Of Reminiscences and Reflections, for which
Gunther Schuller won the Pulitzer Prize in 1994, is one of his most somber essays for orchestra. A highly personal work incorporating allusions to past experiences --
Schuller suggests that it is, in a sense, his Enigma Variations -- it is formally laid out in an austere symphonic scheme. The five movements are connected, though they are clearly distinguished by tempo changes and contrasting material.
Schuller's serious purpose is reflected in the work's dark scoring and dense textures, yet the music's stentorian rhetoric and slow harmonic rhythm make the piece seem cumbersome. More appealing in its delicate orchestration and subtler approach, The Past Is in the Present is in four movements, again suggesting a symphonic concept, though the overall effect is that of an extended meditation. Both of these works were composed in memory of the composer's late wife. The Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des Norddeutscher Rundfunk, conducted by the composer, produces lovely sounds at softer dynamics, particularly in the woodwinds and strings. The Organ Concerto is the liveliest work on the disc, and the contrasts between the spry organ part and the declamatory orchestra are dramatically rendered. Organist
James Diaz and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Mario Bernardi, recorded this work in a live performance.