The concept that led to The Oberlin Concertos was initially hatched in a conversation between pianist and educator Xak Bjerken and a former student, Oberlin Conservatory composition professor Jesse Jones. It was Jones who suggested writing a chamber concerto to be premiered by his friend and mentor, and it was Bjerken-a former longtime member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet and a veteran soloist with the L.A. Philharmonic and other ensembles-who was immediately hooked. Their plan gave rise to another commission-for the chair of Oberlin's Composition Department, Grammy Award-winner Stephen Hartke-and then another, for fellow composition faculty member Elizabeth Ogonek. The resulting works were recorded in three sessions over a two-year span, with Bjerken joining forces with Oberlin's Contemporary Music Ensemble and conductor Timothy Weiss in the conservatory's Clonick Hall studio, in addition to presenting the world- premiere performance of each piece on campus.

Tracklist:

Ship Of State: Hanging Breathless
Ship Of State: In Spite Of False Lights On The Shore
Ship Of State: The Anchors Of Thy Hope
Ship Of State: What Workmen Wrought
Where Are We Now: I. We Have Come A Long Way
Where Are We Now: II. There Was A Mountain
Where Are We Now: III. Microlude
Where Are We Now: IV. I Raised My Head
Where Are We Now: V. A Doubt
Where Are We Now: VI. Microlude
Where Are We Now: VII. Let Memory Be
Persona Mechanica, Op. 57: I. Giocosa
Persona Mechanica, Op. 57: II. Dolente
Persona Mechanica, Op. 57: III. Gioiosa

UPC: 717995637905
Label: Oberlin Music
Release Date: 9.17.21
Format: CD

Hartke / Bjerken / Weiss - Oberlin Concertos (CD)