1993 [DDD] (2 discs)

{CD}

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Starting with Ancient Voices of Children, George Crumb enjoyed a considerable vogue in the 1970s. But for many contemporary music pundits these days it seems he's so 'in', he's 'out'. "Cosmic Wind" (No. 9 of Makrokosmos II) is a title some would now think apt for his entire output, and the quality of the music does tend to be in inverse proportion to its pretensions. But forget the galactic aspirations and take the music for what it is —- a pleasantly diluted Bartokian harmonic language with an engaging element of theatricality and many genuinely inventive sound-effects -— and there is no reason why his achievement should not still be valued.
   The Makrokosmos pieces (inverse of Bartok's "Mikrokosmos", of course, are not excessively demanding on a pianist's finger technique. But the skill required in manipulating thimbles, glass tumblers and chains, and in singing, whistling, groaning and shouting, is considerable, especially if the optimum effect is to be realized. Robert Nasveld performs all these extra-curricular activities with dedication -— if 'ghostly moaning' is what Crumb asks for, 'ghostly moaning' is exactly what Nasveld gives him, and if you find some of his singing 'macabre' or 'obscene', trust him -— it's in the score. Ideally the recording could be a little closer. The pieces are after all for 'amplified piano' and some of the harmonics and subtler effects do not speak so clearly as they should, whilst the "Galactic Bells" (No. 11 in Book II) lack impact. Also the producer might have reminded the artist about the pizzicato melisma in "Music of Shadows", the instruction to let the end of "Magic Circle of Infinity" ring on, the silently depressed (not played!) cluster in "Twin Suns", and the 'Goat's Trill' whistling (not so difficult as it sounds!) in "Voices from Corona Borealis". For more precise realizations the American recordings by the dedicatees (Book I on Nonesuch H71293, Book II on CBS Odyssey Y34135 -— neither submitted for review) are worth tracking down. But the new Dutch issue with both books on the one LP (some 65 minutes' worth) is excellent value for money and the performances are sensitive, atmospheric and generally recommendable.