in the utmost silence, through serious immobilities
November 27, 2012 9:59 PM

Somnolent, hypnotic, stark, or unsettling piano music: recommend it.

I'm in need of more piano music in the style of Feldman's "Palais de Mari", Young's "The Well-Tuned Piano", Satie's "Vexations", Dennis Johnson's "November", and the ever-popular "In a Landscape" or "Gnossiennes"/"Gymnopédies". I would even accept pieces with unobtrusive additional accompaniment like Anouar Brahem's "Déjà La Nuit". (Aksak Maboul's "Ossip and Lili" fits in here somewhere, although it's a bit faster than I'd like.) Thanks in advance!
posted by mykescipark to Media & Arts (26 answers total) 70 users marked this as a favorite
Chopin Nocturnes are the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe not unsettling enough?
posted by kdern at 10:15 PM on November 27, 2012




If you don't mind a little glitch mixed in with your piano, there's always Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto.
posted by speicus at 10:25 PM on November 27, 2012


Sample a little piano music by Alan Hovhaness at this YouTube link. The album "Fred the Cat", a collection of his piano works, might be of interest to you.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:03 PM on November 27, 2012


And I just looked at the prices for that recording at Amazon. Ouch! I didn't realize I owned such a collector's item. Well, I'm off to set fire to some 20 dollar bills just for the fun of it.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:08 PM on November 27, 2012




I enjoy The Social Network's soundtrack, such as "It Catches Up With You."
posted by ichomp at 1:06 AM on November 28, 2012


Branka Parlic plays Philip Glass' Metamorphosis at Novi Sad - part I, part II, part III, part IV, part V
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:20 AM on November 28, 2012


You can't really go wrong with Erik Satie, but I'll mention 3 morceaux en forme de poire and Embryons desséchés
posted by Segundus at 2:56 AM on November 28, 2012


Some of Brad Mehldau's works might fit the bill.

Radiohead cover.
posted by kuanes at 3:41 AM on November 28, 2012


On the somnolent and hypnotic side of things is the piano music of Valentin Silvestrov: for example, Kitsch-Musik für fortepiano, the Bagatelles for piano, and Hymne 2001.
posted by misteraitch at 4:13 AM on November 28, 2012


I do not think you are prepared to hear Schnittke's fourth symphony.
posted by krilli at 6:06 AM on November 28, 2012


Steve Reich's Piano Phase? Maybe too unsettling?
posted by mskyle at 6:30 AM on November 28, 2012


Craig Taborn's "Avenging Angel" has lots of this, especially the first track, "The Broad Day King" (which I can't find on YouTube).
posted by Beardman at 6:49 AM on November 28, 2012


Harold Budd. Suggested: The Pearl (Eno collaboration) and The Room.
posted by davebush at 7:10 AM on November 28, 2012


Not sure if this fits your definition of "stark," but try Musica Callada by Federico Mompou.
posted by trunk muffins at 7:25 AM on November 28, 2012


Alexander Mosolov's Piano Sonata No. 2; II "Adagio."

I'd actually suggest Mosolov's nocturnes (1 2). Nocturnes in general are probably a good genre to consider.
posted by Nomyte at 7:50 AM on November 28, 2012


Kashiwa Daisuke
posted by empath at 7:58 AM on November 28, 2012


Oneohtrix Point Never's "Replica" (which I also recommended in this thread).
posted by yz at 8:17 AM on November 28, 2012


Tim Story "This Small Spot'" Roger Eno, "Voices, " and, to a lesser degree, the more obscure floating pieces of Brian Eno.
posted by Mertonian at 8:40 AM on November 28, 2012


Try the theme for the movie "The Conversation" - composed by David Shire.
posted by mefireader at 10:26 AM on November 28, 2012


There's plenty more Feldman where that came from. Try Triadic Memories or For Bunita Marcus next.

I bet you'd dig a bunch of the Irritable Hedgehog catalog.
posted by dfan at 10:32 AM on November 28, 2012


Francesco Tristano did an entire cover album of iconic electronic dance music tracks for piano. It's called "Not for Piano", here is a sample of his cover of Jeff Mills' The Bells.
posted by the foreground at 11:34 AM on November 28, 2012


Not able to listen to youtubes at this point, but based on your words, I came here to recommend that Francesco Tristano, or Nik Bartsch's Ronin.
posted by Slyfen at 5:18 AM on November 29, 2012


I don't know if you want something quite this unsettling, but Charles Ives' quarter-tone pieces for two pianos kinda sound like a ragtime pianist scoring his own suicide. I think they're beautiful.
posted by insteadofapricots at 6:48 AM on November 29, 2012


I'm going to mark this question Resolved but leave Best Answers unmarked, since it's such a subjective question and there's lots here for future searchers to explore. Thanks to all for the great suggestions :-)
posted by mykescipark at 11:55 AM on December 2, 2012


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