For Feldman [Limited Edition]

David Beardsley (Composer), Morton Feldman (Composer), David Kotlowy (Composer), John Prokop (Composer), David Toub (Composer), Rangzen Quartet (Orchestra), Christina Fong (Performer) | Format: DVD Audio

Product Details

• Performer: Christina Fong
• Orchestra: Rangzen Quartet
• Composer: David Beardsley, Morton Feldman, David Kotlowy, John Prokop, David Toub
• DVD Audio (January 2, 2004)
• Please Note: This is a DVD-Audio disc which is playable on most DVD players as well as all DVD-Audio players. Click here for additional information regarding compatibility.
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: OgreOgress productions
• ASIN: B000F3T3PK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,441 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes

'For Feldman' is a self-explanatory audio DVD in which the Rangzen string quartet (Karen Krummel, Heather Storeng, Christopher Martin, Sieu Mahn Phong) and violinist Christina Fong tackle Feldman-related compositions by four young disciples, plus a series of short pieces for string quartet by Feldman himself, fragments from 1954-56 appearing as glimpses of noctambulism radiating from the lights of comprehensible dissonance, intermissions of past memories amidst the profound contemporary awareness of the young heirs. David Toub's 'MF' is the most agitated, so to speak, work on offer here, a continuative analysis of a series of interlocking cells and patterns that go back to early Philip Glass with a hint to Stephen Scott, but with a curiously oblique aura surrounding it. David Kotlowy's 'Of shade to light' alternates the most Feldmanesque 'few notes, many thoughts' considerations to gorgeous, full-scale waves of droning strings that just can't leave us indifferent. 'New England, late summer' by John Prokop is defined by the author 'something that would not call attention to itself', yet its back-and-forth, slightly alterated quiescence is like a sloping undertow in a moaning sea, causing the opposite effect on my own concentration. The final and longest track is David Beardsley's 'As beautiful as a crescent of a new moon on a cloudless spring evening': Christina Fong's interpretation of this piece tuned to just intonation is exquisite, the score's soberness juxtaposing distant reminiscences of La Monte Young and a stripped bare version of Phill Niblock to the internal hums of our body when we're immersed in impregnable hush.

Product Description

Second in a series with previously unreleased works by emerging composers, this 96-minute 96kHz|24bit Audio DVD features 4 world premiere recordings and the only available digital recording of 3 string quartet works by Morton Feldman.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fong-tastic, December 20, 2008

By 

Karl Bly (West Olive, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Feldman (DVD Audio)

Christina Fong has dedicated herself to trying to make people aware that there is more to the world of classical music than the 17th and 18th centuries. She has been playing and recording the music of 20th century composers for many years now. This is another fine example of her work in this area. She and the Rangzen Quartet play the music of Feldman (and some of his disciples) here as well as anyone out there. Get this and sit back and enjoy the music as played by one of the great voices of "modern music".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful Moodmaking, December 3, 2008

By 

Jeff Redmond (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For Feldman (DVD Audio)

Our lively Christina Fong has once again proved her remarkable talents here with the Rangzen Quartet. This Audio DVD is the very best to listen to, especially when you're stuck in any traffic jam, and have any kind of a working DVD player in your car. There's usually nothing much worthwhile on the radio anyway, and this range of beautiful music will always prove itself useful. Sit back, relax, be well entertained, and leave all your troubles far behind. Enjoy! {:-)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving tribute to a subtle genius., November 28, 2008

By 

J. M. Whelan "musically aware" (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For Feldman (DVD Audio)

How can it be that mine is only the second review of this moving tribute?

How to review a CD without a track list?

MF: In Toub's opening piece for string quartet, re-statement and -phrasing of the busy theme desensitizes the mind (attending to the subtle variations), evolves to a peaceful feldmanesque interlude and concludes with a thoughtful re-conceptualization of the theme. Perusing the liner note for this track (sans track list), I can only wonder, why mezzo forte instead of a quieter dynamic ("morto forte" or "mezzo morte")? I am intrigued now to hear Toub's original idea for a tribute, Five Notes for Christina Fong.

Kotowly/ Shade to Light: Reminiscent of For Philip Guston; subtle intrigue, a lovely piece that MF would have appreciated.

New England, Late Summer: Likewise very much in the spirit of MF, perhaps Crippled Symmetry.

As Beautiful as a Crescent of a New Moon on a Cloudless Spring Evening: Just intonation or just out of tune? Either way this piece rings with subtle detunings that are blissfully soothing. During my first several listenings this piece disturbed me, until the night I realized it is the most feldmanesque piece in this very satisfying tribute. As John Cage said, when we try to ignore a sound it irritates us and we call it "noise", but if we listen carefully we are fascinated by its unrehearsed, intrinsic beauty. Compare with Alvin Lucier's Wind Shadows (NWR 80628-2) or Pauline Oliveros' Primordial / Lift (DL 33-2006/IEA 9).

Feldman's repertoire is so temporally and thematically extensive that despite hundreds of hours of often semi-attentive listening I feel inadequate to post a review. Still someone must break the ice and alert the world to this fitting tribute to the master of subtlety.

Perhaps others are likewise intimidated to review this tribute. Ogre-Ogress deserve much praise for their reverent addition to Feldman's legacy.