Thomas L. Read

Guitar, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello

"Capricci is an upbeat and spritely quintet... This most unusual but enjoyable work has elements of the Baroque, some Hindemith-like passages and even minimalist touches to it. ...Capricci whets the appetite for more."
- Daniel Coombs from a review of Navona's Perceptions CD.
"The jewel of the evening was the Boston premiere of Thomas L. Read's Capricci (2010), named after Giovanni Tiepolo's mysterious but fanciful, 18th- century etchings, while playing on the term "caprice" that would conventionally be applied to its one-movement, free musical form. Read's decision to treat the guitar as an integral part of the ensemble rather than as a solo with, or as obbligato secondo"¦" was stunningly executed. It is an approach that could have failed in the wrong hands, but Read's acoustical sensibilities for this instrumental combination resulted in musical passages that shimmered with vibrancy. A moment early on when the guitar and first violin"¦ rang out in their respective upper registers in duet over the other instruments stood out as particularly brilliant."
- The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 3/1/13.