I'm on a Modern Piano Binge. I am trying to place some kind of hierarchy on this, and to keep it as simple as possible (since it's easy to fall into rabbit holes!). I am trying to separate into groups just for ease of study. What have I overlooked?
Messiaen? Catej...?*
Boulez (all)
Barraque
BA Zimmermann (2P)
Stockhausen (1-11)
"random 2cd survey of 'Darmstadt BonBons!'" (Evangelisti, Kagel, etc.,...)*
Holliger
Halffter
Denisov
Castiglioni
Bussotti
Donatoni
Berio*
Nono*
Sciarrino (all)
Rihm*
Lachenmann*
Crumb*
Ligeti
Xenakis
Feldman
Babbitt
(American pieces mostly on recitals by Alan Feinberg)
CONTINUOUS EDIT:
Cage/ Brown/ Wolff
Finnissy
Stevenson
Rzeweski
Sorabji
Scelsi
Murail
Radulescu
Sessions (3 Sonatas)
Persichetti (11 Sonatas!)
Kapustin ;D
Perhaps Late Cage?
I'd also like to get my hands on that Babbitt HM disc.
There are plenty of big names, naturally, but the one who springs to mind first - because he is a true piano specialist, and the last in the line of Alkan-Busoni - is Ronald Stevenson. He won't be to your taste at all, I suspect, but he's a true master of his field, and an absolutely fascinating musical personality. He shows as well as anyone that there is no one single way forwards, and that on that journey forwards the byways make for as compelling music as the Boulezian highways. Actually, I really have a huge amount of time for Stevenson, he's an old-fashioned mystical visionary virtuoso with deep humanity, and there can never be enough of them!
Check out the 160 odd sonatas of John White, too...(what's the latest count?).
Finnissy was a great choice. I think he's the finest piano specialist amongst the modernists, a Liszt de nos jours in some ways, with his tireless explorations into every conceivable avenue. Another fascinating world, is Finnissy's
Sorabji, in so far as he is post 1950, is of course one of the most interesting and extreme piano specialist composers of all.
Horatiu Radulescu's Lao Tzu sonatas are more fabulous works, exploring his highly individual spectral world in a way which creates a beautiful and convincing rapprochement with more conventional tunings, forms and instrumentations. Very special pieces, these, by a composer of major importance.
these first few OTTOMH...
James Dillon's Book of Elements, of course and....
how could I forget!?
the music of Rzewski. another of those piano specialists, an experimentalist poised midway between the free-thinking of the 60s and 70s and the virtuoso Liszt tradition. Signifant contributions to the piano repertoire.
these piano specialist guys - Finnissy, Rzewski, Stevenson in his own way, Sorabji in his - can be ignored or seen as a narrowish niche. And it's true that they stand apart from the mainstream vanguard - but then so, in their concentration on the piano, did Chopin, Liszt, Alkan, Busoni, Medtner et al in their own ways, and no one doubts their importance in the broader scheme of things. To me, their music is some of the most interesting and vital of the last 50 years, and I think they are well worth exploring.
Quote from: Luke on February 04, 2011, 01:26:27 PM
James Dillon's Book of Elements, of course and....
how could I forget!?
the music of Rzewski. another of those piano specialists, an experimentalist poised midway between the free-thinking of the 60s and 70s and the virtuoso Liszt tradition. Signifant contributions to the piano repertoire.
these piano specialist guys - Finnissy, Rzewski, Stevenson in his own way, Sorabji in his - can be ignored or seen as a narrowish niche. And it's true that they stand apart from the mainstream vanguard - but then so, in their concentration on the piano, did Chopin, Liszt, Alkan, Busoni, Medtner et al in their own ways, and no one doubts their importance in the broader scheme of things. To me, their music is some of the most interesting and vital of the last 50 years, and I think they are well worth exploring.
hmmm,... very thoughtful! Stevenson actually has been on the periphery from the beginning with me, no doubt because of the DSCH piece, but I have not yet pursued. Yes, you put some good names together there,... yes, maybe not my cup of tea, perhaps, but necessary nonetheless.
I forgot that I also have Barraque and Sessions (will add).
Quote from: Luke on February 04, 2011, 01:26:27 PM
James Dillon's Book of Elements
Heartily seconded.
Some others I would add to the list:
If you like pointillistic serialist piano music take a look at Karel Goeyvaerts; Franco Evangelisti; Gottfried Michael Koenig.
The list of americans needs George Crumb and Earle Brown. Possibly Christian Wolff, though I haven't explored his music much yet.
