Pierre-Laurent Aimard / Aka Pygmies
African Rhythms. Ligeti/ReichTeldec Classics 8573 86584-2, 2003
01. Aka Pygmies - Bossobe 2:00
02. Steve Reich - Clapping Music 3:28
03. Aka Pygmies - Bobangi 2:39
04. György Ligeti - Etudes Book 1 IV. Fanfares 3:31
05. Aka Pygmies - Yangisa 2:43
06. György Ligeti - Etudes Book 2 II. Fém 3:08
07. Aka Pygmies - Anduwa 4:02
08. György Ligeti - Etudes Book 2 VI. Entrelacs 3:05
09. Aka Pygmies - Banga Banga 2:39
10. György Ligeti - Etudes Book 3 II. Pour Irina 4:04
11. Aka Pygmies - Zoboho 1:27
12. Etudes Book 3 III. A bout de souffle 2:25
13. Etudes Book 3 IV. Canon 1:31
14. Aka Pygmies - Mohunga 2:33
15. Steve Reich - Music for Pieces of Wood 7:58
16. Aka Pygmies - Mai 3:43
The Aka Pygmy group was recorded in Teldex Studio Berlin, rather than in the field as usual, and thus the recording features the clearest and most beautiful Pygmy music I have heard.
Aimard's performance of Ligeti's Etudes is also amazing, and would be highly preferable to Frederick Ullen's recordings if complete.
Reich is somewhat neglected for lack of piano works, with Music for Pieces of Wood being adapted to piano.
The liner notes, by musical director Simha Arom, Aimard, Ligeti, and Reich are far more informative than most, explaining the conception of the disc and features of all three musics.
The basic idea behind this CD is brilliant: An exciting confrontation really, a comparison, between contemporary culture and rhythms, and indegenious ones from a thousands of years ago...! Little has changed, the cynic would say, however, but we all know,so much has changed. Pierre-Laurand Aimard plays Ligeti and Reich very dark, like a rich french coffee, but with tempo and a kick, and still with mysticism which is very very black. It's hard to imagine, but the piano actually CAN do these things, and it requires a master like him here to drive it to its full potential. Ligeti's comments range from the extravagant to the funny.
What I like most about this CD ist the fact that intends to be completely uncommercial. What a miracle in today's world full of cross-over pressure (from the labels), commerce and bombast, and therefore, by all means, go and get this CD, and be it just to promote art before the dictate of money, money and more money...!
320 kbps including full scans
http://rapidshare.com/files/194938669/PLAAP-AR.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/194940566/PLAAP-AR.part2.rar
flac including full scans
http://rapidshare.com/files/195131891/PPLAAP-ARf.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/195144905/PPLAAP-ARf.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/195149587/PPLAAP-ARf.part3.rar
