Peter Garland: The Landscape Scrolls (Starkland)
The maverick composer Peter Garland is an under-recognized pioneer of minimalism, “an avatar of an experimental American tradition” and “a composer of mesmerizing music” (Kyle Gann). This premiere recording of his 50-minute The Landscape Scrolls strongly embodies his distinctiveness. Commissioned by and dedicated to percussionist John Lane, The Landscape Scrolls (2010-2011) depicts the 24-hour day cycle in five movements. Garland remarks the work was influenced by Indian ragas, Japanese haiku poetry, and, especially, the famous Landscape Scroll of the Four Seasons by Japan’s 15th century painter Sesshu. Each of the five movements is a monochromatic study, more about resonance and space than melody or harmony: mid-day (Chinese drums); afternoon (rice bowls); after dark (triangles); late (glockenspiel); early morning (tubular bells). Garland notes that, after the fact, he was likely influenced by his fascination with the single-tonal color paintings of Barnett Newman.