Noticed you haven't included any of Rihm's piano music on your list. Can't imagine you overlooked him, so any particular reason why?
I would add Stockhausen's
Natürliche Dauern to the I-XI you already have.
There's also some Lachenmann and Murail, both very worthwhile.
Now, that Bussotti you have I want! Been looking for it some time ago but totally forgot about it. And there's a swedish CD with Bo Nilsson that I'm also on the look out for, it's called
Piano con Forza.
Quote from: petrarch on February 04, 2011, 08:39:17 PM
Heartily seconded.
Some others I would add to the list:
If you like pointillistic serialist piano music take a look at Karel Goeyvaerts; Franco Evangelisti; Gottfried Michael Koenig.
The list of americans needs George Crumb and Earle Brown. Possibly Christian Wolff, though I haven't explored his music much yet.
Noticed you haven't included any of Rihm's piano music on your list. Can't imagine you overlooked him, so any particular reason why?
I would add Stockhausen's Natürliche Dauern to the I-XI you already have.
There's also some Lachenmann and Murail, both very worthwhile.
Now, that Bussotti you have I want! Been looking for it some time ago but totally forgot about it. And there's a swedish CD with Bo Nilsson that I'm also on the look out for, it's called Piano con Forza.
Ah, you
did hit all the ones I missed! Will add.
Bussotti's on YouTube!
And,... Rihm,... check bold! ;)
I think we've built a pretty formidable list. Now that we've filled in the gaps, pretty much, I really can't think of anything to add. I would start pruning at this point. What do you think?
Honestly, off the top of my head I can't think of any Minimalism Masterpiece for piano solo. Not a fan of That Man. I suppose Feldman fills that requirement? And I can't think of any real electronic thing that's,...I'm not so sure the piano needs any electronic tinkering.
At the moment I'm feeling kind of middle-of-the-road concerning that Stockhausen synthesizer stuff that James graciously shared. Though I might be convinced that Piano Music as an High Art is not quite done with, I can't imagine what I would consider Original anymore. I am perfectly willing to say that it's all been done, and if you want to contribute from this moment hence, the only thing one can have going for oneself is Undeniable Personality, which, today, shouldn't be too hard to spot. ;)
Quote from: petrarch on February 04, 2011, 09:28:34 PM
Nah, I want the Mode CD!
Well then, I have to tell you. I got the very last hard copy of the old issue from off the Mode warehouse shelf (I can see we think alike, haha)! That's what she told me on the phone. And, they charged me double, haha! can you believe it? But hey, it's going for millions on Amazon, so I don't blame them. You can get a cd-R from them, but any and all Historical Hard Copies are out there in the world. Here is truly a tragic tale of OOP. :'(
Another would be that Ferrari/Montaigne piano disc.
Boy, and whooo was it who didn't catch me on missing his avatar?? hmmm??
I added Nono!
Quote from: snyprrr on February 04, 2011, 09:47:30 PM
Boy, and whooo was it who didn't catch me on missing his avatar?? hmmm??
I added Nono!
I didn't mention him as it technically isn't solo piano--and I don't particularly enjoy that piece. Another one I don't care much for is Scelsi's
Aitsi. "Distorted" piano is not my thing.
Quote from: snyprrr on February 04, 2011, 09:37:01 PM
Honestly, off the top of my head I can't think of any Minimalism Masterpiece for piano solo. Not a fan of That Man. I suppose Feldman fills that requirement? And I can't think of any real electronic thing that's,...I'm not so sure the piano needs any electronic tinkering.
Well, it very much depends on your definition of Minimalist, and of Masterpiece, too, of course. John Adams' Phrygian Gates is an important piece in its way, I think; Glass's piano works are...best left undesrcibed, IMO. Terry Riley, OTOH, in his different way - well, I personally rate The Harp of New Albion very highly. On its own very different terms it is a very original and beautiful piece. And according to Riley, the masterpiece of minimalist piano is LaMonte Young's The Welltuned Piano - but I have no idea aboutit myself. Another piece, well worth the hearing (somewhere online there's a blog where you can download it free) is William Duckworth Time-Curve Preludes. Again, within their post-Cagean-Minimalist intersection, these are very important pieces, and I like them a lot.
Quote from: Luke on February 04, 2011, 01:18:49 PM
Check out the 160 odd sonatas of John White, too...(what's the latest count?).
173.
Here's a (very old) article.
