Eric Stokes (1930-99) was a sort of midwestern Lou Harrison without the Orientalism, at least on evidence here. Susquehannas, The Pickpocket is a Lyrical Tivo, and Whittlings are all inventively scored for keyboards, percussion, and various reed instruments (in the last work a solo saxophone). The Pickpocket also quotes folksong melodies now and again, but only as a springboard for Stokes’ own inventive musical ideas and treatments. Completely undogmatic in approach, this is contemporary music that manages to be both consistent in style, unashamedly characterful, and fun to hear. And you don’t encounter that particular combination every day!
There is an exception: Tintinnabulary consists of 11 minutes of bell sounds that lack both point and appeal, but the work does serve to emphasize the composer’s questing spirit and range of compositional procedure. The performances are all exceptionally fine–particularly the multiple-reed-instrument playing of soloist Michael Lowenstern–and the sonics are typically top-notch. We need to hear much more of Stokes: a personal voice, considerable warmth, and a great sense of humor shine through this music and it deserves attention beyond that of mere followers of the late-20th-century avant-garde or the terminally curious.
