Leo Ornstein

Born in Ukraine (then Russia) in 1893 and died in the USA in 2002, at the respectable age of 108, Leo Ornstein can be considered one of the main experimental composers of the early 20th century.

Having emigrated to the United States with his family in 1907, between 1913 and 1920, when he retired from the concert scene, he was one of the leading figures on the American music scene.

As a composer, he wrote various works, including some decidedly innovative for the time, especially for piano.
Here you can listen to his prophetic "Suicide in an Airplane" for solo piano, composed between 1915 and 1918 (performed by Daniele Lombardi). You can also view the score and appreciate his innovative writing.

The site dedicated to him by his son contains a wealth of material, including audio (with some background noise, the recordings are probably old) and various scores.
In the photo, Ornstein in 1918 (aged 25) at the time of Suicide in an Airplane.

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