SKU: HL.48186482
Reynaldo Hahn: Works for cello and piano [AL 30 749] For quite some time, posterity remembered Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) for just a handful of songs and the operetta Ciboulette, overlooking the incredible diversity of a catalogue as eclectic as it is appealing. Yet his chamber music contains many little-known treasures: thus, cellist Steven Isserlis, in his preface, hastens to hail the first modern edition of these two scores, which he regularly plays in recital, so much does their beauty enchant the audience. Published in 1911, the Two Improvisations on Irish Airs for cello and piano turn out to be the transcription of his first and third Preludes for piano four hands (1894). These folk themes come from the collection Songs of Old Ireland, published 12 years earlier by Charles Villiers Stanford: gracefully and tenderly, The Little Red Lark unfurls a melancholic tune of which the regular foundation respects the breadth of phrase typical of folk songs; in The Willow-Tree, the lover begs his beloved in vain to take him in her arms one last time before he lies down, lifeless, in the shade of the tree. Beyond this sensitive exploration of the Irish soul, Hahn offers us a journey into the past: the Variations chantantes sur un air ancien develop a theme borrowed from Cavalli?s opera Xerse. In this aria (1660 version: Act IV, sc. 6), Ambassador Periarco dreams of moving away from court intrigues to be able to taste the pleasures ?to which the gods have destined him?. Reynaldo Hahn?s variations succeed in maintaining the sweet simplicity of this theme, as noble as it is refined. Let us wager that this publication will delight cellists and pianists alike: it contains some nuggets. Deux improvisations sur des airs irlandais (The Little Red Lark, The Willow-Tree) Variations chantantes sur un air ancien.
SKU: PR.114423720
ISBN 9781491129487. UPC: 680160690404.
POSTCARDS FROM UKRAINE is a charming-yet-fiery suite of six character pieces reflecting the culture and music of Didorenkoâ??s homeland. The work was composed in early 2022 following the invasion. Movements 2 and 3 are inspired by folk music with the piano imitating sounds of the bandura, and the other four movements are free settings of authentic folk melodies.More and more in recent times, I turn to the musical heritage of my native Ukraine for inspiration. Shortly after the start of the war in Spring 2022, my friend and New York pianist Evelyne Luest approached me with a suggestion to compose a piece based on Ukrainian folk music. As I began to research authentic song and dance styles, I was immediately drawn to their soulful melodies and stirring rhythms. Postcards from Ukraine came into being in just under a month.The second of these six pieces is written in the style of duma, a sung epic poem recited by itinerant bards, accompanied on a bandura; strumming on the high piano strings imitates the banduraâ??s sound. In the third piece, an ostinato bass is another impression of bandura playing, while the cello references Carpathian dance tunes. The other four pieces are my interpretations of true Ukrainian folk songs, typically sung a cappella by a womenâ??s choir, from small villages that keep their vocal traditions alive.
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