Four-disc box set, plus 20-page booklet with notes by Sarah Cahill.
Includes unlimited streaming of Eighty Trips Around the Sun: Music by and for Terry Riley
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
In 1996, I was preparing a three-concert festival celebrating the centennial of Henry Cowell, and I asked Terry if he would write a new piece in honor of Cowell. He said he had become interested in writing four-hand music, and the result was Cinco de Mayo. That was the first of five four-hand works I commissioned from Terry. Joseph Kubera and I played them for many years, and then Regina Myers and I started performing them. They’re challenging pieces, with the twists and turns and surprising metrical changes which are one of the fascinating aspects of Terry’s compositions. About writing four-hand music, he explains: “In the days before radio and television, homes across the United States had pianos in the parlour, and families entertained themselves with music for four hands at one piano. My new four-hand piano works were written in the hope that people will throw their televisions out the window and return to activities that will bring spirit, content and meaning to their lives.” Here are Terry’s notes about each piece:
An evocation of the Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo is made up of two contrasting sections: one a vigorous, rhythmic celebration, the other an introspective evocation of the early morning hours after the celebration, building up to a Latin-inspired dance.
Absolutely love this recording. I listen to it at work. I listen to it in the car on the way home from work. I listen to it while falling asleep. Curtis’ cello is so amazing. Just got the vinyl in the mail from Discogs the other day! Can’t wait to play on my hi-fi system! Dave Sewall