Anthony Burgess: The Bad-Tempered Electronic Keyboard – Stephane Ginsburgh

   in Piano International (May, 2018)
A selection of recorder pieces by novelist/ composer Anthony Burgess have appeared previously and Naxos has released some of his orchestral music, but this is the world premiere recording of The Bad-Tempered Electronic Keyboard.

Burgess’ 1985 work pays homage not only to Bach, but to Shostakovich, particularly in its more rugged dissonant counterpoint. There’s a hint of Ronald Stevenson in the writing, too, and some might even find passing nods to the severity of Sorabji’s Opus Clavicembalisticum.

A ‘Fantasia on BACH’ is perhaps inevitable; less predictable is a finale entitled ‘Natale 1985′ based on three famous Christmas carols. Stephane Ginsburgh makes the finest case imaginable, his sound superbly captured. Recommended. …