Piano Sonatas by Ives and Copland; Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord Mass, 1840-1860"

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About Piano Sonatas By Ives And Copland; Piano Sonata

Product Description Few pianists have had the courage to tackle Ives' "Concord" Sonata in public. Easley Blackwood made it his signature piece. Blackwood earned high praise for his concert performances of Ives' "Concord" Sonata, a set of transcendentalist meditations named for Emerson, Hawthorne, the Alcott family and Thoreau, all of whom lived in Concord, Mass. Critic Max Harrison of The London Times declared Blackwood's performance of the piece "the finest account I have ever heard." Chicago Symphony Orchestra flutist Richard Graef, a Blackwood colleague in the Grammy Award-winning Chicago Pro Musica chamber music ensemble, performs in the sonata's "Thoreau" movement. Copland's Piano Sonata, long overshadowed by his populist works, represents his most profound and personal thoughts. A surprisingly lively middle movement explores fast rhythms in irregular, rapidly changing meters. "I never would have thought of those rhythms if I had not been familiar with jazz," Copland remarked. Review Cedille scores a bull's-eye. -- Cincinnati Inquirer Ives' great 'Concord' Sonata . . . is brought to life here by pianist Easley Blackwood. -- Time Magazine About the Artist Composer, pianist, and musical theorist, Easley Blackwood's career has been consistent only in its seeming contradictions and strong individuality. Blackwood is Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1958. He received his musical training from such legendary figures as Olivier Messiaen, Paul Hindemith (at Yale, where Blackwood earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in 1953 and 1954), and Nadia Boulanger. Blackwood's return to tonal composition since 1981 stems from his groundbreaking research into the properties of microtonal tunings and his decades-long study of traditional harmony. As a pianist, Blackwood has earned consistent praise for his performances of intricate and demanding contemporary works. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians says "Blackwood is an accomplished pianist, particularly notable for his performances of modern works of transcendental difficulty"; the International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians calls him a "gifted concert pianist with a special talent for interpreting modern music"; and the Boston Globe declares Blackwood "famous in his ability to play music others dismiss as 'unperformable'." In addition to his solo performances, Blackwood serves as pianist in the Grammy-winning Chicago Pro Musica, a chamber group largely comprised of Chicago Symphony Orchestra members. This recording also includes Richard Graef, flute.