Joan Tower: Black Topaz

Joan Tower's music makes some demands on listeners, but it always rewards your attention. These are mostly pictorial pieces, with visual imagery in their content and titles. For example, you might not be able to see the exact image Tower describes just from hearing the String Quartet Night Fields, but the impression of rippling wheat in the darkness makes great sense after you've heard the piece. For listeners with even a mild sense of adventure, I recommend Tower's music highly. And if you like to hear music that challenges the players even more than the listeners, you'll definitely enjoy hearing what these fine musicians do to bring Tower's ideas to life. --Leslie Gerber