Musique? Modern and Electro-Acoustic Works for Harpsichord

HENRY COWELL (1897-1965): Set of Four, LUC FERARRI (1929-2005): Programme commun “Musique socialiste?”, TŌRU TAKEMITSU (1930-1976): Rain Dreaming, GAVIN BRYARS (b.1943): After Handel’s “Vesper”, KAIJA SAARIAHO (b.1952): Jardin secret II, ANAHITA ABBASI (b.1985): Intertwined distances.

Description: As the Hyperion website puts it: “Under Mahan Esfahani’s hands—and occasionally fists—the harpsichord is transmogrified into an elemental force, by turns supported or menaced by an astonishing arsenal of electronics. Concerned listeners please note: no harpsichords were harmed in the making of this album.” You probably already know without hearing a note of the more thorny stuff whether you want this or not. So we’ll just point out that the CD made it to #12 in the UK Specialist Classical Chart on July 2. Really! Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord).