Richard Whitehouse of Gramophone magazine has described Arlene Sierra's new disc of piano music, Birds and Insects, as a “potent mix” of piano works that are “imaginative and diverse” and “unpredictable and engrossing.” He writes,

Although solo instrumental music has not featured extensively in Arlene Sierra’s output, the notable exception is the three books of Birds and Insects. These each focus on salient aspects of evolution and natural selection, across 15 pieces of varying length and density of content.

Book 1 (2007) is a set (or not, if the pianist chooses) imaginative and diverse – each of its first four pieces an evocative miniature, tantalisingly so as in ‘Cicada Sketch’, with the final ‘Scarab’ a rondo of greater length and textural elaboration duly galvanised by its scintillating toccata-like figuration prior to the fragmented close. The ensuing collections follow a similar trajectory of five pieces, albeit on a slightly larger scale, and introduce an element (optional but sometimes favoured here) of pre-recorded birdsong to what feels an already potent mix.

Book 2 (2015‑18) features such as the ethereal ‘Hermit Thrush’ or the skewed patterning of ‘Thermometer Cricket’, before ending with the cumulative interplay of motifs that makes ‘Bobolink’ not just the longest but also the most unpredictable and engrossing of these pieces. Book 3 (2023) opens with the intensifying activity of ‘Lovely Fairywren’, before taking in the skittishness of ‘Great Grig’ and the starkness of ‘Tawny Owls’ prior to the imperious repetitions of ‘Troupial’, which brings the whole collection to its teasingly equivocal ending.

The first book has been recorded with real precision by Vasily Primakov but it makes sense to have all three when played with the dedication of Steven Beck or Sarah Cahill. Sound and notes leave nothing to be desired, making for an essential addition to the Sierra discography.

More about Birds and Insects, Arlene Sierra Vol. 4 and further reviews at the dedicated page on this site

Nigel Simeone of International Piano magazine has praised Arlene Sierra's "fascinating" new disc of piano music, Birds and Insects. He writes,

The piano series Birds and Insects was composed between 2007 and 2023 by Arlene Sierra (b1970), and is played by Steven Beck (Books 1‑2) and Sarah Cahill (Book 3). With pieces inspired by birds such as the Bobolink (used in Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques), searching for a parallel with Messiaen is inevitable, but as the helpful booklet note points out, Sierra’s approach is different. While Messiaen was inclined to use long stretches of (suitably modified) transcription of birdsong in his pieces, Sierra takes shorter fragments and uses these to develop the motivic substance of her musical structures. The results are fascinating, sometimes strange and often striking. In ‘Hermit Thrush’ there are additional electronics that cleverly interact with the pianist, and in the next piece, ‘Thermometer Cricket’, the piano is prepared, with alluring results. This is never ‘easy’ music, but it’s not meant to be, and I found myself drawn into Sierra’s world and listening with intense concentration as a result. The range of colour and sonority she finds in ‘Canyon Wren’ in Book 3 is bewitching. Sierra is fortunate to have two such fine pianists as her advocates on this release.

More about Birds and Insects, Arlene Sierra Vol. 4 and further reviews at the dedicated page on this site

The first notices in the press are starting to appear for Arlene Sierra's new disc of piano music, Birds and Insects, featuring performances by Steven Beck and Sarah Cahill on Bridge Records. 

The fourth volume in the prestigious label's series of Sierra portraits, Birds and Insects has been described as "rigorously modern music that is directly appealing" by James Manheim of AllMusic.com.

Dominy Clements of MusicWeb International writes, "This is music that you need to hear for yourself. Arlene Sierra’s gift is unquestionably brilliant."

