Gongs and Bamboos

The first release outside Japan of music by one of the the most original and under- appreciated composers in contemporary music. Born 1900 in the Phillipines, Maceda has been creating remarkable compositions, often for large ensembles of the same instrument for fifty years. This CD brings together three very different pieces from his enormous catalog. The hypnotic Suling-Suling is scored for an ensemble of forty bamboo flutes, Colors Without Rhythm is one of his most dynamic orchestral compositions—performed brilliantly by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the composer. Pagsamba is one of the strangest masses ever written for gongs, voices and bamboos, recorded live in an open air temple in the Phillipines. An incredibly exciting release of rarely heard music by a rarely heard from composer.