WOLFF, HENRY/NANCY HENNINGS:

Tibetan Bells III: The Empty Mirror LP

I found the final volume of this trilogy of contemporary works for ancient instruments the most satisfying of the three, as Wolff and Hennings seemed to have progressed beyond primary fascination with the overt harmonic characteristics of the bells and honed their composition and performance skills. The artists may also realize that innovations they introduced in 1971 are now cliches, and that the new age territory they pioneered has become fraught with blind alleys. This is much the same sort of continually unfolding array of pure, prolonged singing tones as before, but with more precise control over subtle nuances of timbre, as well as a more assured direction in the compositions. There's more of a heightened sense of mystery and drama than before, and the overall effect is more provocative than soothing.

(Celestial Harmonies, P.O.B. 30122, Tucson, AZ 85751) -- Michael Draine.