Monthly Archives: August 2020

Gabriel Fauré plays his Barcarolle No. 1

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Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Gabriel Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher.  He was one of the top French composers of his time.  Today he is known for works such as his Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine, his masterful art songs, and his piano pieces.  Fauré lived long enough to be recorded playing the piano on piano rolls.

Here is a piano roll recording of Gabriel Fauré playing his Barcarolle No. 1.  Listen to how beautifully the music flows and the beautiful melody and the harmony that supports it.

Henryk Wieniawski – Etude Caprice Op. 18 No. 4 (Itzhak Perlman, violin)

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Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880)

Henryk Wieniawski was a Polish violinist and composer.  In 1843 (when he was only 8 years old) he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire.  Wieniawski was a violin virtuoso and toured quite extensively during his career.  He composed several pieces for violin and piano that he often played in recitals when on tour.  Wieniawski was a wonderful melodist, but his pieces are often very challenging to play and require a virtuoso technique.  A violin competition was named after him.  He is to the violin what Chopin is to the piano.

Here is a video clip of violinist Itzhak Perlman (accompanied on the piano by Janet Guggenheim) playing Wieniawski’s Etude Caprice Op. 18 No.4. This video clip was taken from a film of a tour Perlman did in Russia.  As you will see in the video, this piece is extremely difficult to play.  Perlman is such a master of his instrument that he makes it look easy.

Priquitín Pin Pon · Bebo Valdés Trío

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Bebo Valdes (1918-2013)

Bebo Valdes was a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger.  He was a major musical figure during the golden age of Cuban music.  Bebo led two famous big bands and was the main arranger for a band at the Tropicana Club.  He began his career in the 1940s playing in the nightclubs of Havana, Cuba.  He was an important figure in the Havana Cuban Jazz scene.

In 2001, Bebo Valdes and his trio recorded an album called El Arte del Sabor (The Art of Flavor).  The album featured traditional Cuban melodies.  The album won a 2002 Latin Grammy Award for teh best tropical album, and a Grammy Award for the best traditional tropical album.

Here is a piece called Priquitín Pin Pon played by Bebo Valdes (piano), Israel López “Cachao” (double bass), Carlos Patato Valdés (conga, percussion), and guest musician Paquito D’Rivera (clarinet, saxophone).