Customer Reviews

Wuorinen: The Winds

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

 

 

This is interesting work. It is well worth the challenge. It takes only a few listenings to appreciate. It is a shame and a severe injustice to Mr Wuorinen (b1938) that the notes are so uninformative concerning his complex pieces of music. That is the reason I give only 4 stars. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this CD. After listening to only DUO FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO, I felt I had received more than my money's worth. Paul Zukofsky plays violin to the composer's piano. Neither is to be outdone by the other. I can visulize these two accomplished musicians having a grand time with some fun material. The tone plan of Mr Wuorinen's piece is played by the Bassoon in BASSOON VARIATIONS with timpani and harp adding slight colour variation. The title piece is an ensemble and the most complex. No doubt about it, it is quite a work out. The exercise does the heart and mind good, though. If you are interested in music following tonal plans or in late 20th century American Composers, this CD will be interesting to you.

New World has finally reissued this excellent recording of THE WINDS and the BASSOON VARIATIONS. However the major reason for celebration is the re-appearance of the Zukofsky-Wuorinen recording of the DUO for Violin and Piano (orginally available from DGG's AR series -- and out of print for some two decades!). The recorded sound on the DUO (by the distinguished Marc Aubort) is amazing!