Previously released by the Musical Heritage Society in 1991, this 2005 Naxos reissue is heartily recommended for its remarkable variety; and the outstanding new music ensemble Continuum should be commended for perpetuating Conlon Nancarrow's fascinating legacy. Known to many listeners as an eccentric, experimental composer for the player piano, and long unknown for his other instrumental works, Nancarrow is fairly portrayed in a program that reflects his range more fully. The works for player piano are represented here by ...
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Previously released by the Musical Heritage Society in 1991, this 2005 Naxos reissue is heartily recommended for its remarkable variety; and the outstanding new music ensemble Continuum should be commended for perpetuating Conlon Nancarrow's fascinating legacy. Known to many listeners as an eccentric, experimental composer for the player piano, and long unknown for his other instrumental works, Nancarrow is fairly portrayed in a program that reflects his range more fully. The works for player piano are represented here by the outrageously rapid-fire Toccata for violin and player piano (1943), performed by violinist Mia Wu, and some two-hand and four-hand piano arrangements of other mechanical piano studies, brilliantly played by Continuum directors Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs. But the Piece No. 1 for small orchestra (1943); the Trio Movement for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1942); the String Quartet No. 1 (1945); and the Piece No. 2 (1986) offset them, and are in their own quirky ways as intriguing...
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