Tag Archives: piano

Rachmaninov(1873-1943) plays Rachmaninov Lilacs op.21-5 Rec.1942

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Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was a famous Russian pianist and composer.  Lilacs was one of eleven songs that Rachmaninoff composed in 1902.  That year he got married and he composed the songs to help pay for the honeymoon.  In 1913 Rachmaninoff adapted the song into a solo piano piece.  He recorded the piece three times.  In 1920 he made a recording of the piece for Victor and also recorded it on a piano roll.  In 1942 Rachaminoff recorded Lilacs for RCA.

Here is the recording of Lilacs Rachmaninoff made for RCA.  Enjoy!

Catoire Elegy – Oistrach, Goldenweiser

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Georgy Catoire (1861-1926)

Georgy Catoire was a Russian composer of French descent.  He studied the piano in Berlin with Klindworth.  Catoire studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov and Anatol Lyadov.  He was appointed as a professor to the Moscow Conservatory in 1916.  Catoire composed works for piano, orchestra, and chamber music ensembles.  He also wrote important books on harmony and musical form.

Here is a recording of a piece by Catoire called Elegy for violin and piano.  It is played by David Oistrakh (violin) and Alexander Goldenweiser (piano).

Michal Oginski – Polonaise in a minor ‘Farewell to the Fatherland’

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Michał Kleofas Ogiński (1765-1833)

Michał Kleofas Ogiński was a Polish Prince, diplomat, pianist, violinist, and composer.  His Polonaises were an important influence on Chopin.

The Polonaise in a minor ‘Farewell to the Fatherland’ is one the the most famous polonaises ever written.  It was composed after Ogiński returned to Warsaw, Poland from a diplomatic mission to the Hague and London, England.  Ogiński found out upon his return to Poland that the country was being threatened with an invasion from Russia, Prussia, and Austria.  He became depressed and composed the Polonaise in a minor.  The polonaise became very popular because there was a rumour that Ogiński had committed suicide which was not true.

Ogiński also composed a piece called the Song of the Legions which later became the Polish National Anthem.

Iwo Załuski – pianist

Iwo Załuski is the great-great grandson of Michał Kleofas Ogiński.  He is working to restore the music of the Ogiński dynasty into the repertoire of Polish piano music.

Here is a recording of Iwo Zaluski playing the Polonaise in a minor ‘Farewell to the Fatherland’.  Enjoy!

Bernat Vivancos – catalan song-Lo jardí de la mort

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Bernat Vivancos (1973-

Bernat Vivancos is a Catalan composer and teacher.  He studied piano and composition in Barcelona.  He later moved to Paris to study composition at the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique et de Danse for five years and then moved to Oslo Norway to complete his studies.

Vivanco’s music is full of colourful harmonies and beautiful melody.  He has written a lot of vocal and instrumental music.  Vivancos has received many commissions from international ensembles.

Nuria Rial (1975-

Nuria Rial is a Catalan soprano.  She studied voice and piano at the Barcelona Conservatory and got diplomas from the Barcelona Conservatory in piano and voice.  Nuria studied voice at the Music Academy in Basel and got a soloist diploma.  Her specialty is Renaissance and Baroque music.  She has made many recordings.

Here is a recording of a Catalan song by Bernat Vivancos called La jordi de la mort (Death’s Garden).  It is performed by soprano Nuria Rial and Bernat Vivancos is the pianist.  Enjoy!

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!

 

 

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!

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!

Weber – Piano sonata n°2 – Gilels London 1968

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Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Carl Maria von Weber was a German composer, music critic, virtuoso pianist, and Kapellmeister at the court in Dresden.  He is well known among musicians and music lovers as the composer of the opera Der Freischutz.

Weber only wrote 4 sonatas for solo piano.  They are not very well known.  The sonata no 2 in A Major is a long and very technically demanding piece.  Any virtuosic moments in the music are always written in a musically pleasing manner and not simply to show off the technical skill of the pianist.  The piece contains beautiful melodies and the accompanying harmonies are not always what the listener expects (this is what makes certain musical works a delight for both the musician and the listener).

Emil Gilels (1916-1985) is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.  His playing is known for its incredible raw power.  Gilels had a large repertoire ranging from Bach to Bartok.  Many of his recordings were made live during recitals.  This recording of Gilels playing the Sonata no 2 in A Major by Weber was recorded during a live performance in London in 1968.  Enjoy!

 

Bolet – Liszt Deuxieme Annee V; Sonetto 104 del Petrarca

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Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian piano virtuoso and composer.  He was one of the greatest pianists of the 19th century.

Liszt composed three pieces based on sonnets by Petrarch.  The piece based on Petrarch’s 104th sonnet comes from a collection of pieces entitled “The Years of Pilgrimage.”  The 104th sonnet by Petrarch is one of three sonnets that describe Petrarch’s love for a woman named Laura.

The pianist in the recording I have selected for this post is the Cuban-born pianist Jorge Bolet.  Bolet is not as well known as other pianists, but I think he plays more expressively then a lot of other pianists.  Listen to the the different tone colours  Bolet gets out of the piano in this recording.  Some of the famous pianists don’t even get close to the level of this interpretation.  I hope that you enjoy the recording of this piece.