Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2: 24 Fantasy Pieces after the Zodiac for Amplified Piano

Editorial Reviews
George Crumb (Composer) in a letter
"[Laurie Hudicek’s] … performances are superb... It makes composing seem worthwhile when one's music is so effectively and sensitively interpreted."

From the Artist
This disc includes liner notes in French, German and English. This is an audiophile quality recording.

Album Description
In 1971, George Crumb set out to compose a set of piano pieces; the preludes of Debussy and Chopin as well as Well Tempered Klavier of J.S. Bach come to mind as prototypes. What emerged after two years of painstaking distillation, Crumb’s Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2 for amplified piano, has proved a worthy heir to its 18th and 19th century analogs. Makrokosmos is a multi-dimensional odyssey through a universe of metaphysical timbres created via a compendium of extended piano techniques. These include the use of metal chains, paper on the strings, wire brush, paper clip, metal thimbles, whistling and Latin incantations. Crumb closes the ‘magic circle of infinity’ with these exceptional works, fusing performer with instrument, music with timbre, primitive with modern, terror with romance, lyricism with violence.

Taking advantage of state-of-the-art digital recording technology, producer Marc Wolf & Engineer Jeremy Tressler have captured George Crumb’s timeless Makrokosmos in stunning detail, clarity and dynamic range. Furious Artisans newest release promises to take the listener literally inside the guts of a 9 foot Steinway. If you need to own one version of Makrokosmos, this is the one!

Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2: 24 Fantasy Pieces after the Zodiac for Amplified Piano

Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2: 24 Fantasy Pieces after the Zodiac for Amplified Piano, Music, George Crumb, Laurie Hudicek, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb., Keyboard
Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2: 24 Fantasy Pieces after the Zodiac for Amplified Piano
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ehh...
  • Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2
 Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2: 24 Fantasy Pieces after the Zodiac for Amplified Piano
George Crumb , and Laurie Hudicek
Manufacturer: Furious Artisans
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000649NI
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Tracks:

  1. Primeval Sounds (Genesis I) Cancer
  2. Proteus Pisces
  3. Pastorale (from the Kingdom of Atlantis, ca.10,000 B.C.) Taurus
  4. Crucifixus [Symbol] Capricorn
  5. The Phantom Gondolier Scorpio
  6. Night-Spell I Sagittarius
  7. Music of Shadows (for Aeolian Harp) Libra
  8. The Magic Circle of Infinity (Moto perpetuo) [Symbol] Leo
  9. The Abyss of Time Virgo
  10. Spring-Fire Aries
  11. Dream Images (Love-Death Music) Gemini
  12. Spiral Galaxy [Symbol] Aquarius
  13. Morning Music (Genesis II) Cancer
  14. The Mystic Chord Sagittarius
  15. Rain-Death Variations Pisces
  16. Twin Suns (Doppleger aus der Ewigkeit) [Symbol] Gemeni
  17. Ghost-Nocturne: for the Druids of Stonehenge (Night-Spell II) Virgo
  18. Gargoyles Taurus
  19. Tora! Tora! Tora! (Cadenza Apocalittica) Scorpio
  20. A Prophecy of Nostradamus [Symbol] Aries
  21. Cosmic Wind Libra
  22. Voices from Corona Borealis Aquarius
  23. Litany of the Galactic Bells Leo
  24. Agnus Dei [Symbol] Capricorn

Album Description

In 1971, George Crumb set out to compose a set of piano pieces; the preludes of Debussy and Chopin as well as Well Tempered Klavier of J.S. Bach come to mind as prototypes. What emerged after two years of painstaking distillation, Crumb's Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2 for amplified piano, has proved a worthy heir to its 18th and 19th century analogs. Makrokosmos is a multi-dimensional odyssey through a universe of metaphysical timbres created via a compendium of extended piano techniques. These include the use of metal chains, paper on the strings, wire brush, paper clip, metal thimbles, whistling and Latin incantations. Crumb closes the `magic circle of infinity' with these exceptional works, fusing performer with instrument, music with timbre, primitive with modern, terror with romance, lyricism with violence.

Taking advantage of state-of-the-art digital recording technology, producer Marc Wolf & Engineer Jeremy Tressler have captured George Crumb's timeless Makrokosmos in stunning detail, clarity and dynamic range. Furious Artisans newest release promises to take the listener literally inside the guts of a 9 foot Steinway. If you need to own one version of Makrokosmos, this is the one!

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Ehh..........2005-06-15

I did not find this recording very inspiring. George Crumb is an excellent composer, and the Makrokosmos cycles are excellent. However, as a pianist, I found that this recording is not really true to the music itself. The performer ignores some of Crumb's essential markings that sometimes make the pieces special. I have to admit that this recording is nearly alone in the world, so to have this recording is a blessing. It could be better, though.

