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William Susman

A Quiet Madness

Belarca Records

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1 Aria  
2 Quiet Rhythms No 1  
3 Seven Scenes for Four Flutes  
4 Quiet Rhythms No 5  
5 Zydeco Madness  
6 Quiet Rhythms No 7  
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"When you think you have a clear idea of a composer's purpose, suddenly you realize that something is hiding behind it, and behind it, again and again. I will keep playing William Susman's music for a long time." –Francesco Di Fiore, 2012

Violinist Karen Bentley Pollick, pianist Francesco Di Fiore, bayan accordionist Stas Venglevski, and flutist Patricia Zuber have been knitting restorative sonic garments from the compositional yarn of William Susman for over a decade. Their rapport is deeper and more apparent than ever on A Quiet Madness, an appropriately titled new masterwork for our zeitgeist. 

A Quiet Madness immerses the listener in a photorealistic sound world of understated beauty. At once calming and thought-provoking, it allows the ear and mind to make their own connections without feeling overwhelmed by thematic constraints. Susman's precise harmonic and rhythmic languages invite us into a subdued, enchanting expression of madness that roams all over the map, akin to the mind wandering during a rainy day-or, perhaps clairvoyantly, akin to the strange passage of time spent in self-isolation during the collective trauma of COVID-19.

  • William Susman discusses 'Quiet Rhythms' with FM91: Toledo - WGTE
    Posted At: January 8, 2024 12:00 AM
    American composer William Susman has created a distinctively expressive voice in contemporary classical music, with a catalog that includes orchestral, chamber, and vocal music, as well as numerous film scores. In addition to his work as a composer, he spearheads the contemporary ensemble OCTET and Belarca Records. AllMusic calls him an exemplar of "the next developments in the sphere . . . [of] minimalism,...
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  • Quiet Rhythms.....a 'No Dead Guys' interview with William Susman
    Posted At: December 8, 2023 12:00 AM
    William Susman's Quiet Rhythms, is a piano cycle at once sprawling in scope and introspective in practice. Quiet Rhythms has the warmth and immediacy of a late-night improvisation—an artist following the melodies where they lead him. Quiet Rhythms brings together traditions Susman has spent a lifetime studying: the harmonic language of jazz, the rhythmic pulse of Latin music, the circling melodies of minima...
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  • it is a delight to hear William Susman's music and experience his range of his artistry / New Music Buff
    Posted At: May 12, 2021 12:00 AM

    New Music Buff's Allan J. Cronin writes.....I think this is the fourth disc of the music of William Susman which has come across my desk. Let me say it is a delight to hear this man's music and experience the range of his artistry. All releases of his music thus far have been on belarca records, a label founded by Susman to promote The Octet Ensemble and other artists who share an interest in the...
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  • In a continuous exploration of harmonic and rhythmic patterns, William Susman releases; Collision Point & A Quiet Madness
    Posted At: April 18, 2021 12:00 AM

    Spellbinding Music's GUILLAUME writes....Born in Chicago and based in Palo Alto, California, William Susman is an American composer and pianist whose work encompasses orchestral, chamber, vocal and soundtrack music informed by western classical, jazz, African and Latin American traditions as well as contemporary minimalism. Constantly toying with instrumental permutations – from solo perfo...
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  • William Susman's 'A Quiet Madness' is neither quiet nor mad, but a welcome selection that leaves 'New Music Buff' wanting more
    Posted At: April 1, 2021 12:00 AM

    New Music Buff's Alan J Cronin writes......This 2020 release of chamber and solo pieces by William Susman (1960- ) is the third reviewed by this writer. The music here is from the last six years but these pieces rather unmistakably have Susman's compositional fingerprints on them. There are six works in total and the solo piano pieces from Susman's Quiet Rhythms series provide a sort of punctuation o...
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  • William Susman's 'A Quiet Madness' is a welcome break from the tensions and stresses of our daily lives / SHARPS & FLATIRONS
    Posted At: February 24, 2021 12:00 AM

    SHARPS & FLATIRONS - Peter Alexander writes.....One of the perks of job that I do is that people send me recordings. They want me to review or write about them. Sometimes they come in the U.S. mail, actual CDs. Sometimes they come in the form of links to Mp3 files, although I prefer not to review those because the sound quality of CDs is better. Sometimes I write and ask for a CD instead, and som...
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  • Harmonious World Podcast interviews William Susman
    Posted At: February 17, 2021 12:00 AM

