The music has only grown in stature on repeated hearings. Jennifer Higdon's lively allegros and poetic slow movements, modern in conception and technique yet approachable and not afraid of a good tune now and then, strikes me as some of the best work being done on the contemporary music scene. That she has the advantage of such first-class advocacy in Telarc, Spano, and the Atlanta Symphony speaks volumes about the basic health of our musical culture despite all of the nay-sayers and predictions of the impending classical music apocalypse. Well, disaster may yet strike, but at least we'll have discs like this to console us. Whether in stereo or multi-channel formats, buy it! [3/17/2004]