Early and Unknown Piano Works

Morton Feldman (Composer), Debora Petrina (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Debora Petrina
• Composer: Morton Feldman
• Audio CD (January 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: OgreOgress productions
• ASIN: B0000VJAP0
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,724 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Except for the pieces for three pianos, all the other works ... are miniatures. Some are heard here for the first time, and all are early and unfamiliar. Petrina plays the three earliest, unpublished works from manuscripts housed at the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel. With microphones placed further back, the OgreOgress is a fine recording. --Arved Ashby, Gramophone, August 2004

Two Pieces For Three Pianos is a seriously neglected masterpiece. Previously unrecorded and not even mentioned in the catalogue of Feldman's published works, it is one of those transitional pieces that transforms the sounds of early Feldman onto the larger canvases typical of his late music. Here pianist Debora Petrina overdubs the three parts to produce a soundscape with an oddly twisted and squashed perspective that seems an appropriate response to Feldman's asphyxiated textures. --Philip Clark, The Wire, May 2004

At well over 30 minutes, this is a major addition to the recorded canon of Feldman's work in characteristically beautiful sound from the tiny OgreOgress operation. This is a must-have for all Feldman fanciers, and I am sure it will stand up well to whatever is subsequently produced in either the Hat(now)Art or Mode series of Feldman recordings. --John Story, Fanfare, September/October 2004

Product Description

Eight in a series with previously unreleased works by well-known composers, this 54-minute CD features the world premiere recordings of 6 piano works by Morton Feldman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical Archaeology, May 31, 2005

By 

Allan J. Cronin "francis gerard" (Alameda, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Early and Unknown Piano Works (Audio CD)

More of the "New York School" composers (John Cage, Morton Feldman, Christian Wolff) has been released in the last few years than I ever thought would see the light of day. This is important music but it is not "easy" music. That is, it is music which will appeal to only those interested in the avant-garde as it presented itself in New York in the 50's and 60's.

This recording distinguishes itself in that it presents very early work by Morton Feldman (an extremely significant composer in the 20th century). These pieces are not as abstract as his later work but one can see, in retrospect, the direction in which he was heading.

And it is profoundly important to the understanding of music history that these works see the light of day. Even if they will not enter the common concert repertoire (though an adventurous pianist could do this) these pieces deserve to be heard and made available as this recording has done.

The work of "musical archaeology" as I term it has been done previously by this label with their release of previously unheard music by Alan Hovhaness. And they continue this important work in this recording.

Debora Petrina gives us highly competent readings of heretofore little known music by this master.

If you are a fan of the avant-gard and want to probe its early stages you owe it to yourself to buy this album.

This reviewer only hopes that this wonderful label will continue their "archaeological" work and unearth further long unheard gems of this forgotten repertoire. Bravo!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scrutiny on the Bounty, June 5, 2005

By 

David Meltzer (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Early and Unknown Piano Works (Audio CD)

For Feldman fans & fanatics, this intriguing & beautifully played catch-up is of significant importance to those trying to get zoned into Feldman's development as a composer emedded within a history & cultural matrix. The packaging (& under the radar screen urgency of this CD) is in the spirit of discovery, as well as recovery & intervention & devoted attention to Feldman's unique & grand musical vision & accomplishment.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Youthful Feldman, June 6, 2005

By 

Rhys (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early and Unknown Piano Works (Audio CD)

This recording is of fine quality; the material is fairly interesting but not truly stirring. Other than this being pre-early Feldman, I do not know how I place it. However, as I already stated, the actual CD is great and nicely presented. I recommend listening to this.