Another piece of the Scelsi puzzle
Benjamin A. Opie | 11/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Scelsi was probably one of the most unusual and mysterious of 20th century composers. He lacked formal musical training. He would not allow his photograph to be taken (though there are several images available of him; as a young man he bore a strong resemblance to Bela Bartok). Then there's the music; his "mature" style, which really developed in the 1950s and was marked by the "Quattro pezzi su una nota sola" [Four pieces each on a single note] of 1959, when he reduced many of his pieces to variations on a single pitch.
Many of the later works have been recorded, sometimes several times over. Documentation of his early compositions is more scattered however. These solo piano pieces date roughly from the late 1930s. While not necessarily pointing to the style he would later develop, they are worthy of listening in-and-of themselves. The compositions are vaguely Schoenberg-like, just a a frame of reference; I don't think anyone would mistake these for Schoenberg. The pieces are essentially atonal, but not as dramatically abstract as the piano works of the later serialists, such as Stockhausen or Boulez. And just as importantly, this should be of great interest to the Scelsi-phile, as another part of his overall development.
Donna Amato is a marvellous musician. She plays these works with musicianship and great sensitivity, when called for! These compositions are not as broadly dramatic as her collection of Sorabji works, which require tremendous strength on the part of the player (a disc which also comes recommended).
I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is an essential document of important 20th century piano music; there are many things I would presonally choose or recommend before this. However, all-in-all, this disc is very worthy of attention, and should satisfy the Scelsi specialist and those interested in modern piano music in general."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1