Marilyn Nonken: American Spiritual - New Piano Works

Marilyn Nonken (Artist), Jason Eckardt (Composer), Jeff Nichols (Composer), Michael Finnissy (Composer), Milton Babbitt (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Jason Eckardt, Jeff Nichols, Michael Finnissy, Milton Babbitt
• Audio CD (March 1, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Composers Recordings (CRI)
• ASIN: B00005JY5X
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,534 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I don't know of a better piano piece by Babbitt, September 27, 2005

By 

Peter Heddon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marilyn Nonken: American Spiritual - New Piano Works (Audio CD)

The pivotal works on this lovingly planned disc (all the music was especially written for Nonken)are the Babbitt and Finnissy items.
Allegro Peneroso by Babbitt bubbles over with chirpy melodic motifs ingeniously scattered around the entire keyboard and one is left wondering how all this warmth of spirit could possibly derive from a serial system of any kind.I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to hear the 2nd Piano Concerto which Nonken infectiously refers in her programme notes.
Finnissy's discursive North American Spirituals might've collapsed in less imaginative hands than Nonken but she invests color and nuance where others might simply have forged ahead.
An almost Baroque like clarity peeps through the murky ruminations and wrongly harmonised hymn tunes though the abrupt ending is paradoxiacally less startling than had things resolved more neatly.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD kicks major ..., May 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marilyn Nonken: American Spiritual - New Piano Works (Audio CD)

From the introspective and at times tragic "Chelsea Square" of Jeff Nichols, the quirky, dancing impetuousness of Babbitt's "Allegro Penseroso" and the flashy virtuosity of Eckardt's "Echoes White Veil," this is a sublimely performed virtuosic feast for the ears. No pianist besides Nonken could bring out the sheer depth of emotion and spirituality contained within these extremely thorny works. Simply put, the pieces and the performance kick major ..., and the sound quality is amazing -- which is to be expected, since the producer is the Great Judith Sherman. This is music to be returned to, and returned to often, as I have done so myself.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD kicks major butt, May 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marilyn Nonken: American Spiritual - New Piano Works (Audio CD)

From the introspective and at times tragic "Chelsea Square" of Jeff Nichols, the quirky, dancing impetuousness of Babbitt's "Allegro Penseroso" and the flashy virtuosity of Eckardt's "Echoes White Veil," this is a sublimely performed virtuosic feast for the ears. No pianist besides Nonken could bring out the sheer depth of emotion and spirituality contained within these extremely thorny works. Simply put, the pieces and the performance kick major butt, and the sound quality is amazing -- which is to be expected, since the producer is the Great Judith Sherman. This is music to be returned to, and returned to often, as I have done so myself.