The Art of the Toy Piano

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For her first full-length exploration of the toy piano's slightly out-of-tune and whimsically off-kilter, percussive sound, Margaret Leng Tan covers a wide variety of material, cobbling together a surprisingly coherent, entertaining effort. The Art of the Toy Piano looks at first like it might be one of those sub-Kronos hipster records, sticking as it does Erik Satie next to Ralph Mostel, John Lennon next to Stephen Montague, and Guy Klucevsek next to Beethoven. But Tan not only has the sensitivity and control to mix these works without mashing them but also celebrates the odd, clunky musicality of the instrument. In addition to "real" piano, there's a smattering of funky kids' instruments, from a distorted drum machine to whistles, melodica, and toy accordion. --Mike McGonigal

The Art of the Toy Piano, Music, Margaret Leng Tan, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Modern Creative

Average customer rating:

Beyond Novelty

Unusual Sound

Love the sound

The Art of Margaret Leng Tan

Gamelan-like sound and varied writing

The Art of the Toy Piano
Margaret Leng Tan
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000040VC
Release Date: 1997-05-13

Tracks:

a Tarantella: Mirabella
Eleanor Rigby
Satie Blues
Three Landscapes for Peter Wyer
Modern Love Waltz
Miracle Ear
Nightmare Rag
East Broadway
Sonata In C - Sharp Minor ('Moonlight') Op. 27, No. 2: Adagio sostenuto
Sweet Chinoiserie
Star - Spangled Etude #3 ('Furling Banner')
Gymonpe No. 3

Amazon.com

For her first full-length exploration of the toy piano's slightly out-of-tune and whimsically off-kilter, percussive sound, Margaret Leng Tan covers a wide variety of material, cobbling together a surprisingly coherent, entertaining effort. The Art of the Toy Piano looks at first like it might be one of those sub-Kronos hipster records, sticking as it does Erik Satie next to Ralph Mostel, John Lennon next to Stephen Montague, and Guy Klucevsek next to Beethoven. But Tan not only has the sensitivity and control to mix these works without mashing them but also celebrates the odd, clunky musicality of the instrument. In addition to "real" piano, there's a smattering of funky kids' instruments, from a distorted drum machine to whistles, melodica, and toy accordion. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Beyond Novelty.......2006-07-16

It's a great pity that this album has gone out of print, as Margaret Leng Tang shows here that the toy piano can be more than just a novelty. She demonstrates that it has a unique voice particularly suited to many melodies- especially when played with great sensitivity and touch. Her Satie seesm especially suited to the instrument. If this intrigues you, try to hunt down a copy of this album.

Unusual Sound.......2004-09-28

The sharp sound with minimal sustain is unlike anything else; hard, clear, and perfectly resolved in Tan's superb performance. The CD contains a good mix of old standards ("Moonlight Sonata," Satie's "Gymnopedie" -- although thankfully not the ubiquitous 1st) and newer pieces written for toy piano. The track listing is confusing but correct; the odd font used for the track numbers may be matched with the corresponding title by following the thin red line at the base of each number.

Love the sound.......2004-04-23

I bought this cd just because it sounded fun - and it really is. I wasn't even sure what a toy piano was... but now I want one!!! It has such a great little innocent sound, and Margaret really figured out how to make the instrument speak. If anyone has a toy piano to sell, email me at Sillyg103@aol.com... I've taken piano for a long time, and would love to play around with one. Anyway, buy the CD and enjoy this fresh little taste of something different!!!

The Art of Margaret Leng Tan.......2003-12-12

Margaret Leng Tan has been playing her version of what a piano "Could" or "Should" sound like for years. In the past she mastered the prepared piano with "Sonic Encounters" & piano tape loops with "Litania". This is her newest addition, & what an addition it is: "The Art of the Toy Piano". Playing everything from Classical music (Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata & Erik Satie's Gymnopédie No. 3) to Rock (Beatles's Eleanor Rigby), the semi-off tune, percussion like toy piano adds an unique edge to some tunes you may know or never heard before. Sometimes other instruments are added, including a normal piano, which softens or blends the toy piano's hard edged sound. Try the "Listen to Samples", specially the 1st piece "Mirabella (A Tarantella)" for some "Real" art.

Gamelan-like sound and varied writing.......1999-11-23

There were a few duds, but most of the tracks were enchanting... or funny... or hypnotic... or sweet and wistful. A good introduction to some contemporary composers and the Bang On A Can festival, too. I listened to this album straight through and I hardly ever do that. On my copy, at least, the tracks were off between the disc and the label.

