What recordings do you buy and why? What recordings have you listened to recently? Aaron Jay Kernis, Composer, New Music Advisor, Minnesota Orchestra

Aaron Jay Kernis Photo by Daniel Vogel, courtesy G. Schirmer, Inc.

Between visiting Tower, Music Boulevard on the Web and BMG Music Service (this is not paid advertising) I’ve recently seen about 6 recordings pass into my consciousness, but only briefly so far , since as I’m busily composing at the moment and can’t listen to anything right now, these will have to wait for my summer listening. So I can’t tell you anything about them yet, but here they are:

J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 7 dir. by Ton Koopman
Pierre Boulez: Repons etc.
Arvo Pärt: Kanon Pokajanen
Michael Gordon: Weather
Ernst Krenek: Symphony # 2
Stephen Hartke: Orchestral Works

I’m very curious about what my colleagues and older composers have written and are putting on disc, jointly out of my own desire to know and my mandate as new music advisor at the Minnesota Orchestra. I’ve always felt it important to hear as much new music in concert and have it at home for future reference.