Recording: The New Music Ensemble

Artist: The New Music Ensemble of the Glenn Gould School

Song: In Vain [excerpt] (composer: Georg Friedrich Haas)

Recorded at Conservatory Theatre (Royal Conservatory of Music), December 8, 2011.

The New Music Ensemble of the Glenn Gould School - In Vain [excerpt]

Full review to follow. An excellent night's music from the students of the Conservatory's Glenn Gould School. With composer Haas in attendance, the ensemble navigated the tricky hour-long composition, which was a slowly-unfolding encounter with microtonality. Even more impressive: two sections of the composition (including this extract) were played in total darkness. The light design added an extra layer of drama and structure, and in the later, longer period of darkness, I found myself on the edge of my seat, feeling the tension rachet up as the "silent percussion" of light flashes began. A very impressive night.