In this fascinating collection of twentieth century works for two pianos or piano four-hands, the GrauSchumacher Piano Duo nests its centerpiece, Peter Eötvös' Kosmos, in the middle of the album, with short works from suites by four other composers flanked around it. Immediately surrounding it are movements from Bartók's Seven Pieces for Two Pianos from Mikrokosmos (1939). Preceding and following the Bartók are movements from Stockhausen's Tierkreis (Zodiac) (1975-1976). Around those are movements from Kurtág's ongoing ...
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In this fascinating collection of twentieth century works for two pianos or piano four-hands, the GrauSchumacher Piano Duo nests its centerpiece, Peter Eötvös' Kosmos, in the middle of the album, with short works from suites by four other composers flanked around it. Immediately surrounding it are movements from Bartók's Seven Pieces for Two Pianos from Mikrokosmos (1939). Preceding and following the Bartók are movements from Stockhausen's Tierkreis (Zodiac) (1975-1976). Around those are movements from Kurtág's ongoing series Játékok (begun in 1973), and the album opens and closes with movements from Crumb's Celestial Mechanics (Makrokosmos IV) (1979), subtitled Cosmic Dances. The "cosmic" theme is pretty clear -- even some of the Kurtág pieces have to do with stars and with infinity. The program is brilliantly structured; it has a clear and meaningful trajectory that situates the Eötvös as a piece with the specific gravity to justify the placement of the other briefer but far more famous works...
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Add this copy of Kosmos to cart. $50.27, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by Forced Exposure.
