Music By My Friends
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An authoritative collection of piano music by American composers who all are friends and colleagues of the pianist Bennett Lerner. Two-cd set for the price of one.

Bennett Lerner was born in Boston in 1944 and currently lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He is a well-known performer of contemporary music and has premiered many pieces by major composers. In 1985, he performed the Copland Piano Concerto with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic in honor of the composer's 85th birthday. The program was broadcast nationally on Live From Lincoln Center. Lerner was Copland's chosen soloist. His primary teachers were Claudio Arrau and Robert Helps, among others. Lerner received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from City University of New York in October, 2001, in piano performance and music history. Mr. Lerner writes: "Throughout my career I have had many close friends who were composers. Many of them wrote pieces for me, some of which I played in their world premiere performances, some of which I played many times, some of which I played only once, and some of which I played for the first time during the world tour of MUSIC BY MY FRIENDS in September-November, 2003. This recording is made up in large part of those pieces. In addition, it includes other works by my composer-friends." Comments from composers include Roger Zahab: "Your recordings are truly wonderful! I feel that you have done a magnificent thing for all of us. I wouldn't change a thing."; Tison Street: "The performances are absolutely stellar...Your performance of my Poem is just the best!..."; Donald Richie: "Your recording of your friends' music is your finest yet, and the relaxed beauty you bring to my little pieces is wonderful...."
Contents:
Aaron Copland, composer
Midday Thoughts
Bennett Lerner, piano

Roger Zahab, composer
The Earth's Jig
Bennett Lerner, piano

Christopher Berg, composer
Ossessione
Bennett Lerner, piano

Robert Helps, composer
Hommage à Fauré
Bennett Lerner, piano

Christopher Berg, composer
Restoration
Bennett Lerner, piano

Tison Street, composer
Poem (If by Chance)
Bennett Lerner, piano

Christopher Berg, composer
Manic Etude
Bennett Lerner, piano

Chester Biscardi, composer
Incitation to Desire
Bennett Lerner, piano

Christopher Berg, composer
Montparnasse! Bienvenue!
Bennett Lerner, piano, Christopher Berg, piano

Donald Richie, composer
The Room
Bennett Lerner, piano

Chester Biscardi, composer
Mestiere
Bennett Lerner, piano

Chester Biscardi, composer
Nel giardinetto della villa
Bennett Lerner, piano, Chester Biscardi, piano

Christopher Berg, composer
Tango-Meditation
Bennett Lerner, piano

Aaron Copland, composer
Jazzy
Bennett Lerner, piano


Review:
"...all in all, this is a splendid collection of new music..." (Bangkok Post)

"...this disc is worthwhile as a survey of less familiar....composers in the American neoclassical tradition." (American Record Guide)
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