I make a point of listening to new music, and I hear a lot of it.
Sturgeon's Law notwithstanding, there is some good stuff out there, and
I often find things that are at least interesting.  Once in a great while
I find myself abashed in the presence of a masterpiece.  Two months ago,
David Avshalomov gave a one-man concert of recent work in Santa Monica.
I was not able to attend, and it was a long time before David could send
me a recording.  Last night I was finally able to sit quietly and give
the music my full attention.  I have always admired David's music, but
this concert concluded with the best that I have yet heard from him.  It
is a three-movement work for piano and string quintet titled "Trotzky's
Train." It is solemn, powerful, and immensely moving.  I find in it the
kind of depth and emotional honesty I sense in the best of Shostakovitch,
though David's voice is clearly his own.

There are other worthy pieces on the program, and you can learn more
about them by going to David's website: www.davshalomov.com click on
"Concert of New Works - September 15, 2007.

Some of you may have heard a CD called "Three Generations Avshalomov"
from Albany records, Troy 216.  This CD contains David's intense viola
sonata, "Torn Curtain." This is also a work having to do with the agony
of the Russian people under Stalin and the Iron Curtain.  "Trotzky's
Train" carries the theme much farther.  I do not know how or when we are
likely to have this music available commercially, but if anybody has any
pull with a record company, now would be the time to put in a good word.

David Lamb in Seattle

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