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Longer durations he seems to have difficulty in sustaining, especially at a more vigorous pace. There are moments of magical expressionism that become lost through the insecurity of his structuring, like chance shafts of inspired light through a wayward improvisation. In the short rhapsodic poem Beyond all Knowing, another piece ably conducted by Kirk Trevor, the music drifts delightfully through hazy mists for over eight minutes, but goes nowhere in the end [listen -- track 9, 5.00-6:33].

There are three short pieces for chamber orchestra, Night Songs (2001), sensitively conducted by Vit Micka, and they too seem to be the work of a composer waiting to be struck by lightening, one in need of some dynamic catalyst from the muses. Cooman has plenty of ideas, but that is not always helpful in creating ingenious music. It is very useful in fulfilling a lot of commissions though, and he seems to have plenty of those!

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