James Galway Plays Lowell Liebermann

By TERRY TEACHOUT

If you stopped paying attention to new classical music after Britten and Shostakovich died, it's time to tune in again. The famous flutist has put his weight behind one of America's most gifted "new tonalist" composers, with electrifying results. Liebermann's three concertos are custom-made for listeners who find 12-tone music ugly and minimalism simple-minded. The harmonies are savory, the scoring luminous--and, yes, you can hum the tunes.

--By Terry Teachout