An important figure in the avant-garde, particularly in the area of experimental sound production, Toshiro Mayuzumi is well-represented here by three strong works, expertly performed by the Louisville Orchestra under Robert Whitney and Akira Endo. Immediately appealing for its crystalline sonorities and delicate textures, the Pieces for prepared piano and strings is a moody exploration of altered piano timbres complemented by atmospheric effects in the string orchestra. Bell sounds, koto-like plucking, and eerie trills make this an effective piece of Japanese "night music." Mayuzumi's energetic symphonic poem, Samsara, may be a little less ingratiating for its block-like masses and forceful declamations, and may require patience to appreciate its drama and colorful invention. Varèse-like in its fanfares and reiterations of cell motives, Samsara still bears Mayuzumi's imprint in its evanescent chamber groupings and stratified textures. The mesmerizing Essay for string orchestra is the most spectrally conceived, a sonic mass that ebbs and flows between microtonal density and open-string transparency. The early recordings are astonishingly clear and focused for their times -- 1963 for Pieces and 1966 for Samsara -- and the only flaws are some extraneous noises in the latter; the 1980 recording of the Essay is also clean and quite good for analog. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide
