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Sonata No. 1 for Piano
Richard Zimdars, piano
Henry Cowell, composer
Three Irish Legends
Richard Zimdars, piano
Dane Rudhyar, composer
Third PentagramÑRelease
Richard Zimdars, piano
Aaron Copland, composer
Piano Variations
Richard Zimdars, piano
"What Zimdars brings to the table in addition to sheer finger fortitude is a fine sense of scholarship regarding the pieces themselves ...as a survey of early American modernist piano music this is very good, and Zimdars' performances are accomplished and speak well for his long contact with, and expansive study of, this music." (AllMusic)
"The high point of this release is the first full recording of Rudhyar's Third Pentagram: Release, a somber and fascinating work that, as the composer says, treats the piano as a 'miniature orchestra'. Richard Zimdars' playing is hard, deliberate, a bit dark in sonority...It works for the music..." (American Record Guide)
"[Richard Zimdars] displays breathtaking chops, producing cascades of sounds with fistfuls of notes." (Fanfare)
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The first complete recording of Dane Rudhyar's Third Pentagram highlights this recording of American piano music.
The highlight of this exceptional program of American piano music is the first complete recording of Dane Rudhyar's Third Pentagram. Its fourth movement, "Stars," is a great American nocturne. Rudhyar lived a fascinating life studying philosophy, Buddhism, alchemy and Asian music. He painted (the cover image of the booklet is one of his works), wrote poetry, science fiction and books on astrology. The disc showcases landmark works by four composers who had contact with each other during the 1920s. Richard Zimdars, a professor of music at the University of Georgia, has performed the works on this compact disc to critical acclaim: "He conjured the mythology of clusters with two "Irish Legends" of Cowell... in Copland's Variations of 1930 he compressed a chiseling technique up to heroic force." --Rhein-Neckar Zeitung, Heidelberg "The most valuable contribution came after intermission with the First Piano Sonata of Ives. Confident performances of this big and difficult work are not common, and Mr. Zimdars gave one." --New York TimesContents:
Charles Ives, composerSonata No. 1 for Piano
Richard Zimdars, piano
Henry Cowell, composer
Three Irish Legends
Richard Zimdars, piano
Dane Rudhyar, composer
Third PentagramÑRelease
Richard Zimdars, piano
Aaron Copland, composer
Piano Variations
Richard Zimdars, piano
Review:
"...an exemplary exploration of the piano music of some of America's greatest composers in their greatest and most experimental period." (The Buffalo News)"What Zimdars brings to the table in addition to sheer finger fortitude is a fine sense of scholarship regarding the pieces themselves ...as a survey of early American modernist piano music this is very good, and Zimdars' performances are accomplished and speak well for his long contact with, and expansive study of, this music." (AllMusic)
"The high point of this release is the first full recording of Rudhyar's Third Pentagram: Release, a somber and fascinating work that, as the composer says, treats the piano as a 'miniature orchestra'. Richard Zimdars' playing is hard, deliberate, a bit dark in sonority...It works for the music..." (American Record Guide)
"[Richard Zimdars] displays breathtaking chops, producing cascades of sounds with fistfuls of notes." (Fanfare)