This recording presents three works that trace a compelling artistic arc—from early lyricism to mature, color-rich modernism—by a composer whose music unites structural rigor, expressive intensity, and historical awareness.

At its center is the Violin Concerto (2017–19), a virtuosic and dramatic work inspired by the incandescent playing of Gil Morgenstern. Composed over several years and shaped through live workshops and performances, the concerto balances free atonality with distinct pitch centers drawn from the form generating models of the great violin concertos of the past. Its three movements range from explosive rhythmic drive and cumulative passacaglia forms, through an introspective and glowing Largo, to a dazzling Tarantella that recalls the bravura traditions of the nineteenth century—reimagined through a contemporary lens. The concerto’s lean, transparent orchestration heightens both clarity and intensity, while its lineage quietly acknowledges the influence of Stravinsky and Roger Sessions.

Cantilena for Strings (1965), written during the composer’s first year at Juilliard, reveals an early mastery of line, counterpoint, and expressive restraint. Its interweaving string textures, modal warmth, and gently inflected chromaticism create a music of introspective beauty and lasting appeal. First performed in 1965, Cantilena has since become one of the composer’s most frequently performed orchestral works and remains a favorite with string ensembles.

Completing the program is Ritual, a darkly evocative chamber-orchestra work born from collaboration with the clarinetist Arthur Campbell. Scored for clarinets, strings, and vibraphone, the piece unfolds as a dramatic procession: brooding sonorities give way to virtuosic flourishes, kinetic motion, and a transformed return that dissolves into hushed resonance. Its title and atmosphere reflect a distant kinship with Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps, filtered through an unmistakably personal voice.

Conducted by Tong Chen and Maurice Peress, this recording captures music that is visceral yet refined, intellectually engaging yet immediately communicative in pristine audio that presents this music with highly detailed and powerfully dynamic color and texture.