Easley Blackwood Chamber Music
Easley Blackwood, piano
Charles Pikler, violin &
viola
Gary Stucka, cello
Cedille Records CDR 90000 081
Release date: April 2005
"Nothing here is less than thrilling, and the playing is spectacular. Highly recommended to all collections." (CD Hotlist)
"[Blackwood is] one of the truly great living American pianist-composers." (Fanfare)
The compositions on this recording span nearly fifty years - from Op. 1 (1953), Op. 7 (1960), and Op. 22 (1968), through Op. 43 (2001).
They exhibit a wide variety of styles. It is interesting to reflect for a moment on the stylistic evolutions of other composers. Some find a particular style early on and maintain it throughout their lives - a category that includes Johannes Brahms and Frédéric Chopin. Others gradually evolve from one style to another that is totally different, usually going from conservative to radical. Alexander Scriabin and Elliott Carter are examples. Finally, there are composers who write in a variety of styles, some of which are surprisingly different in nature -- Béla Bartók and Igor Stravinsky immediately come to mind. I believe I fall into this latter category. At present, I feel comfortable writing in just about any idiom; and when a new work is requested, I ask what style is desired....
....Participating as a pianist in this recording, and thus gaining an overview of my compositions, has been a revealing experience. It was also enlightening to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Mr. Pikler and Mr. Stucka, who are both fine musicians and dedicated perfectionists.
Easley Blackwood
Click here to download the CD booklet.
