Following on from our popular primer A Young Person's Guide to the Avant-Garde, LTM now offers a more comprehensive overview of American avant-garde music in the 20th century.
Commencing with early pioneers Charles Ives and George Antheil (including the celebrated, Futuristic Ballet Mechanique of 1924), this chronological double disc collection also includes pieces by émigré arrivals in the New World such as Leo Ornstein, Dane Rudhyar and Edgard Varèse, as well homegrown composers including Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles and Roger Sessions.
The second half of the double disc set offers works by a number of even more modern modernists, notably Morton Feldman, Harry Partch and the immortal John Cage, whose groundbreaking Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano is presented in its entirety.
With a generous playing time of 140 minutes, this fascinating double CD set contains an illustrated booklet with detailed historical notes.