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~chobbs/smithwhite.html
Quote from: Luke on February 05, 2011, 01:39:53 AM
Well, it very much depends on your definition of Minimalist, and of Masterpiece, too, of course. John Adams' Phrygian Gates is an important piece in its way, I think; Glass's piano works are...best left undesrcibed, IMO. Terry Riley, OTOH, in his different way - well, I personally rate The Harp of New Albion very highly. On its own very different terms it is a very original and beautiful piece. And according to Riley, the masterpiece of minimalist piano is LaMonte Young's The Welltuned Piano - but I have no idea aboutit myself. Another piece, well worth the hearing (somewhere online there's a blog where you can download it free) is William Duckworth Time-Curve Preludes. Again, within their post-Cagean-Minimalist intersection, these are very important pieces, and I like them a lot.
I forgot the LaMonte WTP. Yer right! The Adams I have on that Feinberg recital. That really is a great recital.
Quote from: petrarch on February 04, 2011, 11:30:05 PM
I didn't mention him as it technically isn't solo piano--and I don't particularly enjoy that piece. Another one I don't care much for is Scelsi's Aitsi. "Distorted" piano is not my thing.
Yea, me too.
Thanks to everyone for their interest! This is cool.
This may not be the most appropriate place to post this, but it is a rather astounding resource about the piano. It may take a minute or so to appear.
https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/dspace/bitstream/1887/15093/4/Kopie+van+Kopie+van+Elektronisch+neer+te+leggen+versie+dissertatie+Luk+Vaes+DEEL+1.pdf
Richard Barrett - Tracts
Elliott Carter - Night Fantasies, other works [NF is my pick] <-- Ooh, I'm so predictable
Peter Maxwell Davies - Sonata (1981)
Brian Ferneyhough - Lemma-Icon-Epigram
Alexander Goehr - Symmetry Disorders Reach*, ...in real time, other works
Donald Martino - Pianississimo
Robert Morris - Nine Pieces, Fourteen Little Pieces, other works [recommended if you like Babbitt]
David Rakowski - Piano Etudes [100 of them!]
Ralph Shapey - 21 Variations, Fromm Variations, other works
Toru Takemitsu - various [the short Rain Tree Sketch is a favorite]
Charles Wuorinen - 4 Sonatas, other works [The Blue Bamboula is a favorite]
* The lone recording of SDR went OP seemingly within a year, and I've never heard this but am convinced I would love it.
Quote from: PaulSC on February 05, 2011, 02:28:34 PM
Richard Barrett - Tracts
Elliott Carter - Night Fantasies, other works [NF is my pick] <-- Ooh, I'm so predictable
Peter Maxwell Davies - Sonata (1981)
Brian Ferneyhough - Lemma-Icon-Epigram
Alexander Goehr - Symmetry Disorders Reach*, ...in real time, other works
Donald Martino - Pianississimo
Robert Morris - Nine Pieces, Fourteen Little Pieces, other works [recommended if you like Babbitt]
David Rakowski - Piano Etudes [100 of them!]
Ralph Shapey - 21 Variations, Fromm Variations, other works
Toru Takemitsu - various [the short Rain Tree Sketch is a favorite]
Charles Wuorinen - 4 Sonatas, other works [The Blue Bamboula is a favorite]
* The lone recording of SDR went OP seemingly within a year, and I've never heard this but am convinced I would love it.
That's a nice list.
I'd like to lift up Castiglioni amongst all these pianist-composers. Out of all the serialist stuff from the late '50s to the '70s, Castiglioni has a unique piano voice. Many early pieces by now mature Composers (Donatoni, Denisov) come off very dry, but Castiglioni's Cangianti (1959) is quite a flamboyant workout that really has some personality, and isn't just a dry exercise.
Thanks for the Castiglioni tip, I should pay more attention to him. Thoughts on either of these?
Nicolls/Metier, Alberti/col legno
[asin]B000B6VUUM[/asin]
[asin]B000WULWVY[/asin]
Quote from: PaulSC on February 05, 2011, 03:35:39 PM
Thanks for the Castiglioni tip, I should pay more attention to him. Thoughts on either of these?
Nicolls/Metier, Alberti/col legno
[asin]B000B6VUUM[/asin]
[asin]B000WULWVY[/asin]
I have the purple one (Alberti). It has a couple of extra 'Complete' pieces, which are really some of the best, so, I'd go with that one. The sound is right, too.
Thanks, I preferred that one, for sound at least, from the online previews. Adding it to my list.
