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BARRY: Orchestral Works
Robert Houlihan
BARRY: Orchestral Works
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (6) - Disc #1

BARRY: Orchestral Works by Robert Houlihan

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Robert Houlihan
Title: BARRY: Orchestral Works
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Marco-Polo
Release Date: 8/3/2009
Genre: Classical
Style: Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 636943500620

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Album Description
BARRY: Orchestral Works by Robert Houlihan
 

CD Reviews

Process music
Jeff Dunn | Alameda, California United States | 11/25/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)

"Barry's music is more interesting for the passion he invests in constructing it rather than the displeasure I experienced hearing it. Once he captures source material, of his own or others, he reworks it according to specified machinations until it retains nary a smidgeon of the original character.



In the program notes, fellow Irish composer Kevin Volans tries to elevate Barry's "Chevaux-de-frix" to " ... the most powerful and overpowering work of recent times--a latter-day 'Rite of Spring' in which the listener feels more like the victim than a witness." The piece is indeed an ordeal: relentlessly dissonant, driving, cold, and structurally unsatisfying, it's an item for aural masochists. Nevertheless, it and the other pieces are worth hearing--once--to see if this Process music is your cup of very bitter tea.



For the latter-day "Rite of Spring," Christopher Rouse's "Gorgon" is a far superior candidate. I'd recommend waiting for its reissue rather than making Barry's acquaintance in this recording."