NOVA | CULTURAL ATTACHE - REVIEW

New In Music This Week: June 25th

by: Craig Byrd | June 2025

Whether you are a fan of composer Picker or are curious, having heard about him, Nova is a great retrospective of his work. There are seven works on here that span thirty years from 1979 to 2009.

The album opens with Picker’s Nova which press notes indicate was his response to Schubert’s Trout Quintet. It features Picker on piano with Speculum Musicae. The album closes with Picker again on the piano for The Blue Hula.

Throughout this 84-minute collection various styles and shades of Picker’s music are on display. They all feature the piano either as a solo instrument (Three Pieces for Piano performed by Peter Serkin) or in various duets (Invisible Lilacs with Young Uck Kim on violin and Emanuel Ax on piano is one).

This is a fascinating collection and one perfectly enjoyed with your morning coffee and, of course, a bagel with Nova lox. Since I’m a vegan, I’ll have mine with this music being the only Nova I need.