"Whether you are familiar with the sounds of the titmouse or the black and white warbler or tawny owls, Sierra’s approach to giving them a musical work is enjoyable and provocative," writes Craig Byrd of Cultural Attaché 

More about Birds and Insects, Arlene Sierra Vol. 4 at the dedicated page on this site

Arlene Sierra's new disc of piano music, ‘Birds and Insects’ will be released on Sept 5th, featuring performances by Steven Beck and Sarah Cahill on Bridge Records. This is the fourth volume in the prestigious label's series of releases focusing on Sierra's work. Click here to listen to excerpts.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s regional premiere of Arlene Sierra's Kiskadee is now on Medici.TV in a scintillating program including Nelson Goerner’s performance of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto, a work by Sophia Jani, and Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel

Follow this link to stream the performance 

More about Kiskadee here

Arlene Sierra's Kiskadee is described as "effective and engaging" in the Texas Classical Review, in a series of performances by the Dallas Symphony, Fabio Luisi, conductor in March 2025

Pairs of premieres and showpieces provide enjoyable contrast with the Dallas Symphony

Kiskadee is the latest of several works by Sierra that incorporate transcriptions of bird song; in this case, the call of the titular bird provides a four-note motif that is one of many irregular, coloristic gestures derived from natural sounds in the kiskadee’s habitat. Following a raucous opening that introduced the kiskadee’s call, the piece unfolded as a complex soundscape consisting of shimmering strings and reiterated pitches in the winds and brass, all coordinated by the steady beat indicated by Luisi as he also cued distinct bird calls within the collage. The result was an effective and engaging suggestion of a teeming outdoor space.

- William McGinney, Texas Classical Review

Review: Two new pieces and two audience favorites from the Dallas Symphony

One of a series of Sierra’s works based on bird songs, Kiskadee makes much of the eponymous American flycatcher’s three-note call. Eight minutes long, its layered jabs and jerks of sounds expand into four- and five-note motifs, with chatters of winds and violins. Dissonant growls of horns and trombones supply timbral contrast and sonic underpinning, with percussion booms and tinkles.

- Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

More about Kiskadee here

Arlene Sierra's Kiskadee is described as "a superbly crafted work and a compelling listen" in the Chicago Classical Review, in a performance by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Stilian Kirov, conductor. 

Lawrence A. Johnson writes, "Sierra’s treatment of the kiskadee theme is no gently lilting birdsong... Emphatic and aggressive, the three-note motif is punched out in strident brass, piano and winds. The vying repeated-note troupial theme is first heard in a solo violin and the two themes collide and do battle before the kiskadee has the emphatic final word. Kiskadee is a superbly crafted work and a compelling listen. Sierra packs a lot into [an 8]-minute span and her scoring is assured and stylish with an edgy brilliance to her writing for brass, winds and percussion. Kirov and the IPO musicians gave this local debut first-class advocacy, with playing of impressive bite and precision, skillfully balanced and scrupulously prepared by Kirov." 

More about Kiskadee here

To read the full article, click here

Arlene Sierra's Kiskadee received its world premiere with the Detroit Symphony, Kevin John Edusei, conducting, to audience acclaim. The work was performed on October 19th, 20th, and 21st, 2023, live radio broadcast and live-streamed – it is now available to watch/listen here.

For ordering information and sample pages from the score, click here. 

For more information about the work including programme note and score excerpt, click here

An additional four orchestras will perform the work through the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, part of a 30-orchestra consortium performing works by women composers commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. See the performances page on this site for more details.

The unprecedented national consortium ensures that new works by women composers, each commissioned by the League, will be infused in orchestra seasons to come, with multiple performances throughout the country. The consortium's initial six lead orchestra-composer pairings were previously announced, with more than eighty orchestras applying for the additional twenty-four spots.

– Broadway World

Arlene Sierra's commission will receive its world premiere with the Detroit Symphony. The additional four orchestras who will perform the work through the 2023-2024 season are the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, part of a 30-orchestra consortium performing works by women composers commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Click here for Arlene Sierra's page on the League of American Orchestras' website

Click here for the New York Times article on the Toulmin commissioning scheme

Click here for the Classic FM article

Click here for the Broadway World article