MAKROKOSMOS

Although composed fairly recently (1972/73), George Crumb’s two volumes of Makrokosmos: Twelve fantasy-pieces after the zodiac for amplified piano have proven to be hallmark compositions of 20th century solo piano music. These monumental works, 24 pieces after the zodiac, are tackled by relatively few artists in the music world today.

For not only do these pieces stretch the imagination and test the technique of the performer, they also reach beyond the realm of certainty, beyond that which is concrete and comfortable, and beyond the security of the keyboard. Within these works, Crumb suspends reality to such an extent as to bring the listener and the performer to a place that hasn’t been visited since childhood.

“Pianist Laurie Hudicek tackles what many consider to be one of the monumental pieces of 20th century repertoire for solo piano. ..A great recording of a true masterpiece.”
– New Music Box

“… It takes a daring musician to pull it off with such aplomb. Hudicek attacks the piece with equal parts finesse and sass, resulting in one of the more provocative CDs for solo piano to come along in quite a while.”
– Andrew Ervin, Washington City Paper, August 2-8