Average customer rating:

Pop Mozart is the draw here
Mozart's Playful Side
Kremer has produced another winning collection

After Mozart
KREMERata BALTICA , Alexander Raskatov , and Alfred Schnittke
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005NSQU
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

5 Min. Aus Dem Leben Von W.A.M. - Gidon Kremer/Andrey Pushkarev
Serenata Notturna in D, K.239: I. Marcia - Maestoso - Eva Bindere/Gidon Kremer/Ula Ulijona/Danielis Rubinas/Andrey Pushkarev
Serenata Notturna in D, K.239: II. Menuetto - Trio - Eva Bindere/Gidon Kremer/Ula Ulijona/Danielis Rubinas/Andrey Pushkarev
Serenata Notturna in D, K.239: III. Rondeau - Allegretto - Eva Bindere/Gidon Kremer/Ula Ulijona/Danielis Rubinas/Andrey Pushkarev
The Messenger - Gidon Kremer/Naida Cole
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G, K.525: I. Allegro - Gidon Kremer/Eva Bindere/Ula Ulijona/Marta Sudraba/Danielis Rubinas/Reinut Tepp
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G, K.525: II. Romanza - Andante - Gidon Kremer/Eva Bindere/Ula Ulijona/Marta Sudraba/Danielis Rubinas/Reinut Tepp
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G, K.525: III. Menuetto - Trio - Gidon Kremer/Eva Bindere/Ula Ulijona/Marta Sudraba/Danielis Rubinas/Reinut Tepp
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G, K.525: IV. Rondo - Allegro - Gidon Kremer/Eva Bindere/Ula Ulijona/Marta Sudraba/Danielis Rubinas/Reinut Tepp
Moz-art A La Haydn - Gidon Kremer/Eva Bindere
Kinder-Sym (Berchtolsgadener) in C: I. Allegro - Kremerata Baltica
Kinder-Sym (Berchtolsgadener) in C: II. Menuetto - Trio - Kremerata Baltica
Kinder-Sym (Berchtolsgadener) in C: III. Finale - Allegro - Kremerata Baltica

Customer Reviews:

Pop Mozart is the draw here.......2007-03-06

First off, I am guessing you are considering this record because it is done by Gidon Kremer. If not, please understand that he is a gifted nut job. He is not the place to go for a canonical interpretation. And Mozart would applaud this judgement and Kremer's course. Mozart loved fun, not reverence and protocol. He did opera for the masses.

I called Kremer a nut job, but in a serious way. He does not fool with the music. The performances are tight, disciplined presentations. But he does have his own way. Not technically, mind you, as we see some performers do. Rather it is a context of presentation where faithful joins fun.

Back to the rest of you Kremerata fans. Getting past the opening tintinabulation and more, rather than kleine, nachtmusik, you get to some quite interesting Schnittke. Here you are in the heart of what Kremer knows how to do best. This piece is the anchor for the record.

But I confess that the Leopold Mozart's Kids Symphony is the real draw for me. I promise not to tell on you for this cheap pleasure. The trick is not to play to the toys. You gotta do it strait or it would be a pandering flop.

Mozart's Playful Side.......2006-07-26

The performances on this CD are superb. They are especially successful at bringing out the playful side of the Mozartian musical vision -- not only as shown in the obviously experimental pieces by other composers, but also in how the more-familiar pieces by Mozart are interpreted and recorded (e.g., the cadenzas in the final movement of the "Serenata Notturna"). Less impressive is the way these pieces fit together. The Kremerata Baltica do bring out the essential commonality of the music, but that commonality is sometimes overwhelmed by the prominent idiosyncracies: the Raskatov contribution with its keening violin, the somber Silvestrov piece floating in from far away on a windy day, the jarring familiarity of "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" in the middle of works you're likely hearing for the first time, and especially the loudly recorded toy sounds interpersed throughout Leopold Mozart's symphony. Not to say that these distracting traits make for bad music -- Gidon Kremer's playing on the Andante is particularly lovely -- or that someone listening closely to the CD would find these traits objectionable. But potential buyers at least should be aware that they will not be getting the sort of Mozart disc that people put on as background music so that they can relax and drink a cup of chamomile tea. You'll need to approach it with the same playfulness that Mozart often exhibited in his compositions.

Kremer has produced another winning collection.......2002-11-13

Violinist Gidon Kremer and his talented ensemble, Kremerata Baltica, have been producing fresh interpretations of classic and contemporary classical works for some time now. This release is no exception.

The idea behind "After Mozart" is a simple one but produces wonderful results. The music features compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (and his father, Leopold), as well as latter-day composers inspired by him. Raskatrov, Silvestrov and Schnittke are among the composers featured.