lie & T h e B lu e b e ll? »
**
Down The Aisle
T h e S h a n g r i- L a s
Give Him A Great Big Kiss, Sophisticated Boom,
Remember (Walkin’ In The Sand)
T h e S h ir e lle s
Ooh Poo Pah Doo
,
Plus a brand new remix of
The Shangri-Las Give Him A Great Big Kiss
(Hani’s Kiss Mix) by DJ Hani
NATIONAL
FILM PREMI ERE: JULY
26TH
STONEWALL
Music Fro m A Revolution.
http www sony com
Colum bia Reg U S Par 4 Tm Off M arca R e g 'str.id a
Available on
Columbia Records