For something a bit different, check out the ongoing cycle of Sorabji's 100 Transcendental Etudes, of which 62 have been recorded by the great Swedish pianist Fredrik Ullén (just peruse his discography for some great modern piano works, whatever that man touches turns to gold). These pieces are perhaps the greatest collection of etudes of the 20th century, up there with Ligeti's great studies. I have the score to all 100, and they offer the greatest variety of pianistic configuration, musical expression, and anything else you can think of. Of course not all 100 are memorable, but these are much more than your garden variety of etude, firmly in the tradition of Liszt's survey of etudes. Check it out here:
http://www.bis.se/index.php?op=album&aID=BIS-CD-1373
http://www.bis.se/index.php?op=album&aID=BIS-CD-1533
http://www.bis.se/index.php?op=album&aID=BIS-CD-1713
Of course, this is only a small survey of Sorabji's output. He has a ton more works, but this is perhaps the best place to start.
I don't remember liking the Ferrari much, but that only says to me that it's probably time to give it another spin. I like Ferrari as much as anyone.
Otherwise, there's Walter Marchetti. Tons of stuff by Cage, early, middle, and late.
Simeon Ten Holt if you like that kind of thing.
George Brecht if you don't.
Ross Bolleter, too, if you like ruined pianos, and who doesn't now and again. (Nudge nudge.)
There are also tons of piano and electronics pieces. Some of my favorites, besides Marchetti, are Ludger Bruemmer's Glasharfe, Michele Bokanowski's Pour un pianiste, and a piece by Hans Tutschku that "prepares" the piano electronically, simply by hanging a microphone over the side and running the sounds it picks up through a computer program. I heard it in Vilnius a couple of years ago, so I probably have it written down somewhere.
(Just found it on his site. It's Zellen-Linien.)
Quote from: James on February 07, 2011, 08:07:33 AM
Yea, tons of garbage.
It sounds a bit better in the French pronounciation.
I love the Lutoslowski sonata!
Quote from: James on February 07, 2011, 08:07:33 AM
Yea, tons of garbage.
Hahaha, James. Still got that Tourette's have you? If I didn't know how much you enjoyed your affliction, I'd recommend some treatment. But, as it is.... :-*
Quote from: springrite on February 07, 2011, 08:13:16 AM
It sounds a bit better in the French pronounciation.
I love the Lutoslowski sonata!
Whaaat? :o I think I remember a disc on ASV, though,... but?, a WL Sonata??? huh!?!
Quote from: snyprrr on February 07, 2011, 09:17:30 AM
Whaaat? :o I think I remember a disc on ASV, though,... but?, a WL Sonata??? huh!?!
Lutoslawski [1913-1994], Sonata for Piano. Esa-Pekka Salonen [b.1958], Yta II; Three Preludes; Dichotomie. Steven Stucky [b.1949], Four Album Leaves; Three Little Variations for David. (Gloria Cheng, piano. Total time: 71'35')
TELARC
I love this CD of piano works by Tristan Murail, beautifully played by Marilyn Nonken (for whom he wrote one of the works, I believe).
[asin]B0009S3HWQ[/asin]
--Bruce
Quote from: snyprrr on February 07, 2011, 09:17:30 AM
Whaaat? :o I think I remember a disc on ASV, though,... but?, a WL Sonata??? huh!?!
It is actually a rather early piece, somewhat Debussyan.
Quote from: some guy on February 06, 2011, 09:50:52 PM
I don't remember liking the Ferrari much, but that only says to me that it's probably time to give it another spin. I like Ferrari as much as anyone.
Otherwise, there's Walter Marchetti. Tons of stuff by Cage, early, middle, and late.
Simeon Ten Holt if you like that kind of thing.
George Brecht if you don't.
Ross Bolleter, too, if you like ruined pianos, and who doesn't now and again. (Nudge nudge.)
There are also tons of piano and electronics pieces. Some of my favorites, besides Marchetti, are Ludger Bruemmer's Glasharfe, Michele Bokanowski's Pour un pianiste, and a piece by Hans Tutschku that "prepares" the piano electronically, simply by hanging a microphone over the side and running the sounds it picks up through a computer program. I heard it in Vilnius a couple of years ago, so I probably have it written down somewhere.
(Just found it on his site. It's Zellen-Linien.)
Just wanted to highlight those names. Isn't there a solo piece b y HJ Hespos for 'one pianist' (CPO) where the whole crew joins in for an orgy of smash 'n' crash? Like you said, who doesn't need ONE piece for Destruction of Piano?!! :P
The only one of those I've heard is Simeon Ten Holt; I have Solodevilsdance II with Kees Wieringa, pianist. Haven't heard it in quite awhile, but recall liking it. Ten Holt is a Dutch minimalist whose work is mostly consonant, and he often writes for multiple pianos.
