Search - Walter Piston, Ian Munro :: Piston: Chamber Music

Five Stars for the Performances, Four for the Music

10/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Walter Piston's chamber music isn't as well known as his symphonic works, and this disc tells us why. Though these pieces share with the orchestral music Piston's hallmarks--an easy melodiousness that is very American, flexible rhythmic patterns and driving cross rhythms, and a motoric energy especially in finales--for the most part they are less memorable, Piston perhaps lavishing his best ideas on the orchestra.For one thing, the String Sextet and Piano Quartet, both written in 1964, are much more chromatic than is typical of Piston and sound almost atonal in spots, with the lack of developmental focus that seems to imply. Often, the two pieces seem to meander along without any particular place to go. But then the finales have the usual elan and drive that Piston luckily couldn't forgo in his last movements. The Energico last movement of the Sextet is especially infectious.But then the other works are vintage Piston. The earliest piece on the disc, the Flute Quintet of 1942, has a pastoral langor that seems just right for this instrumental combination, except, that is, in the bouncing fugato of the scherzo and in the fleet first theme of the finale. The gentle dialogs among the instruments have the air of good conversation. A very pleasant work indeed. The Piano Quartet, equally fine, is equally unabashedly Romantic, taking as its models the great quintets of the 19th century: Schumann, Brahms, and especially Dvorak. A balletic finale of real charm crowns the work. The host of players in this project include familiar names such as James Buswell and Theodore Kuchar, and all play with evident relish, as well a high sense of ensemble. Naxos' Down Under recording team provide sound that is warm and wonderfully immediate. Another winning bargain from Naxos."

Fine music in overall good performances

G.D. | Norway | 03/03/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Naxos has released several fine issues of orchestral works by Walter Piston, and this release of chamber works is very welcome - but I will immediately add that the music here is not as immediately attractive as his orchestral works. Most of Piston's chamber music is relatively late and consists of generally romantically introspective works which don't yield up their qualities very easily. The flute quintet is an exception on both scores. Dating from 1942, it is a tuneful, generally spirited, somewhat neo-classical work - not very profound, but very appealing and excellently written for the instruments, featuring the flute both as soloist and part of the general textures.



The piano quartet dates from 1964, and is introverted and does, despite its agreeable themes and interesting ideas, come across as a little belabored. The string sextet from the same year is more ebullient, but also more dissonant - slightly craggy but also full-bodied and intensely contrapuntal. The first movement is brooding and dark, the scherzo brisk and the dramatic finale seems to attempt a reconciliation, not entirely successfully but not without interest either. The piano quintet dates from 1949 and is the most romantic work here - even genuinely Brahmsian at times. It is inventive and variegated but doesn't quite manage to hold the listeners interest, except in the jaunty, bright finale with its two interwoven, strong themes and clever developments.



The performances are overall good, if lacking a little in intensity in the later works (the flute quintet is the most successful performancewise as well). The sound quality is a little recessive but perfectly fine. Overall this disk deserves a firm recommendation for fans of the composers, but newcomers are promptly directed toward Piston's orchestral works, perhaps in particular the violin concertos."

Do yourself a favor...

rustic | 08/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...and buy this cd. Then check out other Piston cds. Piston was accussed of being too academic with his compositions. Oh you critics. I hope you're not responsible for the vast array of Pistonless concerts."