Morton Feldman — For Christian Wolff
The piece was composed in 1986, just under a year before his death from pancreatic cancer. And depending on whose playing it, this piece has a runtime between just under three, and nearing three & a half hours. This version of the piece has a total play time of 2.56.49, and was played/ recorded in 2005. I’m fairly familiar with various versions of Feldman’s pieces, though this is the first playing I’ve heard of this- so I’m unable to compare it to anything else.
I guess sound wise it’s closest to his 1984 piece For Philip Guston- due to the use of haunting flute, along side stripped piano, and drifting melancholic celesta( though the Guston piece adds in percussion). Structure wise it follows the fairly familiar Feldman composition trait of offering up selection of shifting/changing patterns- either played out by one instrument, by two, or by all three. These patterns are skeletally sparse, slowly darting, or at times quite dense, weaved & busy in their unfold. My first few plays through left me a little underwhelming, as it seemed the patterns were a bit samey & the whole thing was very tonally narrow; but as I’ve played it more the range of patterns have opened up more to me. Sure there is little doubt this piece is very focused in its tonal range, but there is still some rewarding pattern making going on here. And these move in both pace & make-up along the pieces lengthy structure. Going from: haunting & drifting, though to sprightly & angular, onto quite busy & weaving, back to lulling & soothing.
The three CDs are nicely presented in a double jewel case box. This takes in moody looking pictures of Feldman; & these are set against a black background with light green & grey digital display text. The set also features a eight page booklet, and this takes in a write about the piece, along with bios for the California E.A.R Unit. All in all it’s a nice looking set, and one of the more thought-out & designed I’ve seen for a Feldman release.
So in summing up, like many of Feldman’s compositions this is a work that needs time & patience to full appreciate it. As I mentioned early on the first few times I played this though it just didn’t grab me, but as I persisted it certainly opened it's self up & sucked me in. So really I’d say this piece is more for the seasoned Feldman listener, never the less it is a nicely presented release & the listening effort really does pay off.