KENNETH FUCHS (b.1956): String Quartet No. 5 "American" (Delray String Quartet), Falling Canons for Piano (Christopher O'Riley), Falling Trio (Trio21).

Description: Fuchs' 'Falling' works are related to his work 'Falling Man', based on Don DeLillo's post-9/11 novel of that name. The piano work explores aspects of the 'Falling Man' theme in contrapuntal combinations dear to the composer, while the trio consists of variations on aspects of the theme. The large-scale, four-movement Quartet is based on a resonant, somewhat Coplandish theme heard at the outset. The theme is explored in music of varying characters that express aspects of the American spirit and character in a discursive modified sonata-form movement, an agitated scherzo, an elegy that incorporates 'Falling Man' references, and a double fugue that exemplifies the composer's characteristic contrapuntal procedures.