Review of Kairotic Offerings

From 20th Century Music, June 1998

Review of Kairotic Offerings by Phillip George

Jerry Gerber. "Kairotic Offerings" [Symphony No. 1." "Flute Concerto" (1989). "Violin Concerto" (1996)]. Jerry Gerber, MIDI programming; Tim Day, flute; Karen Bentley, violin. http://www.slip.net/~jgerber/

Far from "Chaotic Offerings", Jerry Gerber’s "Kairotic Offerings" are well-organized essays in the wonders of digital technology allied to a traditional sense of the structure and function in large-scale harmonic contexts. Minimalist patterning, all-American syncopation, mysterious vocal samples, schooled counterpoint, clear motivic relations, a few clever backbeats, and rhapsodic, romantic downright cinematographic string lines conspire to present the portrait of a varied composer.

With the exception of flutist Tim Day and violinist Karen Bentley in concerti for their respective instruments, all the orchestral sounds are MIDI-realized. Both the live performers play superbly, and Gerber writes virtuosic passages that allow them to display their talents to the fullest.

Phillip George