Dussek- piano sonata no.24 op.61 f sharp minor

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Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760-1812)

Jan Ladislav Dussek was a Bohemian pianist and composer.  He composed over 40 piano sonatas, 12 piano concertos, some lighter piano pieces, harp music, and chamber music (most chamber music works of his include the piano).  Dussek also wrote a keyboard method.  His early compositions are written in a classical style.  Dussek’s later compositions after 1790 are romantic in style and anticipate Schubert, Chopin, and other composers.  His later works are especially virtuosic.

Here is a recording of Dussek’s Piano Sonata no.24, op.61 in f sharp minor.  The piece is in three movements.  It is played on a fortepiano (an early piano).  This piece is written in a romantic style.  Notice all of the emotional turmoil (sudden loud outbursts, surprising modulations, and the use of distant keys).  The key of the piece is  f sharp minor which was not used much in Dussek’s time.  The second movement of the piece is in G Flat Major which is a key not used much back in Dussek’s time.  In the final movement the piece modulates from f sharp minor to F Sharp Major which is unusual.  Enjoy!

Dussek: Piano Sonata (first movement)

Dussek: Piano Sonata (end of first movement and 2nd movement)

Dussek: Piano Sonata (third movement)

 

 

 

Caplet: Reverie

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Andre Caplet (1878-1925)

Andre Caplet was a French composer and conductor.  He is known today for his orchestrations of Claude Debussy’s works.  Claude Debussy was a friend of Andre Caplet and an important musical influence on him.

Reverie is a french word which means to dream.  This piece is very dreamy with its soft, sweet melody and flowing accompaniment like a cascading waterfall.

The piece is performed by Julie Scolnik on the flute, and Sophie Scolnik-Brower on the piano.  you can buy this recording at:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/scolnikbrower

Memphis Slim – Born With The Blues

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Memphis Slim (1915-1988)

Memphis Slim was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer.  He was born in Memphis, Tennessee as John Len Chatman but used Memphis Slim as his stage name.

Memphis Slim led several bands that included saxophones, a bass, drums, and a piano.

Memphis Slim made over 500 recordings.  He made recordings for Bluebird, Hy-Tone, Miracle, Premium, Mercury, United, Vee-Jay, and folkways.

I picked this recording because it shows off Memphis Slim’s style of piano playing and his expressive voice.  Enjoy!

 

 

Dmitry Bortniansky Arias from Alcide

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Dmitry Bortniansky (1751-1825)

Dmitry Bortniansky was a Ukrainian-Russian composer.  He studied music in Italy.  His first operas were performed in Italy.  Bortniansky worked as the Kappellmeister (Chapel master) at the court of St. Petersburg.

Bortniansky wrote operas, cantatas, instrumental works, Russian sacred music, and Russian secular music.

Here are two arias from Dmitry Bortniansky’s 3 act opera Alcide.  Each aria lasts about 4 minutes.  The remaining minutes on each recording are silent.

Bortniansky – Cherubic Hymn (Бортнянский – Херувимска песма)

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Dmitri Bortniansky (1751-1825)

Dmitri Bortniansky was a Ukrainian-Russian composer.  He studied music in Italy.  He worked as the Kapellmeister (Chapel master) at the court of St. Petersburg.

Bortniansky wrote operas, cantatas, instrumental music, Russian sacred music, and Russian secular music.  His Russian sacred music is known for its Italian style lyricism and counterpoint.

Here is a recording of Bortniansky’s Cherubic Hymn which is often sung in the Ukrainian orthodox church.  I do not know who is performing the hymn in this particular recording.  It is quite a beautiful hymn.  Have a listen.

 

 

Shostakovich – Three pieces for two violins and piano op.97

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Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Soviet Russian composer, piano virtuoso, and an important figure in 20th Century music.

The Three pieces for two violins and piano, op 97 by Shostakovich come from his ‘Gadfly’ suite.  This music is beautiful and light-hearted (a complete contrast to much of his music which is dark and very dissonant).

