“. . . The music is undeniably well-crafted and communicative.”
– Miami Herald
“The piece that stood out most on this program was the dazzling On Green Mountains by Steve Danyew . . . a seven-minute gem of sensitivity, skill and tremendous sophistication, fully worthy to appear on a program of the best living American choral composers.” – Kansas City Independent
“Danyew and Jason Kush were saxophone virtuosos par excellence, making the instrument sing as well as shout.”
– South Florida Sun Sentinel
“Danyew’s music painted persuasive pictures of the remoteness of the lamaseries at the top of the world, with imitations of bells and sounds amid the empty spaces. The saxophones often burbled along in rapid-fire figurations in harmony, which made their one very brief unison statement more striking. Like the other composers on the program, Danyew made much of nervous rhythms, lending this piece a jazzy undertow at times. That also helped enliven the atmospherics of his challenging, interesting piece.” – Palm Beach Post
“. . . Danyew’s music is attractive, unabashedly tonal and, at times, startlingly beautiful.”
– Miami Herald
“. . . Danyew set a simple lyric praising nature to sweeping melody.” – Delaware Arts Info
“Steve Danyew’s Lhotse for two saxophones depicts the wonder of experiencing the high mountain range in Nepal. Both players use extended techniques such as micro tones, blowing multi pitches and tapping on the keys. Melodic fragments try to break free but are thwarted. Danyew and Jason Kush handled the ascent with vigor and determination.” – Miami Herald
“Of note, I found the layers of female voice textures in Steve Danyew’s On Green Mountains to be very effective . . .” – KC Metropolis.org
“I really enjoyed listening and playing through this work, and I especially enjoyed the harmonic language Danyew uses . . . . I also really love modern music that sounds fresh in its harmonic language, yet has a universal appeal, and is attainable from the first listening, as this work is. This was truly a very exciting work with a powerful ending, and I very much look forward to more viola music from this up and coming young composer!”
– Journal of the American Viola Society
“The piece was interesting and captivating, with a lulling melody . . . ” – The Kansan.org
“…sensitivity, skill and tremendous sophistication”
-Kansas City Independent
