This is Rosenblum's second collection of instrumental and vocal compositions on CD. The new recording, "Sundry Notes," features the piece "Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music," a song cycle for four singers and two pianists, based on texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
The six-movement work is performed by soprano Joanne Lessner, mezzo-soprano Misa Iwama, tenor James Archie Worley and baritone Roosevelt Credit, plus pianists Lora Tchekoratova and Ofra Yitzhaki.
Other works on the CD include "Will You Please Be Serious?" for string quartet (performed by the highly acclaimed, genre-defying group Ethel), and "Triple Delights with Scallions," a trio for flute, tuba and marimba.
The disc also features the premiere recording of Rosenblum's virtuosic solo piano piece "Excursion," performed by Lora Tchekoratova. Other contributing performers include Helen Campo (flute), Marcus Rojas (tuba), Makoto Nakura (marimba), Haim Avitsur (trombone) and the Herrick Trio.
The CD is available directly from Albany Records (albanyrecords.com), as well as from amazon.com and tower.com. Rosenblum's previous disc of original music, "Impetuosities," featured New York Philharmonic principal trumpeter Philip Smith performing the title piece, a work for trumpet and piano.
Rosenblum has led the orchestras for 14 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, including Wonderful Town, Miss Saigon and Falsettos. In addition to Bush Is Bad, the hit Off-Broadway political satirical musical revue, he has been represented on the New York stage by Fermat's Last Tango, which played at the York Theatre Company in 2000, and received subsequent European productions. Both shows have spawned original cast recordings, and Fermat's Last Tango is also available on DVD from the Clay Mathematics Institute (www.claymath.org).
The composer told Playbill.com that his poke at George W. Bush, seen in New York City cabarets and preserved on CD, has been retired, since the leader is becoming obsolete.
Rosenblum is currently composing music for a new ballet, "Cut to the Chase," for the new dance troupe, The Chase Brock Experience.
