Finnissy: The History of Photography in Sound

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You might think a piano cycle lasting more than five hours is asking too much. But when the music is as endlessly fascinating, engaging, challenging, puzzling, beautiful, thought-provoking and... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2014, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 4th Nov 2013
Catalogue No: MSV77501
Label: Metier
Length: 5 hours 26 minutes

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Finnissy: The History of Photography in Sound

Work length5:26:48

Album only

Ian Pace

I. Le démon de l'analogie

Track length28:29

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II. Le réveil de l'intraitable réalité

Track length20:39

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III. North American Spirituals

Track length23:41

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IV. My Parents' Generation Thought War Meant Something

Track length35:48

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V. Alkan - Paganini

Track length13:35

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$3.85

VI. Seventeen Immortal Homosexual Poets

Track length34:11

Album only

VII. Eadweard Muybridge - Edvard Munch

Track length26:29

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VIII. Kapitalistisch Realisme (met Sizilianische Männerakte en Bachsche Nachdichtungen)

Track length1:07:41

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IX. Wachtend op de volgende uitbarsting van repressie en censuur

Track length17:00

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$5.15

X. Unsere Afrikareise

Track length30:35

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XI. Etched bright with sunlight

Track length28:40

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About
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About

This is no less than a seminal and milestone recording in modern piano music. The awesome Michael Finnissy’s 'History of Photography in Sound', a five and a half hour epic of genius, was recorded in several sessions between 2004 and 2006.

This cycle is much more than just a musical representation of pioneer photographers – only one section directly relates to such: the title refers to 'photography in sound' - i.e. the representation in music of events, people, places, cultures, and above all, philosophies. It is the recording for which Métier have had more requests than any other, and in all fairness to composer and pianist, should find itself in every recommended list of contemporary music.

The 100 page booklet contains a detailed essay of doctorate standard by Ian Pace.

Reviews

February 2014

You might think a piano cycle lasting more than five hours is asking too much. But when the music is as endlessly fascinating, engaging, challenging, puzzling, beautiful, thought-provoking and charming as Finnissy's, it is not a hardship...This is a magnificent achievement for both composer and performer.

January 2014

Finnissy keeps his cultural aperture forever wide-angled, ideas and sounds papped ferociously...Ian Pace is Finnissy's David Bailey, each note shaded to perfection, structures translucently and sharply lit, defining sonic images of our time.

14th January 2014

a major achievement and one that should appeal strongly to lovers of contemporary and piano music alike...The experience is as fulfilling as it is stimulating...Pace's own commitment and skills here go a long way towards making such fulfilment...Execution and presentation are as excellent as the music is compelling.

10th November 2013

Both composer and executant here are truly prodigious figures...It is hardly possible to comment significantly on such a phenomenon in a capsule review, but I heartily recommend this profoundly dedicated undertaking as a source of stimulus and as something to live with.

Offer,Finnissy: The History of Photography in Sound

5 CDs

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