This is the second Tzadik release of music by one of the most original and under-appreciated composers of the twentieth century. With José Maceda's passing in 2004, several of his most passionate musical collaborators have been continuing his legacy and they come together here to present his most ambitious and greatest large scale work—Strata. Beautifully recorded in Manila at the University of the Philippines and directed by Maceda's long-time collaborator Ramón Santos and Mills College colleague Chris Brown, this represents a long awaited follow-up to the seminal Gongs and Bamboo release from 2001. The recording captures Strata in its full architectural scope, showcasing Maceda's mature synthesis of traditional Southeast Asian musical concepts with contemporary compositional techniques.

Strata exemplifies Maceda's revolutionary approach to large-ensemble composition, employing his characteristic "sound mass" technique across multiple instrumental layers. The work demonstrates his lifelong commitment to creating music that transcends Western harmonic conventions, instead focusing on texture, timbre, and the spatial relationships between sounds that defined his unique aesthetic vision. Also included are two beautifully recorded pieces for Western instruments from Maceda's last decade. Sujeichon for five pianos draws extensively from Korean court music, reflecting Maceda's pan-Asian approach to musical synthesis and his deep study of traditional East Asian musical forms. The work demonstrates how Maceda adapted non-Western musical principles to European instruments, creating entirely new sonic possibilities.

Music for Two Pianos and Four Percussion Groups rounds out the collection, showcasing Maceda's ability to work within Western chamber music formats while maintaining his distinctive textural approach. The piece highlights his skill in balancing multiple percussion ensembles against the percussive qualities of the piano, creating complex polyrhythmic interactions that recall his fieldwork in traditional Indonesian and Filipino music.

These recordings, overseen by Santos and Brown who worked closely with Maceda during his lifetime, ensure authentic interpretation of the composer's intentions while demonstrating the continued vitality of his musical vision. The collaboration represents both a tribute to Maceda's legacy and a continuation of his innovative approach to cross-cultural musical synthesis.