Oh, man. Thanks for the cogent report and your insights. I had tickets to this – am a fan of both pieces, especially the Romitelli – but my flight back to NYC was canceled, so I had to miss it. I wasn't around for Kendall's piece, so no basis of comparison there, but I agree with your comment on "difficult music." How to set up a musical context/structure/energy that engages the listener's attention, regardless of the language? That's a composer's fundamental dilemma/task (except when it isn't, as Ned Rorem might have said).
Oh, man. Thanks for the cogent report and your insights. I had tickets to this – am a fan of both pieces, especially the Romitelli – but my flight back to NYC was canceled, so I had to miss it. I wasn't around for Kendall's piece, so no basis of comparison there, but I agree with your comment on "difficult music." How to set up a musical context/structure/energy that engages the listener's attention, regardless of the language? That's a composer's fundamental dilemma/task (except when it isn't, as Ned Rorem might have said).