"I never thought I’d conduct a piece that had an airplane propeller in it. Pushing instrumental boundaries and breaking a few rules - that’s what our ensemble has in common with Antheil. The listener gets a sonic thrill ride and we become more well-rounded as musicians."
PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB) October 02, 2020
With new interpretations of iconic works, rarely performed gems and a bold, modern commissioned piece, Philadelphia Percussion + Piano Project’s new classical album embraces the struggle between human spirit and technological and scientific progress. A quote by Leonard Bernstein is the unifying concept connecting three bold compositions: “I think it is time we learned the lesson of our century: that the progress of the human spirit must keep pace with technological and scientific progress, or that spirit will die.” With power and pathos as reference points, the music lays bare the continuum between the human and the mechanical. Percussion supports and spars with solo flute in Bernstein’s “Halil, Nocturne” (1981), stands tall as a full-fledged chamber partner in Adam Silverman’s commissioned classical compendium piece, “That Radiant Outburst” (2015), and partners with chamber music/small ensemble performance with four percussive pianos in the George Antheil’s “Ballet Mécanique” (1923-24/1953). “Radiant Outbursts: (In)Human Progress” is conducted by Phillip O’Banion, released on BCM&D Records and available on all digital sales platforms. To listen https://philappp.hearnow.com/.
"I never thought I’d conduct a piece that had an airplane propeller in it,” said Phillip O’Banion, Conductor. “Pushing instrumental boundaries and breaking a few ‘rules' - that’s what our ensemble has in common with Antheil. At the end of the day, this kind of adventurous programming provides a sonic thrill ride for listeners and molds us into more complete artists and musicians."
More about “Radiant Outbursts”
In Bernstein’s “Halil, Nocturne” (1981), tonality and atonality express the struggle between life and death and peace and war as he reflects on the loss of a young life. Adam Silverman’s modern “That Radiant Outburst” (2015) reflects upon Antheil’s emphasis on the “forward motion of percussion and incessant rhythmic texture.” Antheil’s “Ballet Mécanique” (1923-24/1953) exemplifies an early mechanistic approach to art, reproducing sounds of modern life, and even including the sounds of an airplane propeller.
About Philadelphia Percussion + Piano Project
Philadelphia Percussion + Piano Project is a rotating chamber ensemble anchored by frequent collaborators Phillip O’Banion and Charles Abramovic. This recording was a natural outgrowth of the annual chamber music recitals that O’Banion performs, and his frequent collaborations with colleagues at the Boyer College of Music and Dance and guests with the Temple University Percussion Ensemble. The Philadelphia Percussion + Piano Project has explored a number of interesting works and looks forward to continuing to celebrate traditional pieces in new ways, while also commissioning and championing new works.
