Morton Feldman: Triadic Memories (2004)

One of Morton Feldman's most expansive creations, Triadic Memories is perhaps more famous for its extraordinary length than for its fascinating content or its sublime psychological impact. An intimate study of pitch and sonority that unfolds gradually and kaleidoscopically over a long duration, the piece is continually regenerative, and its spare material yields an astonishing variety of gestures and combinations. But a subtler aspect of this work is the underlying tension between what happens in the moment and what takes ... Read More

One of Morton Feldman's most expansive creations, Triadic Memories is perhaps more famous for its extraordinary length than for its fascinating content or its sublime psychological impact. An intimate study of pitch and sonority that unfolds gradually and kaleidoscopically over a long duration, the piece is continually regenerative, and its spare material yields an astonishing variety of gestures and combinations. But a subtler aspect of this work is the underlying tension between what happens in the moment and what takes shape on a larger time scale. One is constantly pulled back and forth, from an acute awareness of small, localized changes, to the perception of vast, static cycles; through this shifting of attention, the listener may feel that time is elastic and surprisingly subjective. Without a specified tempo, Triadic Memories can last more than 90 minutes, and Marilyn Nonken pushes the work to maximal length, though without playing too slowly or ponderously. She sustains the music's flow evenly... Read Less