Album Notes

Judgement in Salem review

Nicholas Van Slyck’s piano pieces require a light touch; even the most exclamatory passages of the four-movement Gardens of the West involve intricate passages. “Spirit of Busoni” (II) is an extremely spirited and fast-paced piece with clusters, continuous motion, and staccato runs.
The chamber opera for four voices, piano, and percussion, “Judgement in Salem”, is adapted from Act IV, Scene II of Longfellow’s “Giles Corey of the Salem Farms”. As a fan of the well-known story, I was enthralled. The pleading rhythms of Martha Corey’s defense were accentuated by highly chromatic accents in the piano’s upper register in the 22 minute work.—American Record Guide, December 2009

Judgement in Salem review

It is an excellent piece of music, dramatically enthralling, vocally graceful and crafted with the structural integrity that holds it's 25 minutes of music together convincingly.
This piece really should be picked up and produced by public television for a national audience.--Washington Post, 1976