Contextures II: The Final Beast

Dedicated to the victims of all wars, William Kraft’s unsettling Contextures II: The Final Beast, a massive 1986 cantata for adult vocal soloists, boy’s chorus, and a large orchestra with tons of percussion, is screaming out for a revival. It’s more than crystal clear message should blare on radio stations across the country. I can dream, can’t I? Well, at least this long out-of-print historic Los Angeles Philharmonic recording from the Meet The Composer Orchestra Residency Program, originally distributed by Nonesuch, has been re-issued, now in a much more attractive package on First Edition Music. But will the people who need to hear this music and heed its directives ever listen to it?

—FJO