Morton Feldman - Only

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Music reviews of Only

Music Review: Ravishing Vocal Work
Rating: 5 Stars

The pieces range from the opener and closer, an unaccompanied vocal song called Only, set to an English translation of Rilke and written in 1947, to the 17 minute Pianos and Voices from the 70's. Most of the material is for small groups of intruments with either solo voice, or M.s La Barbara overdubbed. There are works like Vertical Thoughts 5, and For Franz Kline from the early 60's, almost Webernesque in their effect. For Franz Kline is particularly interesting, as it retains some of the vestiges of Feldman's use of chance procedures. The notes are defined by Feldman, but each musician is free to procede at an individual pace.

There are also several Feldman works from the 70s, a time that is particularly underrepresented in recordings at the moment. Fledman's music at this time was precisely notated, but interested in the progression from sound to sound, rather than the pattern pieces that would predominate to unusual length at the end of his life. Amoung these works, I particularly like Pianos and Voices, a work for 5 pianos, 1 celeste and 5 voices. Here M's La Barbara makes the decision to overdub herself rather than use a live ensemble. What may be missed from the live interaction of the musicians is compensated for by the lovely sound of her voice echoing over and over again in the piece. The work is haunting.

Feldman's marvelous late works are really an aquired taste. So little can seem to happen in them that works like Piano and String Quartet can begin to sound static without deep concentration. But this music is not that way. The longest piece is only 17 minutes long, and the concentration on differing chords makes the works sound varied in harmony and texture. Thus, this collection is highly recommended for people who are interesting in listening to Feldman for the first time. It's a great introduction. And you can't get a better voice for this music than Joan La Barbara. Add to that, the gloriously spacious New Albion sound (they have as identifyable a sound and Manfred Eicher's ECM label) and this is a superb release. The only regret is that, at 49 minutes, the release is a little skimpy. There are other Feldman works which would make great additions to the pieces here. One wishes that La Barbara and company had recorded them as well.

Description of Only

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