SKU: PL.9615

Pavel Chesnokov was born in Voskresensk, Russia, and attended the Moscow Synodal School where his teachers included Kastalsky, Smolensky and Arensky. Blazhen muzh is the second movement of Chesnokov's setting of the All-Night Vigil Op. 44. It evokes the spirit of ancient Kievan chant in its use of a bass soloist who intones the verses of the psalm while the chorus follows with repeated portions of the text. Tradition is also observed in the thrice-repeated choral Alleluia refrains which follow each verse of the psalm text.

SKU: PA.H07988

ISBN 9790260104471. 31 x 23.5 cm inches.

Piano Sonata No. 4 from the years 1962-1964 is dedicated to the memory of Fiser's friend, the pianist Antonin Jemelik, who died tragically. As a tribute to their friendship the composer incorporated into the introduction a quotation from their favourite work, Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70, by Alexander Scriabin. The tragedy of the death of the composer's friend pervades the emotionally intense passage of unison octaves which follows the three-bar quotation. From a compositional point of view this work is a masterpiece of the mid-Sixties. Written as one movement, the piece is divided into numerous mutually contrasting segments which themselves are clearly grouped into two sections, exposition and development. The individual themes are introduced in the first section and thematically expanded in the second section. The motif treatment lies almost exclusively in the fragmenting or curtailing of the theme, or in the use of a combination of several themes, for the most part brief and eloquent. This compositional method, together with a clear-cut manner of execution, mainly semitonal melody and sharply contrastive dynamics, lends force and transparency to the piece. Piano Sonata No. 4 was completed in 1964 together with Symphonic Fresco, Concerto da camera for piano and orchestra and Fifteen Prints after Durer's Apocalypse and has earned its rightful place alongside them as masterpieces of Fiser's oeuvre.

The work was first performed by Pavel Stepan in Prague's Rudolfinum in 1965. The new setting for this piece is based on the single edition to date (Panton, 1969); only with regard to a few inconsistencies in the score was it necessary to consult the composer's manuscript (kept at the National Museum - Czech Museum of Music).

SKU: AP.107080

UPC: 038081391496. English.

This Value Pack includes Rachmaninoff's Fantaisie-tableaux (Suite No. 1), Op. 5 and Suite No. 2, Op. 17.

Fantaisie-tableaux (Suite No. 1), the large four-movement work, was written in 1893 and premiered by Rachmaninoff and Pavel Pabst in Moscow. It is dedicated to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A few lines of poetry by Romantic poets preface each movement. The theme of love in the first two movements is brought to life by the two pianos with colorful, passionate writing. The final two movements feature the sound of bells---the third movement inspired by cathedrals bells that Rachmaninoff heard as a youngster, and the fourth movement capturing the jubilant sound of Easter carillon.

Suite No. 2, Op. 17 was written between 1900 and 1901, and was premiered in 1901 by Rachmaninoff and Alexander Siloti. This virtuosic suite is orchestral in nature and contains four movements. The first movement serves as a march-like introduction, and the second and fourth movements are dances---a waltz and tarantella. Between the two dances is a slow third movement. Two copies required for performance.

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Alfred Value Packs are a great way to introduce yourself to new music from many of the top names in educational piano. These specially designed sets allow teachers to review the music to determine the best use for their students. Limit one per customer.

SKU: BC.114096