BVHAAST presents another milestone release...

A historic live recording: the premiere of Morton Feldman's final work, commissioned by Ad van 't Veer and Nieuwe Muziek Zeeland, which took place on June 17, 1987 at Kloveniersdoelen, Middelburg, The Netherlands, in the presence of the composer.

The late founder of BVHAAST, Willem Breuker, insisted that the release of this important recording should be completed. Now it is available from our website as a double cd, containing the full 84'39" of the performance.

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From the liner notes by Hans Heg:

"In 'Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello' the piano is more of a central constant and the three string instruments play the anonymous role, as an echo of the piano. According to Feldman the string part is very similar to a second, prepared piano, one where the sound is transformed by fitting the strings with various types of dampers. The piano is played extremely softly, with depressed right pedal. Feldman uses its resonance to enhance the continuity of the sound. Even written out rests can not inhibit the suggestion of an uninterrupted sound.(...)

Feldmans works sometimes take hours and often have a disturbing effect on performers and listeners alike, a type of hypnosis. The listener is severely tested and faced with a confronting choice. You either reject his compelling musical idiom, or you surrender totally to what he envisioned, particularly in his later period: hushed music floating freely in time and space, where the listener is unaware of the underlying form or structure."