Search - Charles Ives, Elliott Carter, William Vacchiano :: Ives: The Unanswered Question; Carter: Concerto for Orchestra

The music of Charles Ives (1874-1954) draws from two basic sources: American folk songs and an active imagination. He was also the first composer to "characterize" New England in music. His showstopper, The Unanswered Question, is famous for its parallel themes that clash--one tonal, one atonal. This version of Question would be enough to recommend the disc, but what's even more interesting is Elliott Carter's Concerto for Orchestra. It's as if Carter wanted to write a concerto for orchestra as if Ives might have done it had he still been alive. It's a difficult work to both listen to and play. --Paul Cook