Ornstein - BRUTAL Piano Music

[comme_le_vent]

Recently i've listened to Ornstein's piano music alot. I must say that I LOVE his brutal style, its very exciting and rhythmic music. Alot of the sounds are very unusual in piano music, because they sound very brutal and thick, alot of people are put off. I advise everyone to listen to Hamelin's recording of the wild mens dance, thats a great example of his brutal style. His sonatas show influence from Rach, Prok, Bartok etc. and have some really nice melodies mixed with dissonance, but that dance is the best example i know of his unique brutal style. Am I a masochist , or do other people find pleasure in this style?

[liszmaninopin]

I do like some Ornstein.  Actually, I prefer Sonatas 4 and 7, as well as A Morning in the Woods.  The Wild Men's Dance is just a bit too harsh for my taste.

[comme_le_vent]

the dance is my favourite, i enjoy it's delicious brutality

[liszmaninopin]

It is interesting, I like some of the parts where it gets really low on the keyboard near the end.  But I don't really like the beginning of the dance that much.

[comme_le_vent]

to each his own, but you have to recognise the innovative and unique-ness of it.
would you rather live playing it safe, or die trying something new?
but he didnt die till he was like 110, lucky bugger.

[liszmaninopin]

There's no doubt that it's unique.  Have you listened to the Sonata 7?

[comme_le_vent]

no, but i have heard others, i own the naxos cd

[teosoleil]

I absolutely enjoy Ornstein. A lot of his music really isn't brutal, in a sense-and he does compose a lot of calming and nostalgic (but still atonal) music, which is completely wonderful to listen to.

Have a listen:

[rachmaninoff_forever]

He freaking lived to be 109 years old what the heck?!

[j_menz]

He freaking lived to be 109 years old what the heck?!

Eat your vegies and go to bed early and you might manage the same.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to advise/remind people that the promised Dover collection of his piano music is now out (and at a very reasonable price).

Amazon link:  https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Works-1913-1990-Classical-Keyboard/dp/0486490777/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1356065364&sr=8-12&keywords=Ornstein%2C+Leo

[outin]

He freaking lived to be 109 years old what the heck?!

You might if you learn to keep your stress level in control...

[p2u_]

He freaking lived to be 109 years old what the heck?!

Some say that firm grip (as in a firm handshake) and single leg balance correlate with longevity:
https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/10/firm-grip-sign-of-longer-life

As to the topic (created in 2003, uhuh): the music is nice, but it's not something I'd run to the shop for to buy and play it...

Paul

[outin]

This is another composer that I haven't really heard much. Took a peek in youtube and what I heard sounded intriguing...must get some.

[faulty_damper]

I wonder what ever happened to Comme le vent?  Was anyone here when he was still an active user?  Damn.  I'm old.  I've been here a long time.   I hope he's still playing and I really hope he improved a lot.

[lostinidlewonder]

Yeah he was lovely to listen to.

Oh yeah OMG at the necro post almost 9 years!

I've recently been playing through his "Suicide in an Airplane", I love his use of ostinato and his piece really captures freaky scary feeling emotions.

[faulty_damper]

What do you FEEL when you play Suicide?  Can you describe the story of the piece?  I've listened to the recording by Hamelin and wanted your thoughts on it.

[lostinidlewonder]

I feel several different emotions throughout this piece which to me doesn't necessarily make me think about an airplane at all but certainly makes me think about dark emotions and suicide.

The opening to me highlights a suggestion to die but this didn't become clear until near the end when there is a really low repeated notes in the RH which doesn't occur in the opening pattern, it almost signified that the intention to die finally became a reality, just those simple low notes. I couldn't believe that it was so effective for me, it was almost like I was dying when playing those and then how it quietens down to nothing and slows, like a heart stopping. It also made me reflect and read some meaning behind it, that there is a small line between the intention to die and actually choosing to die.

There is a strong Rh melodic chords it almost sounded to me like some call for help to the negative emotion to death, but they are overwhelmed by a string of scales and trills which to me is the negative emotion of wanting to die.

When the Lh plays octave patterns and the RH many repeated notes, this signifies the acceptance to actually go about dying, no more thinking about it we are going to do it. Like there is no more struggle between living and dying, that we have chosen to die now. The chaos rises and clouds normal judgement and hope for salvation.

The Lh then takes on a 2 crotchet then 2 quaver pattern continuously this makes me think about actually putting the poison up to the lips, or what have you. During this there is a brief moment when the Rh shouts out its octave patterns in the upper registry as well as some grace note patterns in desperation but it is nothing and swallowed up. To me the choice of death is like a poison or something slow, not instant because we return back to the opening theme and the heart slowly stops.  

[cadenza14224]

Ornstein.

I accidentally ran into "Danse Sauvage" during a youtube surf one day. I can't say I hated it; rather intrigued. I did find that piece extremely disturbing. And you described it perfectly: Brutal.