Babbitt: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra/The Head Of The Bed

Milton Babbitt (Composer), Anthony Korf (Conductor), Charles Wuorinen (Conductor), Parnassus (Performer), American Composers Orchestra (Orchestra), Judith Bettina (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Parnassus, Judith Bettina
• Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra
• Conductor: Anthony Korf, Charles Wuorinen
• Composer: Milton Babbitt
• Audio CD (December 8, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New World Records
• ASIN: B0000030DN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,525 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars haunting, mystical music for the extremely open-minded, May 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Babbitt: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra/The Head Of The Bed (Audio CD)

This CD features one of Babbitt's more 'accessible' pieces-- the Head of the Bed, with a fascinating dream-like text by John Hollander and a wonderful mood-- and one of his most difficult, the Piano Concerto, which is a tough go for even his most ardent admirers. But if you listen to the latter around fifty times, there comes a moment when it all starts making sense, and you think wow-- this is some of the most beautiful music ever written! Happy the soul that makes this most unique of musical discoveries.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars piano concerto=masterpiece of american music, March 25, 2006

By 

Peter Heddon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babbitt: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra/The Head Of The Bed (Audio CD)

The concerto was not recorded under the most ideal of situations (union rules insisted the orchestra took a 20 minute rest for every hour of recording)and the strings in particular sound a bit hard pressed.However,in part it all adds a sense of frisson to the proceedings and Feinberg traverses his way through the thickets of notes with incredible heroism.
The concerto is one of my favourite Babbitt pieces...i hate the elitist way some of his fans talk about his music as if you require an advanced degree in ear training/mathematics to derive any pleasure from it.Even on a first hearing,there's something quite wild and zany which captures ones attention.Further listenings reveal unexpected relationships...what at first seems inexplicable, seamlessley blends into the whirlwind of impetuous activity.
by contrast,i've never been so taken with 'the head of the bed'...more straightforward and cool.Like pierrot lunaire with the edge taken out.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Close-mindedness = willfull ignorance, January 5, 2004

By 

bob north (Elberta, Al U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babbitt: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra/The Head Of The Bed (Audio CD)

I know I'm not gonna change anyones minds by this. I just think it's a little sad that some people can be so judgemental about music they don't understand. This music is not "sick". It's just difficult. And why would anyone think Reich is "disqusting" just because he's not an "avant garde" comnposer? I listen to everything from Bach and Bartok, to Monk and Jimi Hendrix, To Tool and Pantera, Not because I think it's "cool" that I listen to this stuff, but because I enjoy it. Music is music. And it can only expand your mind if your mind it not closed to begin with.