Matthew H. Fields: 'KABALA.' (Album title and one of six chamber works). MMC 2087. TT=57:18.


Matthew H. Fields is a talented Michigan-based composer especially well-known to those who frequent on-line classical music groups. The works on his recently released CD combine a vivid awareness of historical perspective with mastery of a broad palette of harmonic styles. A number of these pieces celebrate Fields' Semitic heritage by employing Jewish liturgical melodies as basis material, yet in all instances the borrowed tunes fit well with whatever harmonic language is used. (Subscribe to NMC and get the rest of this intriguing review by David Cleary)