--Bruce
Quote from: bhodges on February 07, 2011, 09:22:36 AM
I love this CD of piano works by Tristan Murail, beautifully played by Marilyn Nonken (for whom he wrote one of the works, I believe).
[asin]B0009S3HWQ[/asin]
--Bruce
ok, I was hoping we would get here.
Murail- Nonkin (Metier)
Aperghis- Hodges (Neos/Aeon??)
FB Mache/ Ohana- Music for 2 Pianos (Naxos; only in EU)
Dufourt-none that I know of
Grisey- ditto
Manoury- Pluton?? w/live IRCAM (Ondine?)
Denis Cohen?- live IRCAM piece,... is it Cohen, or someone else on 'that' label?
Levinas- ??,... I have some inconsequential etudes, or something
I am familiar with most of those composers, but oddly, none of their piano music! Both Aperghis and Grisey are among my favorites, in general.
--Bruce
Quote from: James on February 07, 2011, 09:41:16 AM
Tho from 1946, always was fond of the Piano Sonata, a masterful epic solo ..
[asin]B000003GK2[/asin]
Cage is garbage, Carter too. ;D
Henk
Quote from: PaulSC on February 05, 2011, 02:28:34 PM
Richard Barrett - Tracts
Elliott Carter - Night Fantasies, other works [NF is my pick] <-- Ooh, I'm so predictable
Peter Maxwell Davies - Sonata (1981)
Brian Ferneyhough - Lemma-Icon-Epigram
Alexander Goehr - Symmetry Disorders Reach*, ...in real time, other works
Donald Martino - Pianississimo
Robert Morris - Nine Pieces, Fourteen Little Pieces, other works [recommended if you like Babbitt]
David Rakowski - Piano Etudes [100 of them!]
Ralph Shapey - 21 Variations, Fromm Variations, other works
Toru Takemitsu - various [the short Rain Tree Sketch is a favorite]
Charles Wuorinen - 4 Sonatas, other works [The Blue Bamboula is a favorite]
* The lone recording of SDR went OP seemingly within a year, and I've never heard this but am convinced I would love it.
I just got a really nice disc by Russell Sherman called 'Premieres & Commissions' (w/Schoenberg Op.19, Schuller, Helps, Perle) which has Shapey's Late
Sonata Profondo (1996) which really surprised me (I have enjoyed
Seven (1963), a virtuoso piece for 4 hands, which Feinberg distatches awesomely with just two!).
You allude to the 2-cd 'Radical Traditionalism', which includes the two monster variations (21 & Fromm). Shapey has undeniable STYLE,... somthing we can get into on the Shapey Thread,... I just find a certain high standard running through everything I've heard by him (from any point in his development, no less).
As for his Piano Music, is it not worthy as perhaps the most successful interpretation of (strickly) the Second Viennese School, specifically Schoenberg? I mean, perhaps, as compared to Sessions, Perle, any Boriskin recital, and so forth? Basically, as far as the NewWorldRecords, Albany, and CRI catalogs are concerned, haha?
Tawk amoungst youwarselves
In the spirit of the comraderie of this Thread, I am writing a new Piece for Veiled Insult for reciting non-pianist!
Quote from: snyprrr on February 07, 2011, 09:57:02 AM
I just got a really nice disc by Russell Sherman called 'Premieres & Commissions' (w/Schoenberg Op.19, Schuller, Helps, Perle) which has Shapey's Late Sonata Profondo (1996) which really surprised me (I have enjoyed Seven (1963), a virtuoso piece for 4 hands, which Feinberg distatches awesomely with just two!).
You allude to the 2-cd 'Radical Traditionalism', which includes the two monster variations (21 & Fromm). Shapey has undeniable STYLE,... somthing we can get into on the Shapey Thread,... I just find a certain high standard running through everything I've heard by him (from any point in his development, no less).
As for his Piano Music, is it not worthy as perhaps the most successful interpretation of (strickly) the Second Viennese School, specifically Schoenberg? I mean, perhaps, as compared to Sessions, Perle, any Boriskin recital, and so forth? Basically, as far as the NewWorldRecords, Albany, and CRI catalogs are concerned, haha?
Tawk amoungst youwarselves
Wish I knew Shapey's piano music, but again, am more familiar with some of his orchestral and chamber music works. He's a fine composer, though.
--Bruce
XENAKIS Complete Music for Solo Piano
Evryali appears to be my single favorite Composition at the moment. I have become addicted to the Mode/Takahashi disc, more specifically, Track 1! I have also sought out some excellent YouTube performances of this Impossible Masterpiece, that I think give Aki a run for her money (her brother's old performance on Denon is explosive in another, more primal way).
