Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Polymorphia Schmolymorphia

Listen to this:
 
Penderecki: String Trio

It is a string trio. Not a quartet. That's in part what gives it the spare quality. Perfect for 20th Century modern music. It is by Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki a Polish composer who later taught at Yale. I don't actually car much for this particular version. It's not bad, and the musicians are technically quite proficient, but I think they're making it too melodic, too warm; not sufficiently hard edge.

If you get the chance, find the version by the Janaki String Trio. I saw them perform it at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and they tore that mother apart. Their version is as cold as Warsaw sidewalk, as sharp as razor, as resonant as abandoned factory. Their sound is clear and precise, as the music demands. If you go in for such things, this is a genuine delight.

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