Customer Reviews

Ondes Martenot

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

 

 

My love of Messiaen introduced me to the Ondes Martenot... and with this disc Thomas Bloch has shown us the full capabilities of the instrument. The Messiean work is a delight, his performance the best I have heard of this work so far. The Martinu not a grade A piece, but his performance does it justice. Virtually all other works on the disc were new to me. Some are a challenge the first time through, not really intended as background music in any way. But soon I had a chance to really sit and listen and enjoyed all works. Clearly his technique is superb, no surprise there given his work on the Turringalia Syphony I had heard previously. But I did not know he was a composer of considerable merit. These works stand well on their own, an interest in Ondes Martenot not required. I look forward to more discs.

Thomas Bloch and his fellow musicians have made a real winner with this CD. The music is diverse and interesting and the performances are lovely.

I am unfamiliar with some of the composers presented on this disc (Martinu and Messiaen are the most well known), but there are some very good pieces of music here - even though they might not be described as 'masterpieces'. Bernard Wilson's double concerto for ondes Martenot, piano, strings and percussion reminds me of Bartók's piano concertos.

Some of the other pieces on this CD are works of pure fantasy. If you want to know what 9 ondes Martenot sound like when played together, Thomas Bloch's Wave Orchestra provides you with a delightful answer.

The ondes Martenot is one of my favourite 20th century 'period instruments' and this disc is a wonderful introduction to this instrument.

Aside from the slip-shod art (typical for Naxos), I can't find much positive to say about the performances. They come off as under-rehearsed (the OM is not an easy instrument to play), lacking any sort of passion or commitment.

Cynthia Miller, the foremost exponent of the O M, would have come up with a performance to die for.