This piece does conjure for me the Greek Epic Mythology that Xenakis seeks to translate for us, and in this instance, I do totally 'see' the many armed Sea Entity (I don't have the notes handy) perfectly, the Heroic Competition of the piece exemplified by the spirit of Marathon and Olympic ability that the pianist must,... I suppose,... literally 'overcome'.
Mists (1980) is beyond my ability to praise at the moment. Suffice to say that the piece, when played by A. Takahashi, is beyond begging. It simply States Truth. Total Science. Is there a more Scientific piece for piano (Nancarrow??)??
Frankly, IX's piano style is unmistakable, and in practically any piece utilizing it, it adds a Heroic dimension. Some (hmmm,... most) Late Pieces relegate the piano to single clusters (witness the simple percussive effect in the orchestral works, where the piano is used much like Martinu would in his Late Works), but even the granite Paille in the Wind (w/cello) convinces with his perfection of this cluster technique. Do we have other Cluster Masters?
The piano is so uniquely suited for certain types of Violence. I'm interested in the Traumatized Notes, and overtones, and the percussive attack of certain registers (there are secrets in the middle range which we could discuss). I'm remeinded of the Italian Horror Movie Deep Red, whose protagonist is a Composer Pianist (we never here him play, I think), who, at one point, explaining the Violence of his music, he says that a psychologist would probably say that he is bashing his father's teeth in. What IS some of the psychology behind some of this music?
That reminds me that Holliger's early '60s Piano Music (ECM Lieder ohne Worte) is very much in the vein of early Castiglioni, Bussotti, Donatoni, and the others who were just getting to Darmstadt @''58-'62.
Dieter Schebel, also, is one that has a 2-cd set of Piano Music (Meier again??) that may very well be right up some of our alleys.
If anyone here like's Xenakis's Evryali, he or she might want to check out Claude Vivier's piano piece Shiraz. It has that same sort of monolithic, barbaric piano writing with a slight jazzy edge to it. It all amounts to a sort of violence that is really not unlike what Xenakis did. Vivier is a composer in general that most people should check out. Had he not been murdered, he no doubt would have become more of a household name, with his very personal, idiosyncratic style.
Quote from: lescamil on February 07, 2011, 01:38:54 PM
If anyone here like's Xenakis's Evryali, he or she might want to check out Claude Vivier's piano piece Shiraz. It has that same sort of monolithic, barbaric piano writing with a slight jazzy edge to it. It all amounts to a sort of violence that is really not unlike what Xenakis did. Vivier is a composer in general that most people should check out. Had he not been murdered, he no doubt would have become more of a household name, with his very personal, idiosyncratic style.
I had just happened upon
Shiraz on YouTube right before seeing this! I must say that my expectations were utterly foiled, as I thought it did not sound typically spectral, but sounded closer to Sciarrino's
Sonata No.4, which truly must be the most brutal piano piece ever. My first impression was that I didn't like the Vivier as compared to Sciarrino, but I am still curious to hear other CV.
Quote from: James on February 07, 2011, 10:51:25 AM
The amazingly wonderful Francoise Variationen .. check it out if you haven't already.
[asin]B000007TDF[/asin]
Yes, you convinced me of this. It is a sprawling work, in FD's typical, bubbly (amazingly wonderful!) and joyous style. It's all up and down, without any meaning but for the joy of timbre and play. FD has probably the most 'positive' expression of the High Modernists. And, Stradivarius used to have the best booklet covers! Love the windmill (relating to a Gorli piece).
Quote from: snyprrr on February 04, 2011, 09:45:39 PM
Well then, I have to tell you. I got the very last hard copy of the old issue from off the Mode warehouse shelf (I can see we think alike, haha)! That's what she told me on the phone. And, they charged me double, haha! can you believe it? But hey, it's going for millions on Amazon, so I don't blame them. You can get a cd-R from them, but any and all Historical Hard Copies are out there in the world. Here is truly a tragic tale of OOP. :'(
Another would be that Ferrari/Montaigne piano disc.
Luc Ferrari?
Quote from: RJR on February 12, 2011, 06:38:48 AM
Luc Ferrari?
Yep: (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71PB082cO6L.jpg)
(looks like the ASIN link does not show the right pic)
Interestingly, I didn't find it that alluring. Sounded somewhat mechanical to me.
Quote from: PaulSC on February 05, 2011, 03:35:39 PM
Thanks for the Castiglioni tip, I should pay more attention to him. Thoughts on either of these?
