Customer Reviews

Earquake

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No guilty pleasure this! Instead of a compilation of existing excerpts (with the exception of "Angel of Light"), the estimable Leif Segerstam has seamlessly drawn together new performances with the excellent Helsinki Phil. designed to produce maximum aural excitement in minimum time. Occassionally providing a moment's breathing room (notably Jacob Druckman's lovely, ethereal "Prism"), the collection easily achieves its primary goal of achieving a palpable, triple-forte high. As for the artistic validity of the music, there are contributions here from Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, Ginastera, Nielsen, and Respighi. Even the rather insane "Hekla" by Jon Leifs has its cacaphonous charms. While I usually avoid classical excerpt albums like the plague, the intelligence of selection and high level of execution plus sterling sonics behind this hourlong sort of suite, have made this one of my favorite discs of recent years.

One of the thing which killed classical music, I believe, was that much attention was devoted to music that was not designed to be enjoyed. Works by Anton von Webern, Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nono, Karlheinz Stockhausen and others were not meant to arouse emotion of any sort; quite the opposite. They were intellectual exercises meant to be studied. Music, like detergent, was devised by new formulae: "stochastic music" and "aleatory music" and Elliott Carter's "metric modulation" and "all-interval" 12-tone chords where every interval is represented within adjacent notes of the chord. It was "high aht," and audiences reacted to this Brave New Music by voting with their feet.

Among the artistic elite in the twentieth century, it was considered gauche to present music that audiences could actually tap their feet to, but such music was being written, and "The Earquake Experience" is the finest collection of the most rousing music of the twentieth century that you'll find. It also doesn't serve the other function of classical music -- providing a pleasant and unobtrusive ambient sound while fine wine and paté is being served. No, the music on this disc is closer in spirit to rock music, and it's just as loud and raucous. Interestingly, the final track, "Hekla" by Icelandic composer Jón Leifs (1899-1968), is the noisiest, and it depicts an erupting volcano in Iceland.

The names of some composers may be unfamiliar to you, but all are worth discovering. Since purchasing this disc soon after it was released, I've become an admirer of the music of Ture Rangström (1884-1947) who wrote very stirring pieces. Of the more familiar composers, there are also some surprises. Most people associate Howard Hanson of the Eastman School of Music with his "Romantic" symphony and rather pastoral music, but the brief excerpt of his Sixth Symphony presented here shows that he could write turbulent music as well. You'll also enjoy the neglected masterpieces by Khachaturian, Prokofiev, Carl Nielsen, Respighi and Shostakovich. In fact, the only piece on the CD that I would guess most people are familiar with is the "Malambo" from the ballet suite "Estancia" by Alberto Ginastera.

It's a fine and varied selection of music for you to discover, but the CD is also worth owning because of its spectacular fidelity. Audiophiles will treasure this as a test record.

So it's enjoyable new music and great sound. What are you waiting for? Get this CD and go nutz!

I kind of feel bad recommending, and with four stars nonetheless, a recording of such shameless and unartistic music. However, if you just got a new speaker system or something and need to break it in, this is your CD.

The word of the day for this CD is LOUD. Clear? Sometimes. Impassioned? Occasionally. Artistic? Rarely. But deafening with a side of deafening served with stentorian sauce? Yes, and incessantly.

If that's what you're looking for, then I suppose it should get five stars. The real caveat here is that the informational liner notes so oft-expected with classical music recordings are simply missing. There are liner notes, but any respect for the represented artists is downgraded further when sometimes the name of the piece you're listening to is unclear. The makers of this CD were so enamored with their own "Track Title"s that the real names of the pieces are often butchered.

Oh, well. This is still a lot of fun to listen to. You're just going to have to do your own research for the rest of the story.

Very interesting CD. It's like the "Thunder Classics" with more contemporary artists/music. This CD is great for drowning out the hoodlums' noise that assaults you when they pull up next to you at a stop light. Highly recommend it! I have listened to these songs for years and haven't grown tired of them. But then again that's what is so great about classical music - there is always something new to listen to - some aspect of a song that you may have missed in the past.

The previous reviewer thinks that Hekla is the name of the composer who wrote this record's final track. It is not. The composer's name is Jon Leifs (1899-1968). Hekla is the name of the volcano.