ALEC WILDER (1907-1980): Sonata-Fantasy, Hardy Suite, Suites Nos. 1-4, Un Deuxième Essai, 12 Mosaics.

Description: Jazz, popular song, Broadway and "real classical" music co-exist in much of Wilder's piano music (there's even a twelve-tone movement [don't worry, it's only 1:59 long] in his first piano Suite). You might find jazz and popular song juxtaposed with canons or passacaglias - the third movement of the Sonata-Fantasy transforms a syncopated jazz theme into a canonic version of the same them; or you might find some of his acoustic experiments like particularly detailed instructions on the use of the damper pedal; intensity of melodic expression comes with unanalyzable harmonic progressions. In short, utterly approachable, lots of fun. These piano pieces deserve to be heard by a wider audience and, if one leaves out the four-movement, 14:30 Sonata-Fantasy, the other 40 tracks on this disc take up only 43 minutes, meaning you're sure as heck not going to be bored by anything! John Noel Roberts (piano).