Recorded by Nicolas Horvath on Grand Piano records (GP822)

Debussy?s friendship with the versatile poet and playwright Gabriel Mourey began in 1899, and in July 1907 Mourey offered Debussy a libretto based on Le roman de Tristan - Joseph B�dier?s adaptation of a twelfth-century Breton romance by the Anglo-Norman poet known as Thomas - which had recently been published in Paris. Debussy enthusiastically outlined the four-act plot to Victor Segalen that October, and the main differences from Wagner?s Tristan und Isolde are that none of the action takes place in Cornwall and that ?Isolde of the White Hands? is found guilty of cuckolding King Marc with Tristan, who has to rescue her from the leper colony in which she is abandoned in Act 1. She also betrays him when he goes mad at the end.

The idea of a Tristan that restored its ?legendary character? and had no connections with Wagner, appealed to Debussy, who was extremely moved by the circumstances of Tristan?s death. Even if he thought that Mourey?s poetry was ?not very lyrical and many passages do not exactly ?invite? music?, he did work on the libretto and the music that summer and sent his publisher, Jacques Durand, ?one of the 363 themes for the ?Roman de Tristan?? in a letter sent from Pourville on 23 August, 1907. The present prelude grows from this theme, together with the poignant Breton folksong ?Le Faucon?. After a short atmospheric introduction, Debussy?s dance-like theme (which is definitely not a leitmotif) gradually gains momentum and after it reaches its ecstatic climax, representing the transient happiness of the lovers, it dissolves into an expressive coda and an elegiac close (all growing from Debussy?s opening, off-stage trumpet calls), leaving us with the ultimate tragedy of their ill-fated affair.

Unfortunately, Mourey?s actual libretto has been lost and the project eventually foundered because B�dier?s cousin, Louis Artus, wanted Debussy to use the scenario he had prepared and copyrighted for the stage, and would not allow him to proceed with Mourey?s version. Debussy, it need hardly be said, would never have dreamed of collaborating with the author of the vaudeville hit La culotte (The pants)!

Robert Orledge

"The Haunted House" takes you on a musical journey through a haunted house. It is a programmatic work with a story line embedded into the sheet music. It is an intermediate level work that uses the G melodic minor scale, and an ostinato pattern that is shared between the hands.

This collection of intermediate piano solos includes 20 arrangements of some of the most romantic songs from ages past. These beautiful, lyrical songs are perfect for weddings, easy listening repertoire, personal enjoyment, and even a few for church worship services.

These arrangements were created to make challenging classical music more accessible for the intermediate player or easier to sight-read by more advanced players (comes in handy when asked to perform on short notice). Another feature of these arrangements is they are consistent at the intermediate to advanced-intermediate skill level throughout each piece. Many have been simplified and only include excerpts from the longer original movements. Other simplified characteristics include easier key signatures, timings, and fingerings. Complimentary interludes and introductions were added when appropriate and melodies modified to create a more contemporary sound.

Each of the 20 arrangements is also available separately with accompanying preview pages and audio samples. The audio sample plays ?Starlight Serenade? by Alexander Ilyinsky.

Titles in this collection include:
Aura Lea ~ by George Poulton
Butterfly Serenade ~ Impromptu (Op. 90, No. 3) by Franz Schubert
Cherish the Moments ~ Rondo from Path�tique by Ludwig van Beethoven
Dance with Me ~ Valse Lente from ?Coppelia? by Leo Delibes
Dream with Me ~ Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Evening Breezes ~ Intermezzo from Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet
A Journey of Love ~ Sicilienne by Gabriel Faur�
The Joys of Love ~ Plaisir d?Amour by Jean-Paul Martini
Jupiter from ?The Planets? ~ by GustavHolst
Love?s Greeting ~ Salut d?Amour by Edward Elgar
Melody of Love ~ by Hans Engelmann
Moonlight Sonata ~ Adagio from Sonata Op. 27, No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Nightingale Serenade ~ Serenata by Enrico Toselli
O Lord Most Holy ~ Panis Angelicus by Cesar Auguste Franck
Orange Blossoms in Spring ~ Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni
A Romanian Love Song ~ Rum�nisches Liebesleben by Iosif Ivanovici
Spring ~ Allegretto from Songs without Words by Felix Mendelssohn

Starlight Serenade ~ Berceuse Op. 13, No. 7 by Alexander Ilyinsky
Waves of the Danube ~ Donauwellen by Iosif Ivanovici
Yearning for Love ~ Adagio from Path�tique by Ludwig van Beethoven

10 contemplative crafted piano compositions in a Post-Romantic genre for advanced players. These pieces are part of an album released called "R�veries" in 2021.

Content:
1) Stressfree---------------------------(page 3-6).
2) Confinement Opus-------------- (page 7-12).
3) 19th Century Walz-------------- (page 13-16).
4) Olya's Night-----------------------(page 17-19).
5) Baroque Reminiscence--------(page 20-24).
6) Enchanting Fantasy------------ (page 25-28).
7) Spanish Capriccio---------------(page 29-33).
8) Life Crescendo-------------------(page 34-40).
9) Nocturne---------------------------(page 41-43)
10) Ballroom Walz------------------(page 44-47)