Although the name that first springs to mind is Gustav Holst and ‘The Planets’, the universe has also inspired numerous other composers. And this includes contemporary authors like Kaija Saariaho, Matthias Pintscher, Anthony Turnage or Brett Dean, who recently fulfilled a commission from the Berliner Philharmoniker to round off the constellation that Holst left incomplete.

On this occasion, GrauSchumacher have assembled piano works by a range of 20th-century composers who sought new influences in the realm of space – a good number, as we can see from this latest CD in the Fundación BBVA-NEOS Collection. Its seven tracks, if listed chronologically, would begin with Béla Bartók and ‘Seven Pieces for Two Pianos’, from his 1939 work ‘Mikrokosmos’, and close with Kosmos by Peter Eötvös, the youngest of the group. In between, we have the musical testimonies of Kurtag – a fellow countryman of Eötvös and Bartók, American George Crumb and the late Stockhausen, represented here by four of the ‘Twelve Melodies’ dedicated to the constellations of the zodiac.

Performances by:
GrauSchumacher Piano Duo

Contents:

CD Audio:

GEORGE CRUMB
1. I. Alpha Centauri (03:31)
2. II. Beta Cygni (03:44)

GYÖRGY KURTÁG
3. Blumen die Menschen… (00:32)
4. Spiel mit dem Unendlichen (00:59)
5. …Blumen…auch die Sterne… (00:33)

KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN
6. Steinbock – Capricorn (01:46)
7. Widder – Aries (01:38)

BÉLA BARTÓK
8. 1. Bulgarischer Rhythmus (01:14)
9. 2. Akkord- und Trillerstudie (01:11)
10. 3. Perpetuum mobile (01:04)

PETER EÖTVÖS
11. Kosmos Version for two pianos (12:31)

BÉLA BARTÓK
12. 4. Kurzer Kanon und seine Umkehrung (00:56)
13. 5. Neues ungarisches Volkslied (01:02)
14. 6. Chromatische Invention (01:11)
15. 7. Ostinato (02:21)

KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN
16. Waage – Libra (02:27)
17. Krebs – Cancer (01:33)

GYÖRGY KURTÁG
18. Blumen die Menschen… (01:04)
19. Sternmusik (00:45)
20. Hommage à Soproni (01:59)

GEORGE CRUMB
21. III. Gamma Draconis (06:13)
22. IV. Delta Orionis (08:50)

Total time:57:55