To Remember Those Who've Died...

[mechanyx]

...we honor their memory.

Almost 6 months prior to the writing of this entry, I wrote this. This entry is the promised continuation of that

Comments

[chrislyons]

It was written and given as a gift to Shostakovich. Ronald has shown me the photos of him presenting it. The piece is an eighty minute long single movement masterpiece that has to be heard to be believed. Murray McLachlan made a fantastic recording of it. There is a Ronald Stevenson society on the web and he is well worth checking out - a genius without doubt. I will try and post a link. Ronald Stevenson was a friend of Shostakovich's.
John Ogdon has made a recording of Opus Clavicembalisticum which, though expensive to obtain is well worth it. It is on Altarus records. If you like 50 minute long eight part quadruple fugues and piano music written on six staves.....
Roland Smith recorded much of Alkan's output which is available through EMI treasures on budget (certainly in Britain. Alkan will be regarded as one of the great composers as soon as there are enough pianists capable of playing his demonic creations.
Alfred Brendel (in my opinion) recorded the definitive Fantasia Contrapuntistica, though Ogdon (my piano-playing hero) recorded a fine version. The Brendel should be widely available. Studying this masterpiece with a score in conjunction with the above Sorabji piece is a rewarding exercise as the Sorabji is modeled on the Busoni except about ten times in length! Fantasia contrapuntistica is based on the dimensions of some church whilst opus, allegedly is based on the dimensions of some enormous indian temple. They sound immensely different - just as noone sounds much like Busoni, no music throughout history sounds anything like Sorabji.
That piece is astounding and alien.

[mechanyx]

That's awesome.

Richter has always been my favorite pianist but Ogdon is awesome. His recording of the Scriabin cycle is the best I've heard. (Side note: There's a Jonathan Ogden who plays for the Baltimore Ravens)

I will definitely try to get my hands on these pieces.