Listening to Morton Feldman's Coptic Light is a powerful undertaking; it's a composition fraught with tension, where wafts of orchestral sound fade in and out with a glacial pace (and power).

Feldman: Coptic Light

Listening to Morton Feldman's Coptic Light is a powerful undertaking; it's a composition fraught with tension, where wafts of orchestral sound fade in and out with a glacial pace (and power). Piano and Orchestra and Cello and Orchestra are similar works from the contemporary music master--atmospheric (but with plenty of turbulence) and quiet numbers--that are too complex to be considered ambient, yet too minimalist ever to be mistaken as traditional. Truth be told, Feldman was far more interested in sonic verticality and the perfect cluster of instrument sounds than harmony or rhythm. It's no wonder his music is more often compared to the work of his modern visual-art friends (Mark Rothko, Philip Guston) than his musical ones (Cage, Christian Wolff). Whatever the case, these three shorter pieces (some of Feldman's works can stretch into hours) are glorious sonic landscapes of mystery and light. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the New World Symphony through these three slow-moving works with plenty of grace and an obvious love for the music (in the liner notes, you can read his lighthearted personal appreciation of Feldman). It's a gripping disc that takes its time in evolving, but is ever so rewarding. --Jason Verlinde
Country USA
Manufacturer Decca / Argo
Binding Audio CD
ReleaseDate 1999-07-20
UnitCount 2
UPCs 028944851328
EANs 0028944851328

Feldman: Coptic Light