Search - Richard Zimdars :: American Piano Music 1900-1930

The highlight of this exceptional program of American piano music is the first complete recording of Dane Rudhyar's Third Pentagram. Its fourth movement, Stars is a great American nocturne. Rudhyar lived a fascinating life studying philosophy, Buddhism, alchemy and Asian music. He painted (the cover image of the booklet is one of his works), wrote poetry, science fiction and books on astrology. The disc showcases landmark works by four composers who had contact with each other during the 1920s. Richard Zimdars, a professor of music at the University of Georgia, has performed the works on this compact disc to critical acclaim: He conjured the mythology of clusters with two Irish Legends of Cowell... in Copland's Variations of 1930 he compressed a chiseling technique up to heroic force (Rhein-Neckar Zeitung, Heidelberg) The most valuable contribution came after intermission with the First Piano Sonata of Ives. Confident performances of this big and difficult work are not common, and Mr. Zimdars gave one. (New York Times)