Jonathan Kramer - Music for Piano, No. 5 (1980)

Jonathan Donald Kramer was an American composer, music theorist and Professor of Composition and Theory at Columbia University from 1988 until his death in 2004 at the age of 61.
Although educated in serial composition, Kramer became increasingly influenced by minimalism over the course of the 1970s, becoming along with composers like William Duckworth and John Adams, a pioneer of the postminimalist genre. Composed in 1980, Music for Piano, No. 5 is a midpoint in Kramer's development as a composer. This piece moves very slowly in a structural and harmonic sense, yet on the surface we hear rapid motion of notes and rhythms. The hypnotic background of the music is ideally reinforced by the resonant intervals that result from tuning the piano in meantone temperament. Although normal equal temperament is an acceptable substitute when practicality demands it, the piano for this recording was tuned in meantone.
The work also utilizes directional processes, which involve repetition and gradual change. Some of these processes are simple and obvious while some are subtle; sometimes several occur simultaneously at different rates. As the music goes on, the procedures become gradually freer, and eventually process itself is defeated by the one thing repetitive music cannot include: dramatic surprise. The patterns of fast notes and rhythms that gradually emerge at the beginning of the piece are slowly transformed into other patterns before the very idea of pattern gives way to a freer, more rhapsodic, yet decidedly slower music. The work ends with a reminiscence of repetitive process.
- adapted from original liner notes written by Nathan O. J. Remark
Performed by Frank Weinstock.
Recorded at the Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati on March 14th 1988.

[@canticle56]

Brilliant composer and writer. RIP, Jonathan.

[@douglasreeder9145]

This is certainly a great piece by Jonathan. As my composition prof, I can especially appreciate this & it's jazz influences.
-He had a great, great musical mind!

[@simonknights7526]

First time I've heard this. I'm very familiar with "Moments In and Out Of Time" which he sent me a copy of around 2000. Thanks for uploading this!

[@haedien]