Futurpiano

ltm presents a unique cd showcasing three influential avant-garde composers associated with futurism, featuring piano music composed between 1913 and 1933. born in belorus, arthur-vincent louri was the first russian futurist musician, and a signatory of the st petersburg futurist manifesto in 1914. the five 'syntheses' written that same year offer a form of dodecaphony, while 'formes en l'air' the following year was dedicated to picasso was a cubo-futurist concept using an innovative form of notation in which notes are spaced in independent blocks, with staves omitted in the place of rests. born in the ukraine and raised in new york, leo ornstein gave his first major recital of 'futurist music' at the steinway hall in london on the afternoon of 27 march 1914. the programme included two of the pieces featured on this cd, 'suicide in an airplane' and 'three moods'. according to the daily sketch: 'one listened with considerable distress. nothing so horrible as mr ornstein's music has been heard so far. sufferers from complete deafness should attend the next recital.' american-born 'bad boy of music' george antheil is represented by 'mechanisms' (1923), as well as a series of preludes written in 1933 and inspired by a graphic novel by surrealist artist max ernst, titled 'la femme 100 tetes'. antheil claimed to have performed his early, riotous recitals with an automatic pistol placed on top of his piano, to deter physical criticism. all selections on 'futurpiano' are performed by noted italian pianist daniele lombardi, and were recorded in rome and lugano in 1995. the cd booklet contains detailed historical notes and archive images.