Terry Riley - The Padova Concert (1992)

According to legend, Sir Francis Drake once discarded a crewman's harp on the shores of New Albion (later known as San Francisco Bay), and this abandoned instrument was regarded as a sacred object by the Native Americans who discovered it. Put on a high point near the ocean, the harp was left to vibrate freely in the wind, in a natural "act" of improvisation. Inspired by this story, Terry Riley composed The Harp of New Albion for piano in 1984. Employing a system of just intonation, Riley uses pure intervals to striking effect; in this tuning, the piano's tone is exotic, remarkably similar to a cimbalom or zither; and this harp-like timbre is often exploited in Riley's arpeggios and tremolando passages. The work's open-ended structure allows for departures from notated motives, and different combinations of them lead to a variety of viable performances. On January 20, 1986, Riley performed The Harp of New Albion interspersed with several of his Salome Dances for Peace in concert in Padova, Italy. This 1992 release from Amiata Records presents that recital with close intimacy and clean sound, both remarkable for a live recording. Riley's patterns are hypnotic and soothing, and this atmospheric CD may appeal to fans of minimalism and new age music.~The Padova Concert Review by Blair Sanderson