Nicolls/Metier, Alberti/col legno
[asin]B000B6VUUM[/asin]
[asin]B000WULWVY[/asin]
I just saw a THIRD Castiglioni Piano Music cd, on Brilliant Classics!! :o It was on Amazon.uk. Wow, the end MUST be near! 8)
ok, here's some very creepy, makes Ferneyhough look like church bell, by Klaus K. Hubler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gywe_vmN8e0
What do you all think of the Barraque Sonata?
How does he compare with Boulez?
I was listening (mm,... I had this on) the other night (Henck; ECM), and thought it sounded a bit like early Boulez, but expanded, and with silences figuring heavily. I don't really know how I'm supposed to approach this piece, but it seems to me like your PostWar-end-of-world ennui,... the kind of stuff I can like. Does anyone have any insights?
The sound of the piano on this recording is much fun to hear, and it surely sounds like Henck is transcendent. I particularly remember a few bass notes that had some dark wooden tones.
Is it just serial music, or is it 'meaning'? The notes go into great detail on other matters.
Quote from: petrarch on February 04, 2011, 08:39:17 PM
there's a swedish CD with Bo Nilsson that I'm also on the look out for, it's called Piano con Forza.
Got this one today, after finding a seller on amazon that had one copy. Great piano music from 1917 all the way to 1997.
[asin]B00000JBFB[/asin]
Quote from: snyprrr on February 16, 2011, 08:05:18 PM
What do you all think of the Barraque Sonata?
How does he compare with Boulez?
I was listening (mm,... I had this on) the other night (Henck; ECM), and thought it sounded a bit like early Boulez, but expanded, and with silences figuring heavily. I don't really know how I'm supposed to approach this piece, but it seems to me like your PostWar-end-of-world ennui,... the kind of stuff I can like. Does anyone have any insights?
It's an extraordinary and excellent piece. For me, much more rewarding than Boulez.
A few comments I made a couple of years ago can be found at
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10955.msg272075.html#msg272075
A number of recordings of Barraqué can be found at
http://highponytail.blogspot.com/search/label/Jean%20Barraqué
Boulez too, for that matter.
Quote from: Dax on March 05, 2011, 04:44:57 AM
It's an extraordinary and excellent piece. For me, much more rewarding than Boulez.
A few comments I made a couple of years ago can be found at
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10955.msg272075.html#msg272075
A number of recordings of Barraqué can be found at
http://highponytail.blogspot.com/search/label/Jean%20Barraqué
Boulez too, for that matter.
Henck's liner notes for the Barraque has precious little with the actual music, but follows Henck as he unearths Barraque's intentions and mysteries concerning this piece. It's almost a
DaVinci Code-like cat-&-mouse. I'll see if Woodward is mentioned.
This blog has some magnificent needledrops of all sorts of things - happy browsing! - but specifically some good info on and downloads of the Barraque sonata in various recordings; the score and various scans are also included in one of the folders
http://highponytail.blogspot.com/search/label/Jean%20Barraqu%C3%A9
Scroll down this page for all the entries containing the term 'Barraque' - you'll find what you're looking for a short way down, but keep scrolling, there's other good stuff...
I listened to the Barraque (Henck) earlier, and really tried to take it in.
a) I missed the segue into Track2, so I really didn't begin to 'get' the piece until around the end, when there are these tremulous rumblings and tinklings. No,... I really didn't 'get' anything, but I began to hear the piece wind down. No, this is a thorny mess of a piece, no?
b) The liner notes mention recordings by Loriod (early '60s), Helffer (late '60s), and Woodward (1972). There is also a recording by a Chinese? lady, with Boulez, I believe.
Quote from: snyprrr on March 05, 2011, 08:46:48 PM
b) The liner notes mention recordings by Loriod (early '60s), Helffer (late '60s), and Woodward (1972). There is also a recording by a Chinese? lady, with Boulez, I believe.
Pi-hsien Chen
[asin]B00000DFLQ[/asin]
Um, the recordings you mentioned are available via the link I gave in the previous post.
Thank you Dax and Luke for the links to those Barraqué recordings.
Trying not to hit too many that have already been mentioned ...
