The Well-Tuned Piano in the Magenta Lights

For those who know the out-of-print Gramavision 5-hour, 5-CD release of the 1981 performance of The Well-Tuned Piano, this Just Dreams 401-minute DVD of the entire 1987 performance is the inevitable complement. The continually expanding composition now includes more musical material than even La Monte Young can play in one setting. Together, the 1981 release and the 1987 video provide a much more comprehensive perspective of the scope and complexity of the work.

Directed by La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela, The Well-Tuned Piano in the Magenta Lights leans on a strong ensemble — La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about music titles of 2000.