Time to Burn — Judith Shatin’s third solo CD for innova Recordings — presents a rich cross-section of her acoustic and electronic music. Called “highly inventive on every level; hugely enjoyable and deeply involving, with a constant sense of surprise” by The Washington Post, Shatin’s music combines vivid timbral hues with perceptually clear forms. “Glyph” (solo viola, string quartet and piano) opens the CD with a soaring performance by violist James Dunham, the Cassatt String Quartet and pianist Margaret Kampmeier.

The CD closes with the Cassatt String Quartet’s affecting performance of “Elijah’s Chariot,” scored for amplified quartet and electronics made from processed shofar calls. Again, the music is suggestive of fire, this time the fiery chariot of Elijah rising up to Heaven.

"Judith Shatin’s boldly titled disc, Time to Burn, furthers [the] idea of unique diversity—output that is extensively varied yet identifiably and singularly branded. Whether her compositions are atmospheric and talkative (such as Glyph, written in 1984 for solo viola, string quartet, and piano) or literally robotic (as in Sic Transit, written for percussionist and CADI—i.e. Computer Assisted Drumming Machine), Shatin always accesses a space that is conversational—between musical lines, instruments, and performers and audiences. She allows herself to be inspired by shared stories (e.g. Elijah and his entrance into Heaven in her piece Elijah’s Chariot, or as she describes in her program notes, the 'renewed holocausts' of the past decade 'driven by ethnic and religious hatred')."
Jordan Borg, New Music Box

"Mixing electronic with acoustic music, Judith Shatin features piano, clarinets, percussion, oboe , strings and various electronics on this widely varied collection of what is essentially 21st Century classical music. A four piece 'Glyph' consists of eighteen minutes of piano that is at times melancholy, yearning and dizzying with The Cassatt String Quartet. Aaron Hill’s oboe sounds like a honking Khaen from Thailand on the percussive 'Time to Burn' while the electronics on 'Hoshech Al P’ney HaTehon' is filled with ominous moods. The closing 'Elijah’s Chariot' with The Cassatt String Quartet and electronics ends the album as a true Baal buster with lots of moments that are both cerebral and visceral."
George Harris, Jazz Weekly

“Over the course of a mere 75 minutes, this disc introduces the listener to the sheer depth and variety of Judith Shatin’s music…..the first piece, Glyph (1984, for solo viola, string quartet, and piano), begins in rather welcoming fashion. This movement is marked 'Luminous' (the others are 'Flickering,'  'Ecstatic' and 'Incandescent'). The playing here by soloist James Dunham  is stunning: resonant and vital. The first movement invokes large open spaces (of time, possibly, as well as space); the more spiky 'Flickering' offers excellent contrast and is superbly performed, especially in the virtuosity of the speedy pizzicatos. The ecstasy of the third movement is quite reverent in nature; the virtuosity of the beautifully, skillfully written finale is most satisfying."
Colin Clarke, Fanfare