German - minimalist?:
Peter Michael Hamel
Wilfried Hiller
Hans Otte
Prague spring:
Bohuslav Martinů
Miloslav Kabeláč esp Preludes Op. 30
Czesław Marek
North Americans:
Henry Cowell
André Mathieu
Conlon Nancarrow
Leo Ornstein
Ned Rorem
Tricky Italians:
Luigi Dallapiccola
Marco De Bari
Francesco Pennisi
Giacinto Scelsi
Soviets, well you won't find a whole lot of wild and wacky here tho Mosolov ceased to be appreciated:
Anatoly Alexandrov
Sergei Bortkiewitz (just sneaks in)
Samuil Feinberg
Dmitri Kabalevsky
Nikolai Kapustin
Alexander Mosolov
Nikolai Myaskovsky (d. 1950)
Nikolai Obouhov
Shosty
Forgettable Frenchmen:
Darius Milhaud
Paul Hindemith
Poms:
York Bowen
Brian Ferneyhough
Robert Simpson
Aussie, punching well above his weight:
Carl Vine
Orient:
Akira Miyoshi
Don't waste your life like I have wasted mine:
Claude Ballif
Paul Cooper
Robert Helps
William Hibbard
Quote from: k-k-k-kenny on March 10, 2011, 06:30:07 PM
Trying not to hit too many that have already been mentioned ...
German - minimalist?:
Peter Michael Hamel
Wilfried Hiller
Hans Otte
Prague spring:
Bohuslav Martinů
Miloslav Kabeláč esp Preludes Op. 30
Czesław Marek
North Americans:
Henry Cowell
André Mathieu
Conlon Nancarrow
Leo Ornstein
Ned Rorem
Tricky Italians:
Luigi Dallapiccola
Marco De Bari
Francesco Pennisi
Giacinto Scelsi
Soviets, well you won't find a whole lot of wild and wacky here tho Mosolov ceased to be appreciated:
Anatoly Alexandrov
Sergei Bortkiewitz (just sneaks in)
Samuil Feinberg
Dmitri Kabalevsky
Nikolai Kapustin
Alexander Mosolov
Nikolai Myaskovsky (d. 1950)
Nikolai Obouhov
Shosty
Forgettable Frenchmen:
Darius Milhaud
Paul Hindemith
Poms:
York Bowen
Brian Ferneyhough
Robert Simpson
Aussie, punching well above his weight:
Carl Vine
Orient:
Akira Miyoshi
Don't waste your life like I have wasted mine:
Claude Ballif
Paul Cooper
Robert Helps
William Hibbard
Niiice! 8) Hamel's a name that pops up from decade to decade.
Miyoshi!
Quote from: petrarch on February 12, 2011, 07:03:51 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71PB082cO6L.jpg)
(...)
Interestingly, I didn't find it that alluring. Sounded somewhat mechanical to me.
Listened to this in full today. This isn't a terribly interesting CD and what I had written previously still applies;
Suite hétéroclite (1954-55) and
Visage I (1956) are listenable, but the rest is either too mechanical or merely is momentarily passable. This is not the work of someone with an ear for sonority and contour.
Quote from: petrarch on March 18, 2011, 08:00:36 PM
Listened to this in full today. This isn't a terribly interesting CD and what I had written previously still applies; Suite hétéroclite (1954-55) and Visage I (1956) are listenable, but the rest is either too mechanical or merely is momentarily passable. This is not the work of someone with an ear for sonority and contour.
Of course, NOW I want to hear how 'bad' it is, haha! ;D
Currently I'm in a rotation with these Composers' Piano Music:
Boulez
Stockhausen
Ligeti
Xenakis
Bussotti
Castiglioni
Denisov
Halffter
Sciarrino
Donatoni
Finnissy
Ferneyhough
Barrett
...etc.,...
Yea,... it's a slooow day. 8)
Quote from: petrarch on February 04, 2011, 09:28:34 PM
Nah, I want the Mode CD!
Just got the Bussotti today :). It took a while to track an "as new" copy that didn't go for extortionate prices.
http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/065bussotti.html (http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/065bussotti.html)
(http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/images/065bussotti.jpg)
Quote from: petrarch on May 18, 2011, 07:11:37 AM
Just got the Bussotti today :). It took a while to track an "as new" copy that didn't go for extortionate prices.
http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/065bussotti.html (http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/065bussotti.html)
(http://www.moderecords.com/catalog/images/065bussotti.jpg)
Where/How did you get it? Haha,... good work!
I actually find myself putting this cd on quite frequently. I can hear differences throughout the decades. I especially like the
Sonatina Gioacchina (which says '5mins.' on the cd, but is actually @15mins.), which is pretty friendly, not that the rest of the program isn't pretty hot. The short
Petit bis, also, has some fingers on the strings stuff that's cool.
The score for
Pour Clavier is pretty unbelievable, no? I'm finding that I have a weakness for these looong Avant piano pieces. Just the sound of the piano being Avant-ed makes me happy, haha!