Cascades & Curiosities: Burdick's Chamber Music Vol. 2
Richard O. Burdick
2025 marked a creative explosion for composer and French hornist Richard Burdick. Returning to live performance after many years, he premiered a series of vibrant multimedia chamber works featuring brass, woodwinds, and video. This album captures the heart of that fertile period.
Presented in chronological opus order, the music traces Burdick’s evolution from concert-stage origins toward richly produced studio creations. Electronics weave seamlessly through intimate ensembles — often joined by drums for added drive — while preserving the direct emotional power of chamber music.
The album’s two main threads give it its name:
Cascades — majestic, flowing scores written to accompany stunning Canadian waterfall videos (Kakabeka Falls, Castle Falls, and Lundbreck Falls).
Curiosities — playful, experimental pieces full of humor and surprise, including the delightfully quirky Best Squeak Ever and the cosmic A Signal from Space.
Interwoven throughout are elegant homages to the luminous polyphony of 15th-century master Johannes Ockeghem, creating a striking contrast between Renaissance-inspired counterpoint and modern multimedia elements.
Diverse yet deeply unified, Cascades & Curiosities documents a pivotal shift in Burdick’s artistry: from live performance toward fully realized sonic worlds that still celebrate intimate instrumentation and emotional immediacy.
A fresh and compelling chapter in Burdick’s ongoing musical journey.
Find it on BandCamp with a bonus track:
https://richardoburdick.bandcamp.com/album/cd105-cascades-curiosities-burdicks-chamber-music-vol-2
Listen on Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/kakabeka-falls-for-flute-oboe-clarinet-and-horn/1884574533?i=1884574544
Hear it on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KMSMHmgpdTHPleBrQPpHv
