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February,
2007
John The Revelator is an astonishing composition that breaks down stylistic
differences and re-constructs them at the same time that Mr. Kline honors choral
vocal traditions that go back centuries and still have the power to resonate and
uplift today. A blending of styles as diverse as Gregorian Chant, Bach,
Machaut, American hymns, blues, Brian Wilson, Aaron Copland, and Samuel Barber,
it is all seamlessly brought together in an organic whole, with the finest sense
of compositional craftmanship. This work is utterly moving as it progresses and
coalesces Baroque counterpoint with more modernistic tendencies of writing,
i.e.,hints of minimalism, blues, and post modernism. Mr. Kline writes
beautifully for the male vocal sextet Lionheart, playing to their individual and
ensemble strengths with elegance, refinement and wit. The texts are drawn from
American hymns, the Book of Jeremiah, Samuel Beckett, the poet David Shapiro and
bluesman Blind Willie Johnson. The fact that Mr. Kline can draw from these
disparate elements and create a harmonic work of such magnitude, in such an
organic fashion is cause for celebration. One hungers for an official studio
recording/documentation of this extraordinary work. Lionheart performed these
works with consummate energy and commitment, their blend a sublime evocation of
the texts. Kudos to the staff at Joe’s Pub for a wonderful mic’ing of these
superb voices. The string quartet Ethel were their usually fastidious and
committed selves, providing incisive support, when called upon to do so, both to
Lionheart and Mr. Kline’s music. -- John
Hammel
From
http://www.homegrownradionj.com/Blogs/index.shtml
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