Re: feldman

[Scott Handley <thesubtlebody@xxxxxxxxx>]

>i am strongly
> considering to purchase
> the "All Piano" 4CD-set
> by morton feldman but don't know if that's a good
> place to start? i don't
> have any other works by feldman
> but think it's time to start checking him out.
> recommendations?

Everybody's recommendations are sound, but for the
record, if you get into Feldman, the 4cd ALL PIANO set
is indispensable.  John Tilbury really gets inside the
spaces and pockets that riddle those pieces.  The
entire box bursts at the seams with possibilities.
Please notice it's a limited edition. FOR SAMUEL
BECKETT (piano and chamber ensemble), PATTERNS IN A
CHROMATIC FIELD (a bit rare now, on Hat Art, a double
CD with cello and piano duo), and PIANO AND STRING
QUARTET (pretty easily available on Elektra/Nonesuch)
are all pieces I've visited over and over, with
rewards every time.  Finally, my favorite Feldman
recording right now is probably the edition on
Montaigne-Naive, distributed by Harmonia Mundi I
think.  It's in an olive green cardboard sleeve, with
extensive liners, and features chamber pieces from the
Seventies like "The Viola in My Life" and "Routine
Investigations".  Brilliant hush, and more manageable
(i.e. bite size) than the later pieces. I wish he
would have done more four-to-the-floor stuff, though. 
Where are the booty grooves?! 

-----s

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