Leo Ornstein, who died in 2002 at the age of 109 or 110 (even he didn’t know for sure), composed a substantial and fascinating body of piano music documented on two very fine discs, one on Naxos, and this one. Happily, the two share very little repertoire and the composer’s increasing number of admirers will be delighted to own both. The pieces range in date from the early years of the 20th century to the Eighth Sonata, written when the composer was in his late-90s.
Ornstein (who was born in the Ukraine) began as a composer in the Russian tradition of Rachmaninov and wound up a musical radical more or less on the Parisian model of composers such as Stravinsky and Antheil. Suicide in an Airplane, À la Chinoise, Danse Sauvage, Arabesques, Impressions de la Tamise, and Poems of 1917 all belong to this period and feature barbaric rhythms, often atonal harmonies, and just enough melodic material to keep the ear intrigued. On the other hand, Piano Sonata No. 8 comes from the 1990s and shows the composer enjoying an almost Ivesian eclecticism, where simple tunes and popular dance rhythms rub shoulders with dense harmonies and advanced idioms. The movement-titles give a good impression of what to expect: “Life’s Turmoil and a Few Bits of Satire”, “A Trip to the Attic–A Tear or Two for a Childhood Forever Gone”, and “Disciplines and Improvisations”. Lasting a full half hour, this is a major statement by any standard.
It almost goes without saying that Marc-André Hamelin plays the socks off of this music, tackling the most knuckle-busting runs and cluster harmonies in Danse Sauvage and its fellow pieces with staggering virtuosity. He also manages the nearly impossible feat of characterizing the Sonata’s various moods (particularly in the second movement) while at the same time keeping an eye on the larger structure, such as it is. Fine (if perhaps a touch shallow) sound adds to the appeal of this very interesting, necessary, and enjoyable release. Hopefully it will encourage pianists to take up Ornstein’s music in their recitals. He has a lot to offer. [1/17/2004]
