Feldman, M: Crippled Symmetry

this performance is exceptionally sensitively heard and expertly measured… And so we’re talking about another essential layer of jam squeezed inside the doughnut of our understanding – more important... — Gramophone Magazine More…

Release Date: 12th Jul 2012
Catalogue No: FR1/2
Label: Frozen Reeds

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The Feldman Soloists: Eberhard Blum (flute, alto flute, bass flute), Jan Williams (glockenspiel, vibraphone), Nils Vigeland (piano, celesta)

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In 2000, Eberhard Blum, Nils Vigeland, and Jan Williams came together once more as "The Feldman Soloists" to perform Crippled Symmetry, the trio Feldman composed for them, on the 25th anniversary celebration of the festival he founded. The recording of this concert is now finally available on CD, and is destined to become the reference release of this work.

Required listening for all fans of Feldman's rich, hypnotic world of enigmatic harmony and mnemonic echo. Mastered by Denis Blackham, and presented in a card package which unfolds to reveal the musicians' "butterfly-like" arrangement on stage.

"This turned out to be one of the best performances that we had ever given together. The rare and indescribable 'magic moment' of occasion and ambience seems to have inspired us. The recording of the concert belongs to my most valued sound documents. When I listened to it for the first time, my immediate reaction was: this performance ought to be available on CD. Now, ten years later, it is." -Eberhard Blum

Reviews

this performance is exceptionally sensitively heard and expertly measured… And so we’re talking about another essential layer of jam squeezed inside the doughnut of our understanding – more important than an ‘alternative’ recording in the usual sense.

As an example of the unique treasures that Feldman’s late music has to offer, it couldn’t be bettered.

It’s an extraordinary act of balancing, in which sounds hang suspended like an aural Alexander Calder mobile, static yet infinitely shifting in their relationships – a feat requiring special skill and judgement as regards timing, amplitude, etc, peerlessly achieved by this trio.

New York Times

Intermittent creaks and sniffs come with the territory, but you hardly notice, such are the intensity, luminosity and sense of occasion in this mesmerizing account.

In his notes for this release Blum suggests that the occasion had a special magic. No need to take his word for that; simply listen.

Feldman’s leisurely, hypnotic pacing feels like the product of a less pressured, more innocent age. Compulsive listening.

Feldman, M: Crippled Symmetry

2 CDs

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