Search - Lou Harrison & Linda Burman-Hall :: Complete Harpsicord Works Music For Tack Piano & Fortepiano In Historic And Experimental Tunings

Good but not Exciting

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 08/02/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is not a bad CD. The music is extremely well played and the repertoire is interesting, but it just seems to be lacking in the spark that I associate with Lou Harrison. This recording is dominated by harpsichord music in just intonation with a few pieces for fortepiano and a couple of tack piano pieces thrown in for variety. Most of the works are in Harrison's Baroque/Eastern style. The first piece on the CD is a longish suite based on Baroque dance forms. The effect is rather like Rameau or Couperin, all elegance and grace. The six sonatas are obviously modeled on the Scarlatti sonatas. These are also charming works. The final few works on the CD are from aHarrision's earlier period. There is even a spoof on 12 tone music just for fun. So what's the problem? I think that, because of the similarity of timbre in this recital, the disc begins to sound rather grey after a while. The harpsichord as an instrument, tends toward a deadening consistency of tone color. Most players reslove this by creating programs by diverse composers, or programs of Bach, who seems to defy boredom. Harrision is a good composer, but without the tonal contrasts of his ensemble pieces, this CD begins to fall flat after a while. This is a CD for the completist only I think. People new to Harrision would do better to buy the Piano Concerto or La Koro Sutro. Both of these pieces provide a better introduction to the work of this marvelous composer."