Wolpe, Stephan

Average customer rating: A good survey of late Cage

Cage: A Cage of Saxophones, Vol. 1 Manufacturer: Mode ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Cage, John | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005YQLC Release Date: 2002-02-26

Customer Reviews:

A good survey of late Cage.......2003-09-21

All of the works on this disc are from the last decade of Cage's life. The three shorter ones are from his series of 'number pieces', the two longer ones come from slightly earlier.

The disc begins with an excellent performance of 'Five', one of the earliest of the 'number pieces'. Sounds brush into existence and fade away, unaware of what the other performers are doing at the same time. The instrumentation of this work is unspecified by the composer, but the choice here--two saxes, accordion and two pianos played with bows--seems exceedingly appropriate.

Following this, a rather less successful performance. 'Ryoanji' is a work which appears in a baffling variety of versions. This one, for four saxes and percussion, was arranged by Krieger, though approved by the composer. I find, however, that the acoustic is overly dry (particularly for the percussion part) and detracts from the atmosphere the composer wishes. This is probably the least successful of half-a-dozen versions I know of this work.

Four^5, another of the 'number pieces', is a twelve-minute work for four saxes, and in my opinion, one of Cage's finest achievements. In this performance, Krieger and his fellow players choose not to play the short, loud spiccato notes that are permitted in the score, and I find this--along with the very smooth sound--brings the work a little closer to blandness than I would like (my preference in this work would be for Marcus Weiss et al on the no-longer-available Hat Hut 'Conquest of Melody' disc, who do play the shorter notes).

No complaints, though, about the last two performances. Five^4 is an austere elegy for Stephan Wolpe, scored for two saxes and three percussionists, and is splendidly realized here. The final work, 'Hymnkus', the longest on the disc, is a thirty minute near-minimalist essay in not-quite-exact repetition of short phrases and individual notes. The sounds of sax, accordion, piano and percussion complement each other perfectly and the music generates continued interest out of very little material. (If you've ever heard Morton Feldman's 'For Samuel Beckett', the surfaces of the two works are very similar, though Cage uses less material than Feldman.)

Overall, a mixed bag, but generally positive. I'd recommend this disc to anyone who's developed an interest in Cage's music.

Average customer rating: Even Better Than New Albion! Probably the ultimate recording of "Rothko Chapel"

Morton Feldman: The Rotko Chapel, For Stephan Wolpe, Christian Wolff in Cambridge Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Feldman | Feldman, Morton | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Morton Feldman: Piano and String Quartet / Aki Takahashi, Kronos Quartet Feldman: Piano and Orchestra; Flute and Orchestra; Oboe and Orchestra; Cello and Orchestra Morton Feldman: Complete Violin|Viola and Piano Works / Christina Fong, Paul Hersey Aki Takahashi Plays Morton Feldman Morton Feldman: Piano and Orchestra; Palais de Mari; Piano ASIN: B00006JR0C Release Date: 2002-09-01

Tracks:

1. The Rothko Chapel
2. For Stephan Wolpe
3. Christian Wolff in Cambridge CD PREMIERE!

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

Even Better Than New Albion!.......2003-01-08

Rothko Chapel is an anomoly in the output of Feldman. Written to be performed in the famous Houston gallery which features 14 Rothko paintings, the work is at once hieratic, and romantic. It's thematic material is related to Feldman's other viola pieces of the 70's (The Viola in My Life I - IV), sharing the same "big melody" which is almost romantically expansive. The work contrasts this romantic melody on the viola, with soft tense chords in the choir and splashes of percussion color. It is perhaps one of the most emotionally moving of all of Feldman's works.

Coupled with this stunning work are two other Feldman pieces for choral forces. Christian Wolff in Cambridge is a short work from Feldman's earlier period in the 60s. It is more typical of the period, featuring a varied ensemble, including voices, sustaining single pitches and tense dissonances in hushed tones. For Stepan Wolpe is a larger affair written in the composer's late manner. The choral parts resemble the choral sections of Rothko Chapel - complicated dissonant chords that almost sound jazzy - like a non-tonal Swingle Singers, alternating with interludes from two vibraphones. The work is hypnotic, though not as deeply alluring as other Feldman works from the period.

The performances on this disc are stunning. The choir on Rothko Chapel has a greater presence on this disc than on the New Albion CD. There are nuances of tone that I've never noticed in this work before. The instrumental ensemble is excellent, particularly the viola soloist. The final section is particuarly overwhelming in impact. Performances on the other works are no less expert. The New Albion performance was coupled with a performance of Why Patterns? which was quite good. But Why Patterns? has plenty of other competition on disc, whereas this disc is the only recording available of either Christian Wolff in Cambridge or For Stepan Wolpe. As such, I believe that this is the disc of choice for this repertoire. Even if you have the New Albion disc, I would strongly recommend adding this one to your collection. It's just beautiful.

Probably the ultimate recording of "Rothko Chapel".......2002-11-03

Music Composers:

1. Wuorinen, Charles
2. Xenakis, Yannis
3. Young, La Monte
4. Ysaye, Eugene
5. Zaimont, Judith Lang
6. Zelenka, Jan Dismas
7. Adams, John
8. Alain, Jehan
9. Albeniz, Isaac
10. Albert, Stephen

Music Composers

Music Composers