An entertaining overview of 100 years of American piano music

Evan Mitchell, American Century

Born in New Jersey, educated in Indiana and Texas, and currently Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Florida, pianist Evan Mitchell obviously has this music in his bones. He's put together a wonderful programme that represents the many strands American composers have woven into their piano music, from Gershwin in the 1920s, to 21st Century pieces by John Adams, Missy Mazzoli and Frederic Rzewski.

Most appealing to me in this fabulous musical montage is the contribution of Florence Price, who I believe is the most exciting musical (re)discovery in classical music in this century. Her three Snapshots, written in 1947-52 but not discovered until 2008, are character pieces that bring to mind three particular moments, captured as notes on manuscript paper as if on film. Price can be seen as a modernist artist working in the same vein as her close contemporary, Imogen Cunningham. Both stop time and achieve transcendence.

Imogen Cunningham, Three Dancers, Mills College, 1930

Another wonderful piece is Missy Mazzoli's Bolts of Loving Thunder, written in 2013. It's Mazzoli's homage to Johannes Brahms, containing references both to his late, great, autumnal works for piano, but also to the vital music of what she calls the "Pre-Beard Brahms", the handsome young man on the left. It's a fascinating 8½ minutes of synthesis of youthful vigour and mature wisdom.

Brahms in 1855 - Brahms+beard, by Maria Fellinger, c. 1893-96

It wouldn't be the American Century without Aaron Copland, of course. But his Piano Variations, from 1930 is a bleak and angular work of uncompromising modernism. Nothing could be farther from his later folkloric Americana-inspired popular works. At first this sounds more like Paris than New England; more like Stravinsky than a Shaker hymn. But it's still American in its own way, and good on Evan Mitchell for placing it in the centre of his album. Adolphus Hailstork's Eight Variations on “Shalom Chaverim” provides a more down-to-earth vibe. It's a cleverly-constructed work based on a really lovely tune. 

John Adams' American Berserk, from 2001, is a fascinating work. Adams called it "extroverted, punchy, and fundamentally good-natured." Mitchell lets the music swing, which is what is required. Let's call this Post-Bop Minimalism.  After another uncompromising piece, Frederic Rzewski's Piano Piece No. 4, from 1977, Mitchell wraps things up with Stephen Hough's brilliant, showy arrangement of the Carousel Waltz, from Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1945 Broadway show.

What a fascinating, varied and thought- and emotion-provoking hour+ of music we have on this Centaur disc. Evan Mitchell teaches us about the breadth of American music for the piano while keeping us entertained, and all without resorting to cliché.

This Canadian review comes with best wishes to Americans of Good Will, without threats or sanctions.

This album will be released on April 18, 2025.