B's Garlands

Despite the density and seeming uniformity of musical texture in B.'s Garlands (1973), the eight cello parts are graded in difficulty -- from the virtuosic first three to the relatively simple last two. The work is a divertimento written to celebrate the birth of my daughter Johanna. It is music for Johannisnacht, the German equivalent of our magical "Midsummers Night." As in Wagner's similarly situated "Meistersinger," the Night Watchman may be heard now and again, especially following Wagner's concluding direction at the end of Act II -- "Auf dem Horn, sehr lang" (On the horn, very long. . . ).

Recorded on CRI CD 682 Martin Bresnick, Music for Strings.