The Piano Music of Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (Radio Documentary)

Program published on 11/08/1973

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji was a British-born composer, pianist, and author, who wrote some of the longest and most difficult-to-perform works for the piano ever composed. Although being a 20th century composer, his works had more in common with the elaborate counterpoint of Bach than with the modern compositions of his contemporaries, such as Cage, Antheil, or Schoenberg. His compositions were so difficult to play, that virtually anyone who had attempted a public performance of any one of his more daunting pieces, played it very badly; and this prompted Sorabji to actually forbid public performance of them for decades, so as to prevent them from being performed by pianists who were not up to the task. As a result, very few people had an opportunity to hear his compositions, and he thus never attained the renown he otherwise deserved—not that this seemed to bother him very much, nor did it stop him from continuing to produce such masterworks. He is considered by many to be one of the 20th century’s legendary composers; and this program’s presentation of his piano music, performed by himself, provides a rare opportunity for listeners to become familiar with it. This program, which includes a lengthy lecture by Sorabji scholar Erik Chisholm, read by Sorabji’s friend Frank Holliday, was produced by Donald Garvelmann for WNCN in New York City. (from KPFA Folio)

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