Customer Reviews

Early and Unknown Piano Works

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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!

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.

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.