Charles Ives: Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord, Mass. 1840"

Charles Ives (Composer), Samuel Baron (Performer), Gilbert Kalish (Performer), John Graham (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Samuel Baron, Gilbert Kalish, John Graham
• Composer: Charles Ives
• Audio CD (May 7, 1992)
• SPARS Code: AAD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005IVV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,196 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The standard for the Concord Sonata, November 21, 2001

By	Robert L. Berkowitz (Natick, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first became familiar with Ives Concord Sonata through the recording by Aloys Kontarsky. Soon afterward, I heard Kalish's recording.

Immediately I was impressed that I was in the presence of a musician who clearly understood Ives and could convey the beauty of this music from within the enigmatic writing. I came to love the piece through this recording.

The recorded sound is spacious and the piano sound is realistic. This CD is a Concord Sonata worth owning even if it were selling at full price. I highly recommend it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars still Ives' masterpiece, February 11, 2002

By	simpcity - See all my reviews

I have always been fond of John Kirkpatrick's recording of the Concord Sonata. I was most pleased to discover the quality of this performance and recording.

The obligato parts really soften the effect of the piece emotionally. This is also a slower version of the Concord, timing out at almost 49 minutes to Kirkpatrick's 38. Charlie himself played this even faster.

A lovely performance, indeed I like "Emerson" the best, and I think Gilbert Kalish was right to include the viola part for this recording.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definitive Recording of the Concord Sonata, November 10, 2006

By	Pont du Gard - See all my reviews

Among all the recordings of Ives' Concord Sonata, I think Gilbert Kalish's interpretation brings the composer's true intent to the foreground. The performance is technically perfect--perhaps a given. But more importantaly, the colors, nuances and energy of the work are brought to life. I recommend this CD to anyone looking for a definitive interpretation of this seminal work of the 20th century. It may not have the slickness of a modern, completely digitally recorded version, but the performance makes up for that. And anyway, the recording quality is very good and not even a real issue. I've heard some other recordings of this work and I could barely recognize them as the same work--big muddy messes with no understanding of foregound and background, nor of rhythmic treatment. This is the one.