EMANUELE ARCIULI JOHN ADAMS PHRYGIAN GATES (1)

[schmetterlink]

Best part: 3:40-3:54. It was a brilliant idea to bring out the left hand: it makes clear the organization of the whole movement, so it's doesn't just sound like a string of loosely-gathered episodes.

[TachyonDrums]

I actually saw Mack McCray perform Phrygian Gates live. Truly amazing and inspiring. Having also seen him perform Liszt's Sonata and "Norma," as well as Rachmaninoff's 2nd Sonata, I must say that this was even more exhausting for McCray to play. For those in San Francisco, he plays every year at the Bach Dynamite and Dance Club's November performance, along with 2 other pianists who he selects. His fingers are wider than most people's hands (yes, that's hyperbole) -- what a beast indeed!

[InvincibleIronyMan]

@downtourknees oh no, we don't. I can only suppose you'd be one of those people throwing rotten vegetables at the Rite. It's not, in fact, the music, or the composer, or the performer, or even the recording, that is lacking here.

[downtourknees]

this is alright, but we have to admit this generation lacks geniuses

[schmetterlink]

@downtourknees Pity the generation that needs geniuses.

[akamarutv]

I like how the phrygian mode sounds nice and harmonic instead of jarring or spanish sounding like it's usually potrayed.

[Sihirbazlik]

beautiful performance, I love it and can't wait to play it myself.

[supertomatoman]

Hmm...I like the original recording better :) Mack McCray is a beast; I love his interpretation!

[Artemusicstring]

@supertomatoman Is Mack McCray the piano player who record this coposition?

[supertomatoman]

@Artemusicstring No, he's the pianist to whom this piece is dedicated to. I am also fortunate enough to have a copy of the first recording made of the piece (by McCray)

[amarr1]

Wow. This is nothing short of fantastic.

[radioheadmatt]

His piano playing is monstrous. A truly magnificent composition! This genre of piano music has so much to offer. One of the most imaginative pieces I have ever heard. I love the transitions from soft to loud. The softer parts of the composition definitely remind me of flowers budding in the spring. Oh yes, I bought the sheet music.

[Klutz20082008]

@radioheadmatt You should check out Bloom from Steven Bryant, it has it's minimalist parts and sounds much like this, except for wind ensemble. It depicts flowers blooming in the spring, your comment reminded me of it.

[bodingtons]

Just started to learn this, it's harder than it sounds, this guy makes it looks so easy

[DIEZAUBERFLOTEMENSCH]

SEE DR ATOMIC

[galactavist]

This is minimalist music. It is intended to be as simple as possible. The subtle changes in this piece are exaggerated. The whole idea is a simplification with lots of repetition. This came about after what was called modernist and avant garde music which which was more radical and harsh to listen to. It's not intended to bore you to death or to hypnotize you... just be simple in nature and get you to think of what music really is.

[jrjorgensen2519]

Realistically, the whole idea was to strip music down to it's core; bringing it to the point where the slightest change, even one note, suddenly becomes a major deal. It's beautiful really, how they can tear down music to the point where the simplest change suddenly becomes the most important thing in the music. It's gorgeous.

[marcohorowitz8]

well, the kind of music that either hypnotises you or bores you to death. I still don't know which effect it has on me!

[pianist7137]

@marcohorowitz8 lol it has the same effect on me.. Some bores me to death, some seems to be quite hypnotic.

[joebassplayer]

majestic

[DIEZAUBERFLOTEMENSCH]

majestic and noble music

[mikejr41387]

but whats the point of this music?

[phgp527]

Does it need to have a point? Can't it exist as an exploration of the mode?

[mikejr41387]

sure it can, its definately pleasant. minimalism just aint my thing i guess.

[BlueCougar]

I wonder how long it takes a professional pianist to learn this piece... so much insane rhythmical irregularities at breakneck tempo...

[Vook]

This is such a monstrous piece...for a long time I actually considered it to be among the most difficult ever written, especially since I already got confused and frustrated enough trying to play China Gates.

[SmallPorgies]

my uni's music lib has this... but someone's got it out! argh I want to play it...

[Clarinet4Life1]

You need so much dexterity for this piece...I tried so many times trying to finish this, but my wrists fall off like 15 mins in...

[VladtheEmailer]

A perfect example of how minimalism can be beautiful.

[0megadon]

isnt the sheet music for ths song like 67 pages lol

[stevtomato]

It is xD I think that is just some sort of simplification xD

[BlueCougar]

The sheet music has been glued to several large sheets for this performance. He puts down one after another during the piece.

[hustle1341]

Heard this piece in my music history class and loved it. Definitely want to perform this for my senior recital!

[ahauswal]

Is anyone else as in love with this song as I am?

[meepzmeepz]

beautiful :)

[thephantomerik]

I love this piece. You can listen to it without concentrating and still feel how beautiful it is.

[eoinsac]

I have just one criticism of the performance, which is that he tends to crescendo dramatically before the changes of mode (eg. 2:50). As far as I know, the composer's intention was for these switches to be completely sudden and to sound unprepared. The crescendi have a way of flagging them before they happen.

[picklemyliver]

I have a copy of the score for this work and the first change of mode is accompanied by a crescendo. The dynamic level begins as sempre piano but moves to mf after a while, then f, then back to mf and then "cresc poco a poco" toward the first change of mode. There are several other subtle dynamic shifts throughout the score. I think the levels are supposed to move organically.

[Melorama2000]

Awesome performance!

[RabidNarutoFangirl]

4:40, excellent

[MColivejuice]

Wonderful piece of music... Dynamic control and balance is so important. Requires a great deal of focus and dedication. Thank you for this!

[radioactive1415]

Nice!

[WhiteAbenaki]

Thanks for posting this. I just got the sheet music today for this piece, delivered from Brown to Dartmouth. It's tricky. Dynamic control is so important. Beautiful piece.

[CalculatedPerception]

congratulations on going to dartmouth. i'm sure that means you're a great pianist...

[ABruce]

Fantastic, Bravo!