Madalina Danila's Stunning Performance of George Crumb's Makrokosmos Book 1 on Piano

The Mada & Hugh Piano Duo Podcast

On April 26, 7:30 pm, Madalina will be performing the entire set of Makrokosmos, Book 1 by George Crumb at Rock Hall, Temple University. In this episode, Madalina demonstrates 6 of the 12 pieces from the set, performed as part of her New York City debut at the Romanian Cultural Institute earlier this month.

Makrokosmos Book 1 is a composition by American composer George Crumb, originally written for piano in 1972. The piece is divided into three sections, each consisting of four pieces, and is inspired by astrology and the zodiac. The first section, "Primeval Sounds," explores the percussive and rhythmic potential of the piano, while the second section, "Proteus," features extended techniques such as plucking and strumming the strings inside the piano. The third section, "Music of Shadows," creates an eerie atmosphere with its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. The piece showcases Crumb's unique approach to sound and his ability to create otherworldly soundscapes.

The 6 selections Madalina performs are as follows:

"Pisces- Proteus" from George Crumb's Makrokosmos Book 1 features various extended techniques, including strumming, plucking, and muting the strings inside the piano to create a mystical and haunting atmosphere.

"Taurus- Pastorale (from the Kingdom of Atlantis, ca.10000 B.C.)" is a piece that evokes a sense of ancient pastoral beauty through its use of modal melodies and delicate, shimmering textures.

"Capricorn- Crucifixus" features dissonant harmonies and a striking use of silence to create a sense of tension and unease, and calls for the pianist to scream "Christus" into the piano. The music is written in the shape of a cross, depicting the crucifixion of Christ.

"Leo- The Magic Circle of Infinity (moto perpetuo)" is a frenzied and virtuosic piece that uses repeated patterns and perpetually shifting rhythms to create a sense of cosmic energy and boundless motion. Once again employing his unique visual representation of notation, Crumb scores this piece in the shape of a circle that is meant to be repeated 3 times.

"Aries- Spring-Fire" is a fiery and energetic piece that features explosive rhythms and powerful chords to evoke the raw energy and vitality of spring.

"Gemini- Dream Images (Love-Death Music)" is a haunting and atmospheric piece that uses delicate textures, ethereal harmonies, combining fragments of Crumb's composition and the lyrical middle section of Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu, to create a dreamlike and otherworldly atmosphere depicting the loss of memory, the mingling of past and present.