Rituals (John Zorn album) explained

Rituals
Type:	Album
Artist:	John Zorn
Cover:	Rituals (album).jpg
Released:	February 22, 2005
Recorded:	October 2004
Genre:	Avant-garde, Contemporary classical music
Length:	26:36
Label:	Tzadik TZ 8011
Producer:	John Zorn
Chronology:	John Zorn
Prev Title:	50th Birthday Celebration Volume 10
Prev Year:	2005
Next Year:	2005

Rituals is an album of contemporary classical music by American avant-garde composer John Zorn. The piece takes the form of an opera in five parts and was premiered at the Bayreuth Opera Festival in 1998.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Dan Warburton awarded the album 3½ stars stating "It's a well-crafted work, superbly performed".^[2]

Writing for Pitchfork Media, Matthew Murphy stated "for established Zorn enthusiasts, Rituals is replete with moments to confound, enrich and delight, and will surely lure you to its darkened altar for frequent repeat ceremonies".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by John Zorn.

1. "I" - 4:48
2. "II" - 7:45
3. "III" - 4:21
4. "IV" - 5:21
5. "V" - 4:19

Personnel

• Jennifer Choi – violin
• Fred Sherry – cello
• Tara O'Connor – flute, alto flute, piccolo
• Michael Lowenstern – clarinet, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet
• Peter Kolkay – bassoon, contrabassoon
• Jim Pugh – trombone
• Stephen Drury – piano, harpsichord, celeste, organ
• Kurt Muroki – bass
• Jim Pugliese – percussion, wind machines, water, bullroarers, gravedigging, fishing reels, paper, bowls of BBs, bird calls
• William Winant – percussion
• Heather Gardner – voice
• Brad Lubman – conductor

Production

• Produced by: John Zorn
• Mastered by: George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC

Notes and References

1. http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=8011 Tzadik catalogue
2. Warburton, D. Allmusic Review accessed August 2, 2011.
3. Murphy, M. Pitchfork Media review April 24, 2005