Makrokosmos

Rating:
Summary: A fine performance -- with study aide included!
Review: Leng Tan's performance of Crumb's music is very good. Besides her
usual piano work, her rendering of the vocal parts is quite worthy. Rather than do the whistling parts herself, she brings in
professional whistler.

What makes this unique among available recordings, of course, is the video. As an amateur piano student in college, I would have killed to have had this available for study back then. Of course, the video attempts to be more of an artistic accompaniament, so there are sections where the camera focuses more on Leng Tan's face, or some visually interesting detail of the piano. Still, Leng Tan's hands are often in view, and given the difficult choreography these preludes occasionally require, moving quickly between keyboard and piano interior, the video makes for a valuable aide for anyone who wishes to attempt playing these preludes themselves.

The lengthy interview included with this DVD is only vaguely interesting but has a few interesting tidbits.


Rating:
Summary: A Memorable and Exquisite Experience
Review: This gem offers a delightful match of talents: George Crumb's seminal composition for amplified piano, Margaret Leng Tan's spellbinding performance, and Evans Chan's poetic filmmaking.The intimate relationship of Margaret Leng Tan with the very soul of her piano conjurs up the image of a High Priestess offering up the music at the altar, while the use of her expressive movements, on and off the keyboard, creates a choreographed ballet.Evans Chan animates each participant/element in the musical drama: composer, performer, piano with its entrails, and Crumb's graphic score and literary citations, to create a dynamic, and superbly integrated, presentation of this original andpowerful musical composition. This is contemporary music at its captivating best.The DVD showcases an outstanding performance of George Crumb's visionary masterwork woven into an elegant and seamless visual fabric. There is also a documentary of an interview with Crumb, included as a bonus. Enjoy!