One of our records of 2022.
George CrumbFeaturing: Margaret Leng Tan
Makrokosmos I & II
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Pianist Margaret Leng-Tan - considered the leading exponent of “extended” piano techniques - is at her best with this music. George Crumb and Ms. Tan worked closely on the preparation of these works for the recording. Crumb’s Makrokosmos I & II were written to expand the world of color and sonic possibilities which a single piano and pianist could create. In addition to playing the keyboard, the pianist is required to strum and pluck the strings; apply glass tumblers and paper to the piano interior; as well as chant, whistle and whisper - to create a work at times pastoral, mysterious, jubilant, dark, otherworldly and terrifying. Composer supervised recordings. Both Books presented in their entirety on one disc. Modeled after the Zodiac, each Book consists of 12 short movements. The hi-definition 96-khz 24-bit recording reveals all of the spectacular qualities of the music.
Margaret Leng Tan, piano
Release notes
24 fantasy pieces after the Zodiac for amplified piano, 1972/73. Recorded at Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania on 23-25 July 2003; supervised by the composer. 24-bit mastering at Sonicraft.
| Volume I | |||
| Part One | |||
| 1 | Primeval Sounds (Genesis I) | 4:07 | |
| 2 | Proteus | 1:16 | |
| 3 | Pastorale (For The Kingdom Of Atlantis, ca. 10,000 B.C.) | 1:56 | |
| 4 | Crucifixus [Symbol] | 2:55 | |
| Part Two | |||
| 5 | The Phantom Gondolier | 2:49 | |
| 6 | Night-Spell I | 3:45 | |
| 7 | Music Of Shadows (For Aeolian Harp) | 2:09 | |
| 8 | The Magic Circle Of Infinity (Moto Perpetuo) [Symbol] | 2:04 | |
| Part Three | |||
| 9 | The Abyss Of Time | 2:41 | |
| 10 | Spring-Fire | 1:38 | |
| 11 | Dream Images (Love-Death Music) | 4:18 | |
| 12 | Spiral Galaxy [Symbol] | 2:43 | |
| Volume II | |||
| Part One | |||
| 13 | Moring Music (Genesis II) | 2:32 | |
| 14 | The Mystic Chord | 2:17 | |
| 15 | Rain-Death Variations | 1:36 | |
| 16 | Twin Suns (Doppelgänger Aus Der Ewigkeit) [Symbol] | 3:09 | |
| Part Two | |||
| 17 | Ghost-Nocturne: For The Druids Of Stonehenge (Night-Spell II) | 2:07 | |
| 18 | Gargoyles | 1:20 | |
| 19 | Tora! Tora! Tora! (Cadenza Apocalittica) | 1:58 | |
| 20 | A Prophecy Of Nostradamus [Symbol] | 3:17 | |
| Part Three | |||
| 21 | Cosmic Wind | 2:11 | |
| 22 | Voices From "Corona Borealis" | 3:27 | |
| 23 | Litany Of The Galactic Bells | 2:33 | |
| 24 | Agnus Dei [Symbol] | 4:13 | |
- Brian Brandt
- Art Direction, Photography By [Inlay], Producer
- George Crumb
- Composed By
- Steve Puntolillo
- Mastered By
- Margaret Leng Tan
- Piano
- David Walters
- Producer [Associate], Recorded By, Edited By
- Okkyung Lee
- Producer [Associate]
- Alex Nowitz
- Whistling
