Search - Morton Feldman, Michael G. Morgan, Michael Morgan :: Morton Feldman: Durations I-V; Coptic Light

Not the best pairing for "Coptic Light"

Anonymous reviewer | NY State United States | 02/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The performance of "Coptic Light" is very good, but "Durations I-V" is not the best coupling. Feldman's orchestral music is more "accessible" than his chamber work (though I personally prefer the music for small ensembles), and newcomers to Feldman might prefer an all-orchestral CD. For "Coptic Light", consider the Argo recording, which includes two other concerti. For a better performance of "Durations I-V", try "The Ecstasy of the Moment" on Etcetera, a 3-CD all-chamber set."

Early Feldman is rough going,but Coptic is worth it

Anonymous reviewer | 04/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Artists need to find forms, frames, and structures to engage their confused thinking. They always need to do something with ideas that don't know what to do with. And for Feldman this series of pieces "Durations" was his attempt to learn about timbre in a very challenging way. Feldman has always been interesting in pure unshaped and shaped beauty. His music floats and delicately visits different timbres, sometimes creating transparent layers and uninvolved counterpoint. Feldman wrote at the piano it said it slowed him down. He thought his music needed to pace itself in order to look globally at the whole edifice. These "Durations" with varying sets of instruments is rough going if this is your first time Feldman. In listening you will find yourself analyzing sound more,like you are looking at a sound under a microscope,"Coptic Light" is a rare treat. Unless you scour the new music festival circuit in Europe you can never hear Feldman's works with orchestra. He has concertos. "Coptic Light" we find Feldman where he ought to be, in a large bright field of sound with lots of spaces. The Germans here bring a precise beauty and committed sound. I would have included another of Feldman's orchestra; work and jettisoned the "Durations"."