    A Quiet Madness features three piano pieces, a piano and violin duet, a series of seven scenes for four flutes and a solo accordion piece that was composed as a response to Hurricane Katrina. The album immerses the listener in a photorealistic sound world of understated beauty. At once calming and thought-provoking, it allows the ear and mind to make their own connections without feeling overwhelmed...
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  • The 48 minutes of William Susman's 'A Quiet Madness' offer more than their fair share of listening rewards / textura
    Posted At: January 24, 2021 12:00 AM

    textura writes.....A Quiet Madness is somewhat of a curious title for William Susman's latest release. The composer's music is seldom hushed, and neither is it deranged-not that there's any suggestion the title should be taken literally anyway.  The influence of classical minimalism on Susman's melodious music is undeniable, but he uses it as a foundation upon which to construct ...
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  • Harmonious World podcast discusses 'Scatter my Ashes' with composer William Susman
    Posted At: October 24, 2020 12:00 AM

    American composer William Susman has created a distinctively expressive voice in contemporary classical music, with a catalog that includes orchestral, chamber, and vocal music, as well as numerous film scores. In addition to his work as a composer, he spearheads the contemporary ensemble OCTET and Belarca Records. AllMusic calls him an exemplar of "the next developments in the sphere of minimalism,...
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  • William Susman flavors the setting of Sarah Sifer's 'Fate of the Lhapa' beautifully / STAGE & CINEMA
    Posted At: October 20, 2020 12:00 AM

    t amazes me how many films today have a soundtrack that isn't informed by the movie itself. This interchangeable claptrap has made it almost impossible to review. But composer William Susman flavors the setting of Sarah Sifer's Fate of the Lhapa beautifully. Interestingly enough, I saw this documentary many, many years ago, and it truly affected me, but I never knew the soundtrack was available until it ...
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  • 90.7WGXC - The Jazz Disturbance discusses; 'Scatter My Ashes' with William Susman
    Posted At: October 5, 2020 12:00 AM

    In this special live Essential Radio Pledge Drive edition of The Jazz Disturbance, host Cheryl K speaks with composer William Susman. His newest release, "Scatter My Ashes" is on his Belarca Records label and features the premiere of the New York-based Octet Ensemble. The release features his music including two song cycles, featuring poems by Sue Susman, as well as the instrumentation of American popula...
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  • 'Hot Time' from William Susman's 'Scatter My Ashes' featured on Punto Radio's animajazz
    Posted At: May 19, 2020 12:00 AM

    In episode 919 of "ANIMAJAZZ", conceived and conducted by BRUNO POLLACCI , broadcast TUESDAY 19 May at 20.30, on PUNTORADIO, also streaming on www.puntoradio.fm and in an immediate podcast of the evening includes; "Hot Time"; from William Susman's "Scatter My Ashes." OCTET''s inaugural album has been recorded over the past few years with renowned engineer John Kilgore and was release...
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  • William Susman's 'Scatter My Ashes' is true, undiluted neo-classicalism imbued with Impressionist and romantic overtones / acousticmusic.com
    Posted At: May 5, 2020 12:00 AM

    In another review this month, I mention there are certain guitar stylists I don't dare begin listening to unless I'm prepared to go through their entire catalogues: Grant Green, Gabor Szabo, George Benson, etc. That's because I get so damned captivated even despite a deep enamorment for the wild fretbenders (John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp, Ritchie Blackmore, that ilk). Well, the same is true o...
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  • William Susman's 'Scatter My Ashes' w/OCTET ENSEMBLE makes PublicRadio90 - Genre Fluid Fridays
    Posted At: February 28, 2020 12:00 AM

    Genre Fluid Fridays on Classiclectic: Music exploration and discovery through the lens of classically-minded composers and musicians.  Explore beyond the horizon of classical music, Fridays on Public Radio 90, beginning just after 9:30am ET. OCTET''s inaugural album features the music of William Susman including two song cycles (with poems by his sister Sue Susman) Scatter My Ashes and M...
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  • Performances are superb on William Susman's 'Collision Point' as crystalline music shines / Fanfare
    Posted At: January 23, 2020 12:00 AM

    Back in Fanfare 38:2, I wrote about a disc of William Susman's music entitled Scatter My Ashes. Like the current disc, similarly on the Belarca label, playing time was short, but a sense of fun and enjoyment of life was long. Susman's minimalist tendencies are fully on display again in this release, itself entitled Collision Point. Scored for flute, alto sax, violin, cello and piano four-hands, Camil...
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  • William Susman's 'Collision Point' finds a middle-ground between pure charm and Reichian repetition / ANEARFUL 'Best Of Classical 2019'
    Posted At: January 13, 2020 12:00 AM

