John Cage: Dream (2009)

John Cage did write some music for double bass, or at least pieces specific to a string instrument that can be played on double bass with authority, namely 59 1/2," for a string player (1953) and 26'1.1499," for a string player (1955); the latter piece being rather famously recorded for Nonesuch by Bertram Turetzky in the 1970s. In his Wergo release Dream: John Cage, double bassist Stefano Scodanibbio eschews these obvious Cage offerings for his instrument and elects to realize, or to adapt, other things in Cage's catalog ... Read More

John Cage did write some music for double bass, or at least pieces specific to a string instrument that can be played on double bass with authority, namely 59 1/2," for a string player (1953) and 26'1.1499," for a string player (1955); the latter piece being rather famously recorded for Nonesuch by Bertram Turetzky in the 1970s. In his Wergo release Dream: John Cage, double bassist Stefano Scodanibbio eschews these obvious Cage offerings for his instrument and elects to realize, or to adapt, other things in Cage's catalog with some splendid, and some mixed, results. The Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1958) is one of Cage's most widely adapted pieces; even solo parts taken from the score have been presented as separate Cage compositions. Scodanibbio's realization is like a version for solo piano and chamber orchestra that works very well; if it seems a little "Darmstadt-y, its that the texture, when thinned out to this extent, resembles a Darmstadt-styled chamber piece in a superficial sense, whereas... Read Less