A word for James Wilding
I spent my drive in the AM getting to know the music of James Wilding from the University of Akron, and well worth knowing it is. You could call it "neo-impressionist" but not in a Gallic way; it's maybe more akin to Szymanowski or Griffes, but doesn't really sound like either (unsurprisingly, given it's 80 years later). Nice sounds, clear but not simple-minded construction, subtly dramatic.
I don't talk much about local composers because they're mostly Guild members and politically it's risky, especially if I don't like them. But we haven't voted James in yet (that's WHY I was listening).
One thing though: I HATE HATE HATE composer websites that blare music at you when you open them up. I often listen to Naxos in the morning before we open and forget to turn my sound off, and suddenly in the library the staff needs shushing. You have been warned.
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