In the balance Piano sonatas by Myroslav Gutej, as heard by BASIL RAMSEY KWA    K719431160428

An Australian composer little known outside his country is Myroslav Gutej. He plays six of his piano sonatas on this CD, and I find it impossible to be enthusiastic, or even lukewarm. Gutej had university training in composition and piano, which places him rightly as a professionally equipped musician. So the six sonatas I hear come from a composer who means exactly what he writes and who obviously plays his music with a sense of conviction.

Beyond that I tread carefully and can only assure all who read this of my concern as a listener for objectivity in areas of composition.  But it fails me most of the way, although Gutej knows precisely the intention of his compositional journey and its manner of engaging the ear. I can only report my indifference to the experience, and leave it to curious readers to follow through.

Record Box is Music & Vision's regular Saturday series of shorter CD reviews