This next installment in Bridge’s magnificent Crumb edition contains some major works: the finest version (not that there have been many) of Crumb’s first orchestral work, the Variations, as well as Jan DeGaetani’s classic account of Night of the Four Moons. Otherworldly Resonances, written for Quattro Mani, appears here in its revised version, enlarged by two movements to become a substantial addition to the already imposing body of Crumb piano music. As a bonus, we have live concert performances of the Three Early Songs (previously released in excellent performances featuring the composer’s daughter), as well as The Sleeper, a stand-alone song written expressly for Gilbert Kalish and DeGaetani.
It goes without saying at this point that the performances are all superb, and considering the differing times, forces, and circumstances, they are all very well recorded too. However, let me conclude with a word on the Variations, which may be unfamiliar to many listeners, even fans of the composer. The piece is freely atonal but still constructed of recognizable motivic elements that let you hear the fact that the piece really is a set of variations. They are very vividly contrasted, and you will already notice Crumb’s trademark preoccupation with timbre and sonority, particularly at the extreme ends of the dynamic spectrum. The Odense Symphony under Paul Mann plays with great dedication and (just as importantly) precision. For this work alone, Volume 11 represents a major addition to the Crumb discography. [5/9/2008]
