Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCR584
Release Date: 2007-01-01
William Masselos, piano; Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor
Born in New York City (November 18, 1925), William Mayer entered Yale University with the notion of being a writer and graduated (1949) with equal affinities for music and language. A tilt toward music became evident as Mayer continued his training at Juilliard and the Mannes College of Music, studying with Roger Sessions and Felix Salzer, and later with Otto Luening and Izler Solomon.
Mayer’s versatility is manifest in his ongoing interest in all kinds of music. His catalogue includes three stage works in addition to A Death in the Family, and a variety of orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works. Among Mayer’s works for young people is Hello World! which was recorded with Eleanor Roosevelt as narrator, the ballet The Snow Queen and the opera One Christmas Long Ago.
“The characteristic features of my music are derived from speech. My music is actually a speech; the consonants and vowels of the ‘words’ of this speech being complex tones (chords) and melodic sequences,” wrote Dane Rudhyar in an essay about his piano work Granites (1929). Along with works such as Paeans (1927) and Stars from Pentagram No.3 (1925), Rudhyar put into musical practice what he had been investigating in Oriental philosophy since 1924. Rudhyar developed a highly unique style of polytonal composition alongside his writings on philosophy and world religions.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Born in New York City (November 18, 1925), William Mayer entered Yale University with the notion of being a writer and graduated (1949) with equal affinities for music and language. A tilt toward music became evident as Mayer continued his training at Juilliard and the Mannes College of Music, studying with Roger Sessions and Felix Salzer, and later with Otto Luening and Izler Solomon.
Mayer’s versatility is manifest in his ongoing interest in all kinds of music. His catalogue includes three stage works in addition to A Death in the Family, and a variety of orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works. Among Mayer’s works for young people is Hello World! which was recorded with Eleanor Roosevelt as narrator, the ballet The Snow Queen and the opera One Christmas Long Ago.
“The characteristic features of my music are derived from speech. My music is actually a speech; the consonants and vowels of the ‘words’ of this speech being complex tones (chords) and melodic sequences,” wrote Dane Rudhyar in an essay about his piano work Granites (1929). Along with works such as Paeans (1927) and Stars from Pentagram No.3 (1925), Rudhyar put into musical practice what he had been investigating in Oriental philosophy since 1924. Rudhyar developed a highly unique style of polytonal composition alongside his writings on philosophy and world religions.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
William Masselos plays Mayer & Rudhyar
| MP3/320 | $17.00 | |
| FLAC | $17.00 | |
| WAV | $17.00 | |
| CD-R | $17.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Octagon: I. Interrotto
William Mayer
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Octagon: II. Canzone
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: III. Scherzo
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: IV. Toccata
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: V. Fantasia
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: VI. Clangor
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: VII. Points and Lights
William Mayer
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Buy
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Octagon: VIII. Finale
William Mayer
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Buy
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Piano Sonata No. 1: I. Andante
William Mayer
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Buy
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Piano Sonata No. 1: II. Moderato
William Mayer
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Buy
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Piano Sonata No. 1: III. Vivace e leggiero
William Mayer
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Buy
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Paeans
Dane Rudhyar
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Buy
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Stars
Dane Rudhyar
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Buy
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Granites
Dane Rudhyar
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Buy
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