Piano songs

Description

Two of the finest interpreters of contemporary music, Ursula Oppens and Bruce Brubaker, put their art at the service of Monk's unique universe illustrated by this collection of pieces written or based on works composed between 1971 and 2006. They are presented as "songs" because they are deeply rooted in Monk's vocal compositions and because they are direct, specific, and vivid. Speaking about writing for two pianos, Meredith Monk explains: "I explored the different relationships and possibilities between the two protagonist instruments; transitioning material from one to the other, dialogues, interwoven phrases, variations in form and content. In some pieces, I emphasized the individuality of each piano, composing for one performer as a 'singer', for the other as an 'accompanist'. In others, I wanted both pianos to create a unique and powerful sound."