Stephen Clarke, piano
The JACK Quartet
String Quartet No.5 “before the universe was born”, op. 89 (1990-95) 29:20
The JACK Quartet
FIRST RECORDING
Piano Sonata No.5 “settle your dust, this is the primal identity”, op. 106 (2003) 18:31
1. The path into the light seems dark 10:57
2. Darkness within darkness. / The gateway to all understanding 3:04
3. Use your own light / and return to the source of light. / This is called practicing eternity 4:31
FIRST RECORDING
Piano Sonata No.2 “being and non-being create each other”, op.82 (1991) 15:10
1. Immanence 7:40
2. Byzantine Bells 3:33
3. Joy 2:37
Stephen Clarke, piano
The first volume in a projected series combining Radulescu’s complete Piano Sonatas and String Quartets — there are six of each — on Mode performed by the superb JACK Quartet and Stephen Clarke (piano).
In the 1970s, Horatiu Radulescu began exploring and composing begun composing what he called “plasmatic music,” in which sound was conceived as an “endless ocean of vibrations,” as opposed to the traditional way in which music treats sound as a fabric of discrete scale steps. His music is linked to the “spectral music” school.
Radulescu’s Fifth String Quartet is one of the key works in his output. It is in some ways the richest manifestation of the body of string techniques he had developed for his music. It consists of 29 sections/pages which richly evocative titles, each lasting about 1 minute.
The Second Piano Sonata is inspired by the Tao of Chinese philosopher Lao tzu (6-5 BC). The first movement, “Immanence,” opens with a powerful sonority built from spectral functions which gives a sense of immensity and strength.
The Fifth Piano Sonata makes abundant use — more so than any of the other sonatas — of Romanian folk material, which is absorbed and integrated into Radulescu’s spectral language.
Liner notes by Bob Gilmore.
Hand-Numbered Limited Edition of 500 LP
• Mode’s first vinyl LP release since 1986!
• Includes 4-page insert of liner notes by Bob Gilmore (in English, German & French)
• Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk from the original 96 khz/24-bit files
• Plated and pressed at RTI, California
• Includes a free Download Card of the entire original CD
…And the Special Artist Edition LP of 50 copies:
Each copy includes a unique, original, signed painting by cover artist Dorothea Kares. Her paintings will grace future covers in Mode’s Radulescu Edition, so here is a special chance to own a possible original cover from Mode Records — and help support Mode.
Samples of some of the paintings can be seen here:
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
