The New York Times
“MOSAIC [for large orchestra] is a vividly scored work of primordial growls and gnashing outbursts, with fleeting moments of delicate colors and undulant riffs.”
The Los Angeles Times
Kaefer’s MOSAIC sounds like an urban legend – steely and hard-edged, it alternates the aggressive with the ghostly in waves of abrasiveness.”
Courier-Post of Philadelphia and New Jersey
“… [Music Director] Rossen Milanov and the [Haddonfield Symphony] returned Saturday night for a program that featured a dazzling new score by John Kaefer. Kaefer’s MOSAIC emerged with tremendous impact in this lively hall. As the title suggests, the composer aims to recreate in music the visual effect of a mosaic. MOSAIC is a collection of brief contrasting sound images that gleam with jewel-like brilliance. Despite some lively rhythmic outbursts, the score offers more color than movement. Milanov shaped a strong account of this arresting score.”
The Orange County Register
“Kaefer used the orchestral resources with dazzling vitality. Who knew that new music could be such fun?”
The San Francisco Classical Voice
“THANATOS [for percussion quartet] is a kinetic tour de force… the interplay of metal and wood made the music continuously fascinating.”
The New Jersey Star Ledger
“…the flow of feeling and text, and the matching of the same to original musical thought and ideas, is elegant and assured… The harmonic language of Psalm 27 [for baritone, chorus, and orchestra] is its most individuating element… [His] control of formal structure here was firm… Kaefer is a shooting star.”
Times Herald-Record of New York
“… a testimonial song… solemn and reverential… poignant.”
The New Jersey Star Ledger
“… his connection to the Whitman text, “Come Lovely and Soothing Death”, was apparent. The a cappella music was tonal without pandering, filled with craft without becoming academic, and at all times richly emotional. Bravo to Kaefer.”
