Whither be B. Martinu, D. Rudhyar, R. Vlad, et al?

[lontano]

Scanning through my recording database I came across a work I hadn't heard in years: Martinu's Piano Sonata #1. I found it to be a wonderful (re)discovery. Has anyone here heard or played this or any other of Martinu's piano works? He wrote a lot of music and I believe he is under appreciated.

Another composer I discovered shortly after I discovered Scriabin (mid-70's) is Dane Rudhyar. The first record I got was performed by the late, great William Masselos and included "3 Paenans (1927)", "Stars (1926)" and "Granites (1929)". Rudhyar used complex polytonal harmonies, rhythms and other techniques that were an extension of his metaphysical philosophy. Really quite an individualist in the turbulent times of the 1920's music & art scene. Any thoughts people?

The name Roman Vlad only recently entered my catalog. Carlo Grante recorded his remarkable Opus Triplex, a challenging work to be sure, but fascinating. I have yet to see any of his scores.

Lontano

[pies]

  This piece makes me happy.

[indutrial]

Martinu is often mentioned in the same breath as loads of other composers who I tend to enjoy, such as Tansman, Mihalovici, and Milhaud. All of these guys were remarkably prolific composers who greatly respected musical tradition while simultaneously being actively interested in modern harmonies and musical forms. In regards to Martinu, I've recently picked up recordings of many of his lesser-known concertos for chamber group and orchestra, including a concerto for string quartet and two concert pieces for piano trio. I've enjoyed his string quartets, piano quintets, piano quartet, and various instrumental sonatas for many years. I'm actually not very well-versed in his solo piano works, but it's fairly obvious (for his chamber pieces with piano) that he's quite adept with the instrument.

Here's a work of Martinu's that I rather enjoy.

Thankfully, Martinu is reasonably well-represented on recordings (especially through Supraphon and Naxos), which is sadly not the case for many other good Czech and Slovak composers. I want to hear more of the works penned by his countrymen Emil Burian, Jaroslav Jezek, and Emil Hlobil. One of Burian's quartets appeared on an ECM disc alongside works by Webern and Shostakovich and it really made me curious about his other works.

[lontano]

I'm glad to hear such fine accolades for B. Martinu.

While I've heard maybe 20% of the works you listed I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to it. I can't recall specific works (after the partial brain transplant in the 90's what would you expect?), but I know good music when it hits me smack in the head, and Martinu often has that effect on me.

My somewhat non-modern-music-lover Overseer of my position did declare he found Martinu (as opposed to the (Donald) Martino) to be very fine, and I dug in as far as my (inherited) music library allowed, but there wasn't much out there and I gradually lost focus.

PARENTS!!: Don't let your children lose focus!!

Just imagine where I'd end up musically if I'd had no introduction to contemporary music as a child, via my Bartok-loving piano teacher?

Sob, sob, blech! All my talent is figments of an alter-ego.

L.