comme si l’hydrogène… the desert speaks…
Vivienne Spiteri
Vivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- Composer(s): David Keane, Jens Hedman, Erik Mikael Karlsson, Elsa Justel, Tim Brady, Kaija Saariaho, Bruce Pennycook, Jacek Grudzień, Paul Dolden
- Performer(s): Vivienne Spiteri
CD (JETW 931)
- 1Turbo Toccata (David Keane) (1989), 11:25harpsichord with MIDI system, and synthetizersVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 2harpsichord and fixed mediumVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 3La ventana deshabitada (Elsa Justel) (1992), 5:19harpsichord and fixed mediumVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 4harpsichord and reverbVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 5Jardin secret II (Kaija Saariaho) (1986), 11:02harpsichord and fixed mediumVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 6The Desert Speaks… Praescio III (Bruce Pennycook) (1988), 11:18harpsichord with MIDI, system and processingVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 9Turdus Musicus (Jacek Grudzień) (1986), 2:58harpsichord and reverbVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- 10Physics of Seduction. Invocation #2 (Paul Dolden) (1991), 10:40harpsichord and fixed mediumVivienne Spiteri, harpsichord
- Label: J&W
- JETW 931
- 1992
- Total duration: 67:23
- Jewel case
- 125 mm × 142 mm × 10 mm
- 110 g
On the web
In the press
Electric Harpsichord
For sheer excitement, try a midi harpsichord toccata on for size. Vivienne Spiteri, harpsichordist extraordinaire, has produced a phenomenal disc of aggressive and insightful new electroacoustic music for an old instrument. For fans of mechanistic music, David Keane’s Turbo Toccata will be a sure hit. Others will find fulfillment in the classicism of Bruce Pennycook’s “The Desert Speaks.” The harpsichord has always lent itself to virtuosity, and Spiteri capitalizes on this: The energy level is high on this disk - the tension never lets up. One highlight is the amplified breathing down your neck of the hair-raising “jardin secret ii,” (secret garden ii) for tape and harpsichord, by Kaija Saariaho. As the liner note says, “au diable le conformisme!” (To hell with conformity!).