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
The Bell cover

The Bell

Ches Smith, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn
Lucky Four cover

Lucky Four

David Murray
The Mario Diaz de Leon: The Soul is the Arena cover

The Mario Diaz de Leon: The Soul is the Arena

International Contemporary Ensemble, Claire Chase, Mario Diaz de León, Joshua Rubin
Argonautica cover

Argonautica

Nate Wooley
The Return of Fenn O’Berg cover

The Return of Fenn O’Berg

Fennesz, Jim O'Rourke, Peter Rehberg
The Tamburas Of Pandit Pran Nath cover

The Tamburas Of Pandit Pran Nath

Marian Zazeela, La Monte Young
Hidros One cover

Hidros One

Mats Gustafsson
Circle 1: Live in Germany Concert cover

Circle 1: Live in Germany Concert

Barry Altschul, Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland, Circle, Chick Corea
Living Torch cover

Living Torch

Kali Malone