Elfman: Violin Concerto, 'Eleven Eleven' - Hailstork: Piano Concerto No. 1

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This works on live release by the Buffalo Philharmonic and conductor JoAnn Falletta have a satisfying mixture of similarity and difference. The Violin Concerto "Eleven Eleven" (the title refers to the fact that the concerto has 1,111 measures, and also that the composer's name means "Eleven Man" in German) of Danny Elfman and the Piano Concerto No. 1 of Adolphus Hailstork inhabit a similar stylistic universe -- broad, tonal, accessible -- but the two works also reflect their composers' backgrounds. Elfman seems to be following John Williams in grafting styles of classical composers, in this case, Shostakovich and perhaps Prokofiev, onto the cinematic music that has made him a film-score favorite. The noirish sound of the Batman score seems to be a special influence here. The work was written for violinist Sandy Cameron, who has had an exclusive contract to perform it and handles its considerable technical difficulties elegantly. Perhaps the stronger work of the pair is Hailstork's concerto, which has an attractive concision in its three movements as compared to Elfman's four. Hailstork employs African American rhythms and sonorities, but they are simply part of his stylistic arsenal rather than a thoroughgoing template. Sample one of his outer movements to hear a fresh way of integrating African American influences into a broader modern style. Hailstork also poses considerable technical challenges to his soloist, and both Cameron and pianist Stewart Goodyear may be welcome discoveries for some listeners. As for Falletta, contemporary music of this kind is her bread and butter, and she has molded the Buffalo Philharmonic into a crack unit. An entertaining and superbly played program.

© James Manheim /TiVo