GARDNER READ: Fantasy-Toccata for Harpsichord (1992) - MARK KROLL

[Renshen1957]

I heard Mr. Kroll in concert play Spiders in Monterey, CA after Scarlatti et. al in 1974, he was championing 20th Century music through out his career, in part to expressiveness of the instrument and to promote composers to write new music.

This would make excellent background music to a slasher film or a remake of Arsenic and Old Lace. As to Garner Read abilities as a composer, I can only send my wishes to "Get Well Soon!"

[paolosilv]

It's just dissonant music, which the public doesn't seem to appreciate.

[organman52]

This sounds like a house pet walking on the keys. If Mr. Kroll claims to have 'heard' this nonsense, he should be institutionalized.

[Renshen1957]

@organman52 E Power Biggs played works by contemporary composers on Historic European Instruments on a number of his albums. My mother who was accused of being tone death asked if the record player was broken.

Unfortunately, this is the type of " crap" that University Music Schools have been trying to shove down our throats for the last 50+ years and to the exclusion of everything else for composition.

Don't blame the Mr. Kroll, he equals Pinnock, Scott, or GL when performing 18th C.

[organman52]

@Renshen1957 You are absolutely right about the university element. I have known way more than my share of these masqueraders. They contrive everything they write down. I have actually witnessed a rather well-known 'composer' sitting at the piano and plunking things out, and when 'satisfied' moves on to the next measure. This is paper music, nothing more.

[Renshen1957]

@organman52 Composing at the Piano? Hussars at the Keyboards as J S Bach disdained. I wonder how they will fair with the economic cuts such as the U of C $500 million? These tenured teachers, the heirs of the "experimenters," engendered the public's apathy towards classical music. They'd have starved to death in the US if they had to survive on their "talent." Music eduction cuts over the last 40 years have come and gone without so much as a whimper.

[rosasbarrocas]

sorry but sounds so ugly..........uf!!!!

[rosasbarrocas]

sorrry... is so ugly......ufffffff!!!!!!!