    As far as music that I covered throughout 2019, this is the second largest category. Find the best in composed music about which I've already written along with special items that I either missed along the way or that came out late in the year.  Piccola Accademia Degli Specchi - William Susman: Collision Point - While the name of the title piece may imply drama or even violence, this album is in...
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  • William Susman - Collision Point. An enjoyable and original version of today's minimalism / Fanfare
    Posted At: January 6, 2020 12:00 AM

    On the face of it this album of chamber works by the accomplished Chicago-born composer/pianist William Susman is very accessible, delivering ingenious variations on Minimalism's familiar techniques from a confident and fertile musical imagination. But bit of exploration into Susmnn's biography reveals an intriguing story, a capsule history, in fact, of where modern American music has traveled over the p...
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  • William Susman's 'Collision Point' is a delightful and engaging journey / New Music Buff
    Posted At: December 30, 2019 12:00 AM

    I first encountered this man's music in a concert by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. I subsequently reviewed his album Scatter My Ashes .  Now fresh off the presses is the present disc which is a collaboration between Mr. Susman and Piccola Accademia Degli Specchi, a chamber ensemble specializing in new music.  It is a delightful and engaging journey to a region stylistically inhabited...
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  • William Susman's 'Camille: I. Vitality' makes KCRW: Rhythm Planet - New Music Favorites
    Posted At: November 13, 2019 12:00 AM

    This week's playlist features a mix of jazz, world, tropical Latin, and crossover classical new releases that I'm enjoying now. I love to feature new jazz sides in each playlist, so here is a whole bunch of new stuff. First, from William Susman in a chamberistic style. Susman's new album 'Collision Point' on Belarca Records features Rome-based ensemble Piccola Accademia deg...
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  • Enjoy, be inspired, and expand your mind with William Susman's 'Collision Point' / The Mindful Bard
    Posted At: November 6, 2019 12:00 AM

    The Mindful Bard loves music inspired by literature almost as much as literature inspired by music, which is why William Susman is one of our favourite composers, so adept is he at paying homage to language with his mesmerizing sounds. Susman's new album, Collision Point was released on the 11th of October. The ensemble Piccola Accademia degli Specchi, based in Rome, play these pieces as if they were...
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  • Splendid performances on William Susman's 'Collision Point' / textura
    Posted At: November 1, 2019 12:00 AM

    American composer William Susman (b. 1960) is well-served by the splendid performances his contemporary classical material receives at the hands of the Rome-based ensemble Piccola Accademia degli Specchi (Little Academy of Mirrors). What's especially interesting about Collision Point is that of the four original works presented (all of them premiere recordings), two stem from 2010 and the others the ...
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  • On 'Scatter My Ashes,' William Susman evokes a latter day Mozart with music that communicates directly / New Music Buff
    Posted At: April 3, 2019 12:00 AM

    This 2014 CD on the Belarca label contains four of Susman's works from 1992-2010 and is a fine sampling of his work.  All works are here performed by the Octet Ensemble which includes: Alan Ferber, trombone; Mike Gurfield, trumpet; Melissa Hughes, vocals; Elaine Kwon, piano; Eleonore Oppenheim, double bass; Demetrius Spaneas, saxophone; Greg Zuber, drums and percussion; and William Susman, elect...
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  • William Susman's 'Scatter My Ashes' w/Octet Ensemble makes 'textura top cd's for 2014'
    Posted At: December 16, 2014 12:00 AM

    As always, the selections for this year's annual round-up were made in accordance with a simple principle: only those releases that were submitted to textura for review consideration during the year in question were deemed eligible. Shown below, then, are the recordings to which we repeatedly returned and which repeatedly rewarded that return (links to the original reviews are included in all cases)....
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  • William Susman's 'Scatter My Ashes' w/Octet Ensemble is KING: Second Inversion 'Album Of The Week'
    Posted At: December 16, 2014 12:00 AM

    I have always considered poetry to be the distant cousin of music. After all, both combine elements of rhythm, sound, lyricism, and storytelling. However, after listening through the OCTET Ensemble's performance of "Scatter My Ashes," I thought perhaps these two artistic mediums may be even closer than cousins; perhaps they could even be brother and sister. "Scatter My Ashes" is a series of five poem...
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