David Starobin: New Dance

This disc was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance without Orchestra."
NEWDANCE, for solo guitar, is similar to other collections of short works devoted to a particular genre--such as the 'Waltz Project' and 'Tango Project'--where a number of composers of all stripes were commissioned to write a short piece for the designated performing forces. This gave birth to tiny masterpieces of wit by such formidable creators as Milton Babbitt and Roger Sessions. Babbitt is included again along with the equally forbidding Elliot Carter, in brilliant miniatures that are as much about the idea of dance as actual dances. Cheek by jowl, as it were, are pieces of elaborate whimsy such as Michael Starobin's imaginary score to a cartoon by R. Crumb or William Bland's 'Rag Nouveau.' From Scandinavia come serene miniatures by Ruders and Norgaard and Harvey's 'Sufi Dance' is a brilliant exploration of the percussive possibilities of the guitar. This is a splendid examination of the contemporary guitar and its possibilities. One's only regret is that it is not longer.
REVIEWS:
International Record Review (5/00, pp.80-81) - "...The whole project simply stands as a delighful, harmonious (in both senses) and vivacious recording, presenting a fresh, but by no means trivial, perspective on modern guitar music. Starobin's playing is lively and fluent..."
Billboard (11/27/99) - Recommended