CLASSICAL MUSIC: Shapey shines with Eaton's `Moonlight'

The Pulitzer Prize board can rest easy.

Ralph Shapey did not present a world premiere of his own musicFriday night during the Contemporary Chamber Players' annual PaulFromm Concert, which Shapey conducted at the University of Chicago'sMandel Hall.

Instead, the composer - whose "Concerto fantastique" waspassed over for this year's Pulitzer after a unanimous recommedationby the music jury - - presented the world premiere of a song cycle,"Notes on Moonlight" by U. of C.'s John Eaton.

Eaton's set of five songs for soprano, mezzo-soprano and asmall chamber ensemble, was a worthy focal point for the concert.In addition to Eaton's piece, Friday's program included the localpremieres of "Verticals for Piano" (1982) by Shulamit Ran and"Mysteries of the Horizon" (1987) by Eugene O'Brien, as well asSchoenberg's Three Pieces for Orchestra" and a work for fourpercussionists, "Ku-Ka-Ilimoku" (1978) by Christopher Rouse.

Sung by soprano Rebecca Berg and mezzo-soprano Nelda Nelson,"Notes on Moonlight" explored images of the moon by poets GarciaLorca, Wallace Stevens, Leopoldo Lugones, Baudelaire and WilliamButler Yeats. Eaton uses microtones regularly in his music, and theodd tonal pitches helped create an austere, unsettled atmosphere.The setting of Garcia Lorca's "Romance de la luna, luna," opened withthe dry whistling of a violin that swept by like an icy wind. Therewas a sense of secrets being told as Nelson's dusky voice ranged upand down while Berg set forth, high, faintly wild tones.

Pianist Abraham Stokman created a compelling, forward-drivingunit from the rugged chords and jagged rhythms of Ran's "Verticals.""Ku-Ka-Ilimoku" was a study in virtuoso drumming while individualbrass and woodwind instruments seemed to press forward and thendisappear like passing scenery on a cross-country trip in "Mysteriesof the Horizon."