POSTCARDS FROM ARLINGTON – Music by PASQUALE TASSONE and LESLIE HURWITZ

Description

This is the first release from Amethyst Records.

Arlington, Massachusetts, was where I took my last year of high school as an exchange student in 1982-83.
The two composers represented on this CD, Leslie Hurwitz (1928 – 2023) and Pasquale Tassone (b. 1949) are/were enduring friendships originating from that year. Throughout the years they have written a number of works for me.

The making of this CD had been in my mind for several years, and it is a fitting tribute to these two wonderful men that Amethyst Records’ first release should be devoted to their music. There are pieces for violin and piano, solo violin and solo piano.

The choice of pianist was obvious: Einar Røttingen, the superb pianist from Bergen, Norway, who has been my musical cohort and good friend since 1985.
I am thrilled by all the music on this CD. Although originating from only two composers, the range of expression is very wide, from the romantic to the avant-garde, from the contemplative to the extroverted, from the philosophical to music for immediate enjoyment…

Do not be put off by the, perhaps, unfamiliar names of these composers. This is, first and foremost, music of very high quality, by turns delightful and challenging, always engaging and stimulating.

Ricardo Odriozola, March 7th 2011 (rev. August 2025)