Isao Tomita’s 1974 recording of electronically performed Claude Debussy tone paintings is a classic of its kind. Combining technical wizardry, judicious musicianship, and boundless imagination, Tomita transforms Debussy’s piano miniatures into sonic head-trips. The title track’s rapid synthesizer notes create a more convincing illusion of snowflakes than any piano ever could. Computerized chimes and human-sounding whistles make Golliwog’s Cakewalk lots of fun, and PBS viewers will instantly recognize Tomita’s Arabesque No. 1. Best of all is The Engulfed Cathedral with its other-worldly electronic chorus. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (from Tomita’s later Pictures at an Exhibition album) is not as successful, being somewhat fussy and self-conscious. But on the whole this is a highly enjoyable album. The CD booklet tells us nothing about Debussy’s compositions, giving us instead highly detailed descriptions of Tomita’s equipment that only geeks could appreciate. RCA’s remastered sound vividly recreates the virtual sound world. [4/20/2000]
