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Product Description
From Amazon.com
Piston's First Violin Concerto (1939), which was once recorded on a German LP, is a prize. It's as entertaining as Piston's popular Incredible Flutist, yet so carefully crafted and serious in content as to be satisfying on every level. The other two works were written much later (in 1960 and 1970), and they are both more introspective and a bit less accessible. But they are still very rewarding music. Kuchar, who studied and lives in the U.S., has his fine Ukrainian orchestra playing as though they've known the music for decades. Buswell, who lives across the street from Piston's graveyard, sounds as though he's in touch with the composer's spirit. Add state-of-the-art sound and the disc is a total winner. --Leslie Gerber
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD is one of Naxos' successful American series. Piston was a distinguished American composer who died in 1976. An academic at Harvard, he wrote several standard textbooks on composition. He taught himself to play the saxophone and violin, yet was obviously a quiet, slightly introverted man as you might presume from the pipe-smoking man in the photo in the sleeve note. A man of tremendous accomplishment, greatly respected by his fellow composers. The works for violin and orchestra recorded here span over 30 years. The 1st concerto (1939) could be described as Neoclassical in the sense that the textures are pared down, the orchestra being kept in its place to allow the violin to sing and there is no over-blown emotion. The opening reminded me a bit of the opening of Stravinsky's own violin concerto. The whole piece is immensely enjoyable. One is conscious that Piston knows exactly where he is going at all times. He apparently never revised anything. The second concerto (1960) is a bit more dissonant and the orchestration perhaps a bit more fulsome but the violin is always allowed its way. There is a gentle sadness in the middle movement and the final one opens with a bang, ending the piece with a brilliant allegro. The final piece (second on the CD) is the Fantasia (1970). In some ways this is the most interesting piece if only because it indicates how Piston was moving in his old age. Like a number of important tonal composers at this time, Piston was incorporating elements of serialism, al la Schoenberg, into his work. Britten, Walton, Shostakovitch and Rawsthorne were others. Many of us detest serialism but all of these composers subsumed it to their own tonal language. In the Fantasia, Piston uses an extreme chromatic style to produce a quite fascinating piece. Mysterious and darkly beautiful and quite different from the two concertos. It is only fair to say that many traditionalists will find this difficult, even ugly. Keep listening! James Buswell is faultless and the playing of the National SO of Ukraine under Theordore Kuchar is marvellous. The recording in first class. At bargain price, this is important release.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Two great violin concertos from Walter Piston
12 Dec 2003
Format:Audio CD
I am generally wary of "modern" music and tend to shy away from anything remotely atonal. But with this release of Walter Piston's two Violin Concertos plus the off-beat Fanatasia, I find that a little bit of spice isn't all that unnerving! His compositions here are very attractive and very listenable, even the later works on this disc. As others have noted, James Buswell is an amazing talent. His tone is very rich and warm, while his technique is sharp and crisp. So if you want to take a chance on some mildly spicy music, look no further!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Buswell is amazing!
21 Mar 2000
Format:Audio CD
What a wonderful CD! This is the first time I have had a chance to hear this much talked about CD and I am blown away by the sheer virtuosity, imagination and integrity of Buswell's playing. This is a true artist whose mind, heart and soul are completely engaged in the music of Piston. I have often enjoyed his live performances and this CD confirms much of what I already know: Buswell is amazing! The conviction of his playing in this recording and the stories he tells from the violin is truly mesmerizing. This recording is right up there with his legendary Bach unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas performances and recording! Bravo to Naxos for finding this gem of an artist!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Fresh and Exciting
5 April 1999
Format:Audio CD
I just purchased this cd a few days ago, and I really enjoy it. The engineering sounds fresh and believable, and the playing by the soloist and orchestra are engaging and musical. I recommend it! It is worthwhile music, and I find it exciting to discover good music I have not heard, especially of such quality! If I were I violinist I would want to explore getting the music and playing it myself. I am a violist and have begun trying to turn up viola works by Piston.
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