Andre Jolivet (1905-1974) Solo Piano Works Piano Sonata No. 1 (1945) Piano Sonata No. 2 (1957) Cinq Danses rituelles (1939) Philip Adamson, piano Recorded July 2001 Released March 2004 Centaur CRC 2641 [67:07] This is highly dissonant French piano music that most listeners would find hard to fathom and enjoy. Yet, it has many of the features found in tonal music: introductions, identifiable themes, thematic development/variation, development sections, codas, and strong rhythmic patterns. What it doesn't possess is our traditional sense of lyricism. If that hurdle is overcome, the music gains in its clarity of purpose and architecture. Jolivet was most influenced by his teachers Paul Le Flem and Edgar Varese. Le Flem taught Jolivet all the existing musical forms, while Varese imparted his knowledge and sense of rhythm and acoustics. Essentially, Jolivet's music sounds like a mix of Varese, Bartok, and the mysticism of the late Scriabin works. There are also jazz influences and serialist techniques interspersed throughout his works. The programmed music on the disc tends to take two directions; one is the tough-as-nails variety, the other is mysterious and confusing as to intentions. Philip Adamson is a sure guide through Jolivet's music. He captures the indecision of the mystical elements as well as the hard severity elsewhere encountered. Perhaps most important, he has the rhythmic patterns well in hand including the jazz and Latino influenced rhythms. The sound quality of the disc is outstanding - crystal clear with wonderful depth and detail emanating from the lower voices. The booklet notes are in English and French with ample information and insight concerning Jolivet's sound world and the programmed works on the disc. Don's Conclusions: For those familiar with and appreciative of musical dissonance, the Centaur recording should offer many rewards. Others of an adventurous nature might want to seek out the disc for the goal of new discoveries. Listeners who know they do not want to dabble in any music out the ordinary would be best advised to keep their distance. Don Satz