Leo Ornstein was born in 1895 in the Ukraine, and emigrated with his family in 1906 to the USA, where he became a famous pianist...

Leo Ornstein was born in 1895 in the Ukraine, and emigrated with his family in 1906 to the USA, where he became a famous pianist and leading figure in the American Avant-Garde, writing highly experimental music in which tonal clusters played an important role. Halfway through the twenties he withdrew from public life and founded his own music school- the Ornstein School of Music. He continued composing but was largely forgotten until the revival by his son in the seventies. Ornstein’s works show a wide variety, from Post-Romantic works in the tradition of Grieg and Franck to pieces of shocking modernity and savagery. This release contains the complete music for violin and piano and for flute and piano, music of a highly original spirit, who died at the advanced age of 108 in the year 2002. These works are played with great conviction and dedication by violinist Francesco Parrino, flutist Stefano Parrino, and pianist Maud Renier.