Stevenson "Passacaglia"

[general disarray]

Just learned the"legendary" recording (1964) of this piece has been re-released.

As described in a BBC mag review, it sounds as if it's spectacular and, of course, it's performed by the great Ronald Stevenson himself.

Can anyone who's familiar with it, comment before I try to order it?

Thanks.

[retrouvailles]

I don't have the new release, but I have the double disk on Altarus, which has a few more works on it, and I would highly recommend it. It is superbly played, as is everything I have heard Mr. Stevenson play. Great performance and great composition.

[Etude]

I have Mclachlans rec.  It's good and I like the phaser thingy but the recording is mastered at an absurdly low volume.. ah, I'll look out for the reissue.

[retrouvailles]

The "phasing" effect is written in the score. It is a neat little effect that I have mentioned before. Stevenson does it in the Altarus recording. Not sure of the reissue. I haven't heard the McLachlan rec either.

[Etude]

Yeah it's cool, but I'd bet it would be a pain to reproduce live.. unless either the piano was amplified, or a digital piano was used.

[retrouvailles]

It would actually be impossible to do on a digital piano. Digital pianos do not have strings that can vibrate and produce overtones (which is what the effect really is), so this sound would not be possible to achieve. Many effects in the piece are not possible to do on digital pianos, such as hitting the bass strings directly or doing glissandos directly on the strings. And, in the score, Stevenson notes that he wants the effect only to be done for "radio performance". I would imagine that for a live performance this effect would probably be omitted, unless the performer absolutely wanted it, which would call for amplification.

[richard black]

The amplification effect has been done at least once in live performance, thanks to a discreet microphone in or under the piano and some amplification and loudspeakers distributed around the auditorium. It was quite effective but a lot of work for about 30 seconds of music!

[gruffalo]

I heard Mclachlan play this live and it was an incredible experience. The work itself is amazing and Mclachlan plays it really well.

[general disarray]

I've ordered the CD.  Thanks for the encouragement!