Morton Feldman/Vicki Ray/The Eclipse Qua — Piano & String Quartet
Here we have a 2011 release of the work on Bridge Records- it features a recording made that same year in Pasadena. The recording brings together respected American pianist Vicki Ray, who is counted as one the leading interrupters of contemporary piano music, as well as been one of the key members of renowned modern chamber ensemble The California E.A.R. Unit. And The Eclipse Quartet who are a celebrated all female five piece, that brings together Sarah Thornblade & Sara Parkins on violins. Alma Lisa Fernandez on Viola, and Maggi Parkins on Cello.
The piece was originally composed for pianist Aki Takahashi & the Kronos Quartet- this playing of the piece went onto be released in 1993 on the Nonesuch Records label, and has become one of the more known & respected recordings of Mr Feldman’s discography. I’m ashamed to say I’ve still to hear the Takahashi/Kronos take on it; but after hearing this version I’m most keen to hear it. Over the years there have been a few renditions of the work, and these have had running times between 70 plus & over 80 minutes- the version I’m reviewing today has a total play time of 79.13. And is presented on the disc as a single track.
As with much of Feldman’s output the piece is based around a series of patterns, and these are played out sometimes jointly or separately by the piano & String quartet. Similar to another later Feldman work like 1986’s "For Christian Wolff", "Piano & String Quartet" is extremely narrow in its sound pallet, patterns, and pace. On my first few plays through it seemed like the piece locked down into almost identical repetitions; but over more plays I’ve started to notice very subtle yet rewarding adjustments in the pieces structure & unfold. Though that said the whole thing has a extremely slowed & almost stasis like in its unfold, so this needs both patience & concentration to fully appreciate the work.
The piece is primarily based around fairly spaced-out collection of skeletal piano note runs, and on/off string simmers. These are fed out in a very sparse, moody & haunting manner. When one normally thinks of string music the sound is typically very lush, often swooning, and grand. Here like the piano the strings are reigned-in & tightly focused- so they move from compact simmers, onto angular & wavering drifts, though to bleak sweeps. The piano slowly wanders & hauntingly weaves along side the hazed blocks of string work, with often the instruments natural petering-out reverb used to great effect.
Ray plays her piano with both extreme focused & control- yet there is a real feeling of emotion, depth & sad beauty to her playing too. Equally The Eclipse Quartet playing is very regulated & disciplined in it’s flow & placing, but there is still a real feeling of emotion & mood to their playing too. The whole thing is recorded in beautiful crystalline quality & definition - so you pick out every detail in the slow & highly considered weave of sound that is "Piano & String Quartet".
In summing up Piano & String Quartet is one of the more pared-back, sparse & haunting pieces of Mr Feldman’s body of work. This certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy sparse yet deeply felt modern composition, that’s more ambient then modern classical- then this wonderful recording really is a must!.