5 out of 5 stars Makrokosmos Vol. 1 & 2.......2002-06-04

I have listened to all of the major Makrokosmos recordings including the David Burge and Christiane Mathe version... I thought I knew this music! Laurie Hudicek is outrageous!! I mean, this is a flat out mind-numbing performance that runs finely scribed circles around those other versions. I must also mention the sound quality; normally this is something that I don't think about unless it is bad. On the contrary, this recording has the most amazing piano sound that I have heard short of the real thing. What an excellent find.
Makrokosmos, Vol. 1-2
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Makrokosmos, Vol. 1-2
    George Crumb & Jo Boatright
    Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00000IQM1
    Release Date: 1999-05-18

    Tracks:

    1. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Parte One: Primeval Sounds (Genesis I) Cancer
    2. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Parte One: Proteus Pisces
    3. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Parte One: Pastorale (From The Kingdom Of Atlantis, ca. 10,000 B.C.) Taurus
    4. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Parte One: Crucifixus Capricorn Part Two
    5. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Two: The Phantom Gondolier Scorpio
    6. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Two: Night-Spell I Sagitarius
    7. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Two: Music Of Shadows (For Aeolian Harp) Libra
    8. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Two: The Magic Circle Of Infinity (Moto perpetuo) Leo
    9. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Three: The Abyss Of Time Virgo
    10. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Three: Spring-Fire Aries
    11. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Three: Dream Images (Love-Death Music) Gemini
    12. Makrokosmos, Volume I.: Part Three: Spiral Galaxy Aquarius
    13. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part One: Morning Music (Genesis II) Cancer
    14. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part One: The Mystic Chord Sagitarius
    15. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part One: Rain-Death Variation Pisces
    16. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part One: Twin Suns (Doppelganger aus der Ewigkeit) Gemini
    17. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Two: Ghost-Nocturne: For The Druids Of Stonehenge (Night-Spell II.) Virgo
    18. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Two: Gargoyles Taurus
    19. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Two: Tora! Tora! Tora! (Cadenza Apocalittica) Scorpio
    20. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Two: A Prophecy Of Nostradamus Aries
    21. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Three: Cosmic Wind Libra
    22. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Three: Voices From 'Corona Borealis' Aquarius
    23. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Three: Litany Of The Galactic Bells Leo
    24. Makrokosmos, Volume II.: Part Three: Agnus Dei Capricorn
    George Henry Crumb: Makrokosmos, Vol. l + ll/Mathé: Der Schlangenträger
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		George Henry Crumb: Makrokosmos, Vol. l + ll/Mathé: Der Schlangenträger

      Manufacturer: Koch Schwann (Germ.)
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by George CrumbAll Works by George Crumb | Crumb, George | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000001SXC
      Release Date: 1997-02-18

      Tracks:

      1. I. Primeval Sounds (Genesis I) - Cancer
      2. II. Proteus - Pisces
      3. III. Pastorale (From The Kingdom Of Atlantis, Ca 10.000B.C.) - Taurus
      4. IV. Crucifixus (Symbol) - Capricorn
      5. V. The Phantom Gondolier - Scorpio
      6. VI. Night Spell I - Sagittarius
      7. VII. Music Of Shadows (For Aeolian Harp) - Libra
      8. VIII. The Magic Circle Of Infinity (Moto perpetuo) (Symbol) - Leo
      9. IX. The Abyss Of Time - Virgo
      10. X. Spring-Fire - Aries
      11. XI. Dream Images (Love-Death Music)-Gemini
      12. XII. Spiral Galaxy (Symbol) - Aquarius
      13. I. Morning Music (Genius II) - Cancer
      14. II. The Mystic Chord - Sagittarius
      15. III. Rain-Death Variations - Pisces
      16. IV. Twin Suns (Symbol) - Gemini
      17. V. Ghost-Nocturne: For The Druids Of Stonehenge (Night-Spell II) - Virgo
      18. VI. Gargoyles - Taurus
      19. VII. Tora! Tora! Tora! (Cadenza Apocalittica) - Scorpio
      20. VIII. A Prophecy Of The Nostradamus (Symbol) - Aries
      21. IX. Cosmic Wind - Libra
      22. X. Voices From The 'Corona Borealis' - Aquarius
      23. XI. Litany Of The Galactic Bells - Leo
      24. XII. Agnus Dei (Symbol) - Capricorn
      25. Der Schlangentrager (Gelb Und Lila), 1995 - Ophiuchus (Yellow And Mauve), 1995 - Ophiuchus (Jaune Et Mauve), 1995

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