CCC 019 - Avner Dorman

Next in our Consonant Classical Challenge is young Israeli composer, Avner Dorman. Dorman has an extensive film score background, which may explain his concert music's accessibility. Dorman uses familiar tonal structures in refreshingly new ways.

One could possibly describe his music as neo-classical. There are elements of baroque structure in them. To my ears, I also hear something of Prokofiev and the way he sometimes played off expectations, especially with simple scales and patterns. Dorman's 2003 Concerto Grosso showcases his basic compositional style. As you'll hear, while there are echoes of earlier style periods, there's a lot of the here and now in Dorman's score.



 A good portion of Dorman's orchestral output is devoted to concerto writing. Spices, Perfumes, and Toxins! is a concerto for two percussionists and orchestra. Although the texture is decidedly contemporary, it's presented in a harmonic context that puts even the most hidebound concert-goer on familiar ground.



Another good example of Dorman's style is his Piano Concerto in A. As with the major piano concertos of the romantic era, this is full of big, dramatic gestures and plenty of material for the pianist to dig into. And personally, this is the work that reminds me most of Prokofiev (which is not a bad thing.).



Avner Dorman is an innovative composer who's found his creative voice in the traditions of classical music. This is the kind of music that can provide a bridge between the old and more adventurous scores -- and give everyone something new and rewarding to listen to in the process.

Recommended Recording 
 Dorman: Concertos for Mandolin, Piccolo, Piano and Concerto Grosso