EIGHTH BLACKBIRD; "Beginnings" (Cedille Records)*** 1/2

Among contemporary music ensembles, eighth blackbird is certainly one of the greatest. Founded in 1996, the sextet consists of imaginative musicians who are obviously eager to raise the bar in performances of 20th and 21st century music.

The six (Molly Alicia Barth, flute; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinet; Matt Albert, violin; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Matthew Duvall, percussion; Lisa Kaplan, piano) infuse their playing with sensitivity and thoughtfulness that translates into keen and insightful interpretations.

"Beginnings" is eighth blackbird's second album for Cedille Records. The CD consists of two works, Daniel Kellogg's "Divinum Mysterium" and George Crumb's "Vox Balaenae."

Kellogg is a young composer, still under 30. There are several influences evident in "Divinum Mysterium." In particular, one can hear the mysticism of John Tavener in the Prelude (sung by Chanticleer) and the creative minimalism of Philip Glass and Terry Riley throughout the subsequent five movements.

"Divinum Mysterium" is a well-written piece that makes effective use of the ensemble's instrumental colors and combinations. And eighth blackbird plays it in a way that captures the rhythmic intensity, drive and spontaneity of the music.

Crumb can without question be considered the father of new music at a time when it still meant being an original thinker in terms of exploring new means of expression, both through untraditional uses of traditional instruments as well as through the introduction of unconventional ones. Thanks to Crumb's adventurous creative spirit, "Vox Balaenae," written in 1971, is still as potent, compelling and fresh today as it was when it was new nearly 35 years ago.

The three members of eighth blackbird on "Vox Balaenae" (Barth, Photinos and Kaplan) give a stunningly effective performance, capturing the strikingly vivid, yet otherworldly sparse, soundscape that Crumb creates. This is one of the most exceptional performances of Crumb's groundbreaking work on CD.

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E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com