Morton Feldman: For John Cage

The first notable fact about this recording of Morton Feldman’s For John Cage is the technical achievement: Although it’s an 84-minute piece, the label has managed to fit it onto a single CD. This is crucial to the experience of the work; you really need to sit back and let it happen for its full hour and 24 minutes without a break. But the sound of it is also beautiful. There’s an edge to the reverb on Tilbury’s piano, and the low end is strong, giving it an opulence that keeps the music from feeling austere. Morgan’s violin technique is breathtakingly precise; listening to his long, impeccably bowed notes is like watching someone perform microsurgery.