Articles by Year: La Folia, 2009.

Statistically Speaking, the End Is Near

I’m the sort who types “xenakis” or “lachenmann” into search engines just for the hell of it.

Statistically Speaking, the End Is Near

I’m the sort who types “xenakis” or “lachenmann” into search engines just for the hell of it.

From the Diary of an Indolent Pianist

The building’s vines have overgrown the window. My sandals languish by the piano.

From the Diary of an Indolent Pianist

The building’s vines have overgrown the window. My sandals languish by the piano.

EA Bucket 9.

Reflecting his keen mind and spirit, Gould’s five radio documentaries marshal texts, interviews, ambient sounds and music. The “Solitude Trilogy” considers three once-isolated Canadian populations.

EA Bucket 9.

Reflecting his keen mind and spirit, Gould’s five radio documentaries marshal texts, interviews, ambient sounds and music. The “Solitude Trilogy” considers three once-isolated Canadian populations.

Six Curious Pair Bonds

Christina Pluhar makes her Virgin début with this offering — arrangements of some of Monteverdi’s “greatest hits,” alongside lesser-known but no less endearing pieces, largely from the middle or late madrigal books.

Six Curious Pair Bonds

Christina Pluhar makes her Virgin début with this offering — arrangements of some of Monteverdi’s “greatest hits,” alongside lesser-known but no less endearing pieces, largely from the middle or late madrigal books.

42 Amens

With Marcel Dupré’s backing, Messiaen left the Silesian prison camp in March 1941 and found work at the Paris Conservatoire as professor of harmony. He also saw his muse in a piano student who attended his first class and wrote Visions de l’Amen for them to play together.

42 Amens

With Marcel Dupré’s backing, Messiaen left the Silesian prison camp in March 1941 and found work at the Paris Conservatoire as professor of harmony. He also saw his muse in a piano student who attended his first class and wrote Visions de l’Amen for them to play together.

Mostly Symphonies 11.

This revealing 2007 compilation reaches back to recordings from 1966-67 and 1983-84, which opened a largely neglected chapter of Czech music.

Mostly Symphonies 11.

This revealing 2007 compilation reaches back to recordings from 1966-67 and 1983-84, which opened a largely neglected chapter of Czech music.

Musique de Chambre de Musique (l’Amérique et plus nord)

Bridge has embarked on a Lerdahl series.

Musique de Chambre de Musique (l’Amérique et plus nord)

Bridge has embarked on a Lerdahl series.

Allan Pettersson’s Greatest Hits

For some, it may simply be enough to know that there’s a Scandinavian composer straddling Romantic and modern styles who thought his work was being suppressed and who wrote long and depressive symphonies, often deliberately ugly, despite fleeting moments of beauty.

Allan Pettersson’s Greatest Hits

For some, it may simply be enough to know that there’s a Scandinavian composer straddling Romantic and modern styles who thought his work was being suppressed and who wrote long and depressive symphonies, often deliberately ugly, despite fleeting moments of beauty.

Abbey Simon in Concert

Today’s pianists think of Simon’s playing style as old-school, and it is true that at times during the concert I felt I was listening to one of those 78 rpm records…

Abbey Simon in Concert

Today’s pianists think of Simon’s playing style as old-school, and it is true that at times during the concert I felt I was listening to one of those 78 rpm records…

Springtime with Bach

In the midst of my current Bach-fest, I came across a New Yorker article that quoted Schopenhauer’s distinction between talent and genius: “Talent is like the marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like the marksman who hits a target as far as which others cannot see.”

Springtime with Bach

In the midst of my current Bach-fest, I came across a New Yorker article that quoted Schopenhauer’s distinction between talent and genius: “Talent is like the marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like the marksman who hits a target as far as which others cannot see.”

Eötvös, Vidovszky, Szollosy: Hungarian Holiday 1.

I have been meaning to tackle some Hungarian composers and a few colorful Budapest Music Center releases for quite some time, even before Ligeti’s passing (June 12, 2006) made the stack shift ever so slightly.

Eötvös, Vidovszky, Szollosy: Hungarian Holiday 1.

I have been meaning to tackle some Hungarian composers and a few colorful Budapest Music Center releases for quite some time, even before Ligeti’s passing (June 12, 2006) made the stack shift ever so slightly.

Andriessen at 70 I: Italienisches Liederbuch (Bitte um Verzeihung, Herr Wolf)

Louis Andriessen, who celebrates his 70th birthday in June, is an unlikely radical.

Andriessen at 70 I: Italienisches Liederbuch (Bitte um Verzeihung, Herr Wolf)

Louis Andriessen, who celebrates his 70th birthday in June, is an unlikely radical.