Nelly Music:

Symphony of the Universe (Newport Classic Premier) Track Listing:
1. Sym Of The Universe: Movt I: Big Bang - Jonathan Haas
2. Sym Of The Universe: Movt II: Organism - The Walter Thompson Big Band
3. Sym Of The Universe: Movt III: Cosmos - Stewart Rose/Charles Banks/Steve Ashe
4. Sym Of The Universe: Movt IV: Evolution - Charles Banks/Jonathan Haas

Symphony of the Universe (Newport Classic Premier) Reviews:
Creation Of The Universe!
2007-12-05 - This is one composer's interpretation of creation. Divided into 4 movements: Big Bang, Organism, Cosmos, Evolution the pieces remind me of Japanese drumming to Modern Jazz. Lots of imagination is used here! If you like experimental music, you will definitely enjoy this cd!

could a better recording save it?
2006-05-03 - for starters, the performance was recorded in a large cathedral, and it sounds as if it was miked about halfway back; there is a lack of clarity throughout and no stereo spectrum to speak of. if there are any significant dynamic contours in the piece(s), they are not evident in this recording. many sounds get all but washed out by the huge room; only the most deliberate articulations are not hopelessly lost in reverberation. these recording-quality factors probably somewhat taint my impression of the piece, but for what it's worth, i thought it was directionless, uninteresting, in some moments badly executed, and overall largely silly. i don't know if it is intended as a 'serious' work --the title itself could certainly suggest a tongue-in-cheek hyperbole that would be consistent with the sort of eccentricity chambers' works are known for-- but it certainly has the scale, personnel, and presentation of one, and as such, it falls quite short. it's probably worth a second listen, though, to make sure i didn't miss something remarkable that got sucked up into the... er, 'mix'. or maybe the joke is just lost on me?