Most pianos have 88 keys, but the notes that they produce are just  the beginning of the sonic possibilities available to the keyboardist.  This week we’ll listen to how boundary-shattering composers from John  Cage to Conlon Nancarrow unlocked and exploited keyboard instruments’  aural potential.

Hosted by Seth Boustead

Produced by Jesse McQuarters

Playlist

◦   Cage: The Perilous Night; Marcus Hinterhauser, p.

◦   Satie: La Piège de Medusa (excerpt); Alexandre Tharaud, p.

◦   Cowell: Aeolian Harp & The Banshee; Henry Cowell, p.

◦   Nancarrow: Study No. 40a for Player Piano

◦   Zappa: Jazz From Hell; Zappa, syncalvier

◦   Zappa: Ruth is Sleeping; Ensemble Modern

◦   Reich: It’s Gonna Rain (excerpt); Brother Walter, nar.

◦   Reich: Piano Phase (excerpt); Josef Christof, Steffen Schleiermacher, pnos.

◦   Glass: Metamorphosis 1; Bruce Brubaker, p.

◦   Crumb: Night Spell & Dream Images fr. Makrokosmos; Margaret Leng Tan, p.

◦   Choi: To Unformed; Choi, piano