The Well​-​Tuned Piano in the Magenta Lights cover

The Well​-​Tuned Piano in the Magenta Lights

Released

La Monte Young’s evening-length piano improvisation creates a bewitching sense of alternative space. This effect is accomplished through Young’s otherworldly piano tuning, which privileges a set of harmonies far removed from those typically available on a modern piano. Despite the arcane tuning and forbidding length, the surface of the piece is surprisingly easy to inhabit. Young’s musical ideas are consistently lucid, and the piece maintains a fantastical sense of adventure. So many foreshadowings of the of the ’60s musical culture to come can be heard here: Steve Reich’s pulses, John Cale’s viola drones, quests for transcendence.

Sean Wood

Recommended by

Suggestions
Amaryllis cover

Amaryllis

Mary Halvorson
Junun cover

Junun

Jonny Greenwood, Shye Ben Tzur, The Rajasthan Express
Away with You cover

Away with You

Mary Halvorson Octet
Julia Wolfe: Fire in My Mouth cover

Julia Wolfe: Fire in My Mouth

Jaap van Zweden, New York Philharmonic
Santuerio cover

Santuerio

Marilyn Crispell
Belladonna cover

Belladonna

Mary Halvorson
Circle 1: Live in Germany Concert cover

Circle 1: Live in Germany Concert

Barry Altschul, Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland, Circle, Chick Corea
Lucky Four cover

Lucky Four

David Murray
Aida cover

Aida

Derek Bailey