Joshua Gordon, Randall Hodgkinson - Ornstein: Complete Works for Cello and Piano (2007)

Although best known for a collection of radical early works, throughout his life Leo Ornstein (1893-2001) wrote in diverse styles. Such stylistic eclecticism confounded his listeners, which, in turn, may explain why he chose to retire from the concert stage in order to follow his muse away from public pressure and scrutiny. Ornstein's music blends lyricism, exotic atmospheres, innovative tone clusters, and dramatic rhythmic drive, greatly influenced by Debussy, Scriabin, and Eastern European Jewish chant. While many recordings exist of the works for cello and piano by better known composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich, those of many other historical figures like Ornstein are only now being given the recognition they deserve. Given the character, drama, and strength of Ornstein's music, a recording of the collected cello works is long overdue. Ornstein himself considered these works to be among his most significant. In a conversation with Vivian Perlis he remarked, "Some day, if you get a chance, you really ought to study those Six Preludes for Cello and Piano. I believe, frankly, that it's probably one of the best pieces of music that I've written, one of the soundest. I think if any music is going to last, I have a feeling that may be it." Of the many works he composed for cello and piano, surprisingly, only the first Cello Sonata from 1919 and the Six Preludes from 1930 have ever been recorded but neither is currently available on CD. This is the first time that all of these works appear together on CD.

"the value of [Ornstein's] powerful works for cello and piano is revealed by the pianist Randall Hodgkinson and the cellist Joshua Gordon, admirable chamber musicians who play with passion and sensitivity... These exemplary performances should ensure that Ornstein's cello works will enjoy some of the limelight the composer shunned for so long." -Vivien Schweitzer --New York Times, September 16, 2007,

"Here's an hour and 15 minutes worth of virtually unknown music for cello and piano by Leo Ornstein, abounding in virtuosic challenges, passionate creativity, and sheer instrumental effectiveness. I can't imagine these works not gripping audiences' attention, nor holding the interests of adventurous performers ... cellist Joshua Gordon and pianist Randall Hodgkinson offer commanding, dynamically fervent, boundlessly colorful and heartfelt interpretations that are likely to set reference standards for many years to come. Nor should I fail to mention New World's warm, full-bodied engineering and scrupulous, informative booklet notes. A major catalog contribution." - Jed Distler --ClassicsToday.com