Shostakovich was known for writing some very dark dissonant music.  His dark dissonant music reflects his feelings towards Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime.

Here is a a recording of the three pieces for two violins and piano, op 97 from the ‘Gadfly’ suite by Shostakovich.  It is performed by Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman (two famous Israeli-American violinists), and Samuel Sanders (an American Pianist and professor at the Juilliard School of Music in New York).  Enjoy!

Misha Elman “Raisins and Almonds” Goldfaden

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“Raisins and Almonds”

Raisins and Almonds is a Jewish lullaby by Abraham Goldfaden.  It is well known among European Jews (Ashkenazim).  Many singers and instrumentalists have recorded it.

Misha Elman (1891-1967)

A Russian Jewish violinist.  He is one of the great violinists of the 20th century.  Elman studied violin with the great Leopold Auer who taught many of the great violinists of the 20th century.  Misha Elman’s playing was celebrated for its rich, sensuous, expressive tone.

Joseph Seiger

Joseph Seiger was Misha Elman’s piano accompanist for the last 15 years of Elman’s life.  He also played with other great violinists, including Henryk Szeryng and Ruggiero Ricci.

Antonio Bartolomeo Bruni (1757-1821) 6 Duos for Violin and Viola

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Antonio Bartomoleo Bruni (1757-1821)

Italian violinist and composer.  He wrote over 200 chamber music works and 20 works for the stage.  Bruni’s music is full of melodic invention.

Unfortunately the video I posted on my blog has been removed from youtube because of copyright infringement.  This music is beautiful and well worth a listen if you can find a recording of it.

 

ANTONIO SOLER: Fandango in D minor – Scott Ross harpsichord

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Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

A Catalan composer and organist.  Studied with the famous Italian harpsichordist and composer Domenico Scarlatti.  Soler is best known for his 120 keyboard sonatas.  He also wrote six quintets for organ and strings, concertos for two organs, solo works for organ, over 300 vocal works, and a treatise on modulation.

A Fandango was a courtship dance of Castille and Andalusia.  Fandangos were written in triple time and were moderately fast.  The Fandango was a popular dance in the 18th century and was used in dramatic music.  Many composers wrote fandangos.  Domenico Scarlatti, Boccherini, Rimsky-Korsakov, Albeniz, Granados, and de Falla composed Fandangos.

Scott Ross (1951-1989)

Scott Ross was an American harpsichordist.  He won first prize at a competition in Bruges in 1971.  Scott Ross was also a music teacher and taught at the University of Laval, Quebec.  He recorded music by Francois Couperin, G.F. Handel, J.S. Bach, G, Frescobaldi, d/Anglebert, and D. Scarlatti.  Scott Ross was the first to record all 555 of Domenico Scarlatti’s harpsichord sonatas.  He died in 1989 from Aids.

Here is a recording of a Fandango by Antonio Soler.  It is played by Scott Ross.

 

Felix Mendelssohn – Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4

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Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Felix Mendelssohn is a German 19th century composer.  Mendelssohn was a prolific composer.  He composed dramatic music, choral music, Vocal music, orchestral music, chamber music, and piano music. Today he is known among music lovers for his Violin Concerto in e minor, oratorio Elijah, Octet, Symphony no 4. ‘Italian’, and Songs without Words for piano solo.

The Violin Sonata in f minor, op.4 is one of three sonatas that Mendelssohn wrote for violin and piano.  It was written in 1823 when the composer was in his early teens.

Shlomo Mintz – violinist (1957 -) Shlomo Mintz is one of the 20th century’s greatest violinists.   He has performed with many of the great orchestras and great conductors.  He also performs quite regularly in chamber music concerts and recitals.

Paul Ostrovsky – pianist

Paul Ostrovsky has performed in many of the world’s great concert halls and has appeared at important music festivals including Tanglewood and the Salzburg Festival.

Enjoy!