Piano Works

Milton Babbitt - Piano Works

performed by Robert Taub

From the liner notes:

The piano music of Milton Babbitt (b. 1916) plays a central role throughout his creative oeuvre. The Three Compositions for Piano dating from 1947-48 are Babbitt's first works for this medium and are the composer's first mature applications of Schoenbergian 12-tone principles. Babbitt returned to piano composition in 1956 after a decade of writing for other instruments, to create Duet, a short, charming two-part invention written for his daughter, and Semi-Simple Variations, a set of five six-measure variations on a theme which highlights six pitches.
Partitions (1957) heralds a second style period. It is very ambitious in dynamic and registral contrasts and reaches new heights of pianistic virtuosity. Post-Partitions, written for the 70th birthday of Roger Sessions, reflects another decade of sophistication. Throughout its eight closely-linked sections are moments of explosive energy as well as moments of great delicacy. In Tableaux (1973), compositional virtuosity is matched by uncompromising demands on the pianist to project intricate and rapidly unfolding contrapuntal lines over the entire range of the keyboard. Reflections (1974) is Babbitt's only work thus far for piano and synthesized electronic tape, delicately interweaving the ornately detailed tape and piano parts.
Canonical Form (1983) was "composed for and dedicated to Robert Taub" on a commission from the Fromm Foundation and the ISCM and is Babbitt's longest piano work. Canonical Form and Lagniappe (1985) are both suites of separated sections, forming a third style period of more contrapuntal lines and more transparent textures. Lagniappe is Milton Babbitt's gift to this recording. Written for this occasion, the piece receives its first performance on this disc. It is a synthesis of the compositional processes which have evolved throughout his piano works, revealing yet new modes of unifying musical elements. (Martin Brody, Robina G. Young and Robert Taub)

The music of Milton Babbitt must be played from the heart. The dazzling, highly imaginative pianism - enormous registral leaps, juxtaposition of dynamic extremes, highly complicated rhythms, innovative pedal techniques - always serves an intensely musical end, which (as in all great work) should be so completely mastered that the music is free to soar in performance. (Robert Taub)



Tracklisting:

1. Three Compositions {7:44}

2. Duet {0:36}

3. Semi-Simple Variations {1:15}

4. Partitions {1:54}

5. Post-Partitions {3:52}

6. Tableaux {9:35}

7. Reflections {10:22}

8. Canonical Form {11:29}

9. Lagniappe {8:56}

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