Search - William Ferris, Justin Kolb :: William Ferris: Solo Piano Music

Well-Crafted Neoclassic American Piano Music

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 02/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"William Ferris (1937-2000) was primarily known as a choral conductor and composer; his William Ferris Chorale, based in Chicago, was well-known and respected. He died suddenly in 2000 while conducting the Verdi 'Requiem.' Not specifically known for his piano works, we here have an entire CD devoted to them by pianist Justin Kolb who specializes in recent American works for piano; Kolb has previously recorded a splendid CD of music by Robert Starer. The big piece here is the 21-minute Sonata (1975-1976) in three movements. It is reminiscent of Prokofiev in its earnest fervor leavened by wit. There are lyrical moments, for certain, but the main impression here is of granitic blocks of harmony amidst free polyphony. The finale contains a driving fugue that reminds one of the similar movement in Barber's Piano Sonata. 'A Suffolk Memory' is an eight-piece 22-minute suite that recaptures impressions gained during the appearance by the William Ferris Chorale at the Aldeburgh Festival at the invitation of Sir Peter Pears in 1986. Particularly effective are the misty 'The Sea, at Dusk,' the bustling 'High Street, Noon,' the serene 'Sunday Morning, from the Terrace' (which puts one in mind of the Sunday morning scene in 'Peter Grimes'), 'The Red House' (which borrows a motif from Grimes's 'In dreams I've built myself some kindlier home') and the celebratory 'The Maltings, Snape: Festival House Fanfares.' This suite is written in a rather more impressionistic vein than the Sonata.'Epitaph, for an Artist' (1999) was written in memory of long-time DePaul University piano professor, Herman Shapiro, and was commissioned by this CD's pianist, Justin Kolb. Again, there are perhaps more impressionist and bitonal harmonies than in the Sonata, and there is also a heartfelt theme that recurs and which we are told borrows from Ferris's own 'Corridors of Light,' a setting of Stephen Spender's 'I think continually of those who were truly great' whose lines continue: 'Through corridors of light where the hours are suns / Endless and singing.' A touchingly lyrical tribute. Following are two small pieces, 'Serenade, for a Morning Room' (1984) and 'Tune for Ten' (1987) which were occasional pieces written for friends; the latter was for John von Rhein, music critic of the Chicago Tribune, on the tenth anniversary of his tenure at the newspaper; the piece is 10 measures long and in 10/4 time. Finally, there is the 9-minute 'Sonatina' (1962), the earliest piece here, written for Ferris's graduation from the American Conservatory of Music. It reminds one of that earlier graduation piece, Prokofiev's 'Classical Symphony.' Although poured into classical forms it is light-hearted in the French spirit of, say, Poulenc or Ravel, and is utterly charming. Of note is the long-lined melody of the slow second movement which recalls the middle movement of Ravel's G major concerto with its limpid polyphony. The finale is a swinging 6/8 whistling tune over a gently rocking bass line.The performances and here are thoughtful, respectful, beautiful. This CD is a fitting tribute to pianist Kolb's friend, William Ferris. Of particular note are the excellent notes by Ferris's long-time partner and collaborator, John Vorrasi. The recorded sound is truthful and unobtrusive.TT= 63:43Scott Morrison"