SKU: HL.48025398

UPC: 196288195504.

The composer, whose family was severely affected by the Second World War and the Holocaust, considers his Anne Frank Suite as a “personal memorial diary and a reminder in view of the futility of war”. The score is prefaced by a quotation from Anne Frank: “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart”, which has impressed the composer since his youth. His three-movement suite attempts to musically reflect the emotionality and thoughtfulness of the theme, which eludes all words. The piano is treated in a classical manner and creates the emotional space for the solo cello. Playing in a high register in a cantabilestyle over long passages, the cello also astounds with sound effects, harmonics and an expressive solo cadenza in the middle of the work.

SKU: BR.EB-9391

ISBN 9790004188651. 9 x 12 inches.

Jean Sibelius composed far less music for the cello than for the violin. Malinconia (op. 20) - published in 1911 but composed in 1900 under the title Fantasia - remained his only opus-numbered work exclusively for cello and piano. The Fantasia for cello and piano, an early stage of Malinconia , was premiered at a soiree in the Solemnity Hall of the University of Helsinki on 12 March 1900 and was given positive press reviews: The work, which mainly drew attention with its logical and clear structure, begins with a powerful and substantial cello solo, to which the piano responds with a glimmering series of arpeggiated chords. At the end where the instruments unite in a harmonious, deeply emotional song, the harmonic impression they create is very bright and lovely. The autograph manuscript of Fantasia shows that Sibelius omitted a larger passage of music between the present bars 24 and 25 and that he made further revisions to the work, either before the publishing process or in the proofs he read in April 1911 for Breitkopf.

SKU: HL.50600437

8.0x11.75 inches.

For cello and piano. “This work was the result of a collaboration with my wonderful friend, the outstanding cellist Julius Berger. Several years ago, his exceptional interpretation of my Concerto for violin and violoncello impressed me deeply. Later, when he played my 2nd Sonata for violoncello solo, a work written for him, my enthusiasm became even greater. In my new piece, composed on the occasion of his 60th birthday, I intended to write kind of music in which not only virtuosity but also a beautiful sound should stand at the forefront. Above all, however, I wanted to please Julius with it and also give enjoyment to the audience. The title 'three times four' describes the basic idea of the work: three musical characters are varied in four different respective forms. Or put the other way round: four characteristic sound designs appear in three different shapes. It is difficult to say more about the piece than that. My ideal is music that is sufficient unto itself, a kind of music that requires no commentary - that itself says so much that all commentary becomes superfluous.” (Krzysztof Meyer).