Dussek & The Harp

On this CD:

1. Duo for harp/piano & piano in F major, Op.11
Composed by Jan Ladislav Dussek
Performed by Warwick Cole

2. Sonata for harp, violin & cello in E flat major, Op.34/1, C147
Composed by Jan Ladislav Dussek

3. Favorite sonata for piano, violin & cello, Op.37
Composed by Jan Ladislav Dussek
Performed by James Ellis, Helen Verney

4. Sonata for harp, violin & cello in B-flat major, Op.34/2, C148
Composed by Jan Ladislav Dussek

5. Duo for piano/harp & piano, with horn ad libitum, Op.38
Composed by Jan Ladislav Dussek
Performed by Warwick Cole

Tracks:

Rhap
La Source
Son No.2: Allegro
Son No.2: Siciliana
Son No.2: Allegro Assai
Images: Les Anesses Grises Sur La Route D'EL Azib
Images: Danseuse A La Fontaine D' Ain-Draham
Images: Soir De Fete A Sedjeanne
Dans Des Lutins
Son: Allegro
Son: Andantino
Son: Rondo-Allegro
Scintillation
Intro, Cadenza And Rondo
Classical Ste: I. Prld
Classical Ste: IV. Courante
Classical Ste: III. Sarabande
Classical Ste: VII. Gigue
The Minstrel's Adieu To His Native Land

York Bowen: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto

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York Bowen: Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto

Manufacturer: Dutton Labs UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Sir Donald Tovey: Symphony in D, Op. 32; The Bride of Dionysus - Prelude
Richard Arnell: Symphony No. 3; The New Age - Overture
Tovey: Cello Concerto Op. 40
Ludwig Thuille: Symphony; Piano Concerto
Taneyev: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

ASIN: B000FOPS1C
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso - Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Allegro Assai
I. Moderato - Andante Con Moto - Appassionato
II. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
III. Finale: Allegro Molto

Rudolf Firkusny Plays Dvorák, Smetana, Dussek, Benda, Tomásek, Vorisek

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A fabulous bargain!
The Wonder of Czech Classic Music
Firkusny at His Best

Rudolf Firkusny Plays Dvorák, Smetana, Dussek, Benda, Tomásek, Vorisek

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.77: Allegro moderato ma energico
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.77: Tempo di menuetto con moto
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.77: Adagio non troppo
Piano Sonata In F Minor, Op.77: Rondo: Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No.9 In A Minor, Op.7
Impromptu No. 4 In F Major, Op. 35
Eclogue No.22 In F Major, Op.35
Humoresques, Op.101: Vivace
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco andante
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco andante e molto cantabile
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco andante
Humoresques, Op.101: Vivace
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco allegretto
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco Lento e grazioso
Humoresques, Op.101: Poco andante
Mazurkas, Op.56: Allegro non tanto
Mazurkas, Op.56: Vivo e risoluto
Mazurkas, Op.56: Allegro
Mazurkas, Op.56: Lento, ma non troppo

Tracks:

Mazurkas, Op.56: Allegro non troppo
Mazurkas, Op.56: Allegro
Mazurkas, Op.56: Supplement-Vivace
Ten Czech Dances: Furiant
Ten Czech Dances: Slepicka
Ten Czech Dances: Oves
Ten Czech Dances: Medved
Ten Czech Dances: Cibulicka
Ten Czech Dances: Dupak
Ten Czech Dances: Hulan
Ten Czech Dances: Obkrocak
Ten Czech Dances: Sousedska
Ten Czech Dances: Skocna
Theme With Variations In A-Flat, Op.36
Poetic Pictures, Op.85: No.3: In The Old Castle
Poetic Pictures, Op.85: No.6: Sorrowful Reverie
Poetic Pictures, Op.85: No.9: Serenade

Customer Reviews:

A fabulous bargain!.......2005-02-15

I probably own over 5,000 classical CDs - and this inexpensive collection is among a handful of the very best. It offers the most stunning performance I have heard of Dussek's greatest sonata - in which a composer born 4 years after Mozart virtually invents the entire Romantic piano era - as well as what are surely the definitive performances of Smetana's wonderful Czech Dances - plus fine performances of Dvorak, and a smorgasbord of fascinating works by lesser Czech composers. This would be a bargain at five times the price. My only regret is that Firkusny didn't record the whole corpus of Dussek sonatas.

The Wonder of Czech Classic Music.......2004-05-08

Mr. Firkusny showed me the beauty and wonder of the Czech classic music! After listening to his play on this CD set, I looked up and down for the scores for a long time till I located them on a Czech online music store. Hope there'll be more great players like Mr. Firkusny to bring out more real music for the world to enjoy!

Firkusny at His Best.......2004-04-03

This set of CDs is a real hidden gem, and it contains some of Firkusny's greatest playing. My favorite part of the CD is his Dussek sonata, especially the first movement. Firkusny does an incredible job of contrasting the different types of piano writing that Dussek utilized in this, his last and greatest piano sonata. When a singing style is called for, Firkusny generates some absolutely beautiful singing tones from the piano with a great deal of nuanced inflection. When a bravura touch is called for, Firkusny shows off a technique that encompasses the greatest demands of the sonata with ease. Dussek also wrote many interesting bits into the left hand part, and Firkusny pushes these to the surface for the listener with upmost deftness and seamlessness. Interesting, in a sonata that calls for many moments in which a less talented or attuned pianist might bang or try to produce a huge sound, Firkusny is restrained. He relies on a narrower range of dynamics, but creates contrast through incredibly subtle dynamic gradations and alterations of color. This is a gorgeous sonata, and Firkusny shows it off in its best light.
Also of interest to me were Dvorak's mazurkas which seem to lie somewhere between the mature Romanticism of Chopin's late mazurkas and the more modern approach of Szymanowski. Some of them are quite rustic, such as op. 56 no. 6, and Firkusny does not gloss over this, but I think the impressionistic Op. 56 no. 5 is the most impressive of the recording, played hauntingly with great color.
The only problem that I have with the recording is that sound quality varies quite a bit, as the pieces were recorded over a span of three years at different recording sessions. Thus you have a nice close and full sound with the Smetana, the Dussek, and the Dvorak Humoresques; an average sound with a little hiss with the Benda, the Vorisek, the Tomasek, and the Dvorak mazurkas; and an awful sound with the Dvorak A-flat variations.

La Flûte Enchantée: French Pieces for Flute & Orchestra

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La Flûte Enchantée: French Pieces for Flute & Orchestra

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Romantic Flute Concertos
Flute Fantaisie
Music For My Friends
Bach: Flute Sonatas
Flute Master Pieces

ASIN: B000000AKL
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Concerto For Flute And String Orchestra: Andante cantabile
Concerto For Flute And String Orchestra: Largo
Concerto For Flute And String Orchestra: Allegro risoluto
Concertino For Flute And Orchestra Op. 107
Ballade For Flute, String Orchestra And Piano
Suite de trois morceaux Op. 116: Allegretto
Suite de trois morceaux Op. 116: Idylle
Suite de trois morceaux Op. 116: Valse
Airs de ballet d'Ascanio:Adagio et Variation: Poco adagio - espressivo - Molto espressivo
Airs de ballet d'Ascanio:Adagio et Variation: Andantino
Concerto For Flute And Orchestra: Allegro
Concerto For Flute And Orchestra: Andante
Concerto For Flute And Orchestra: Allegro scherzando

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DUSSEK: Beethovenian Contemporary...

Dussek: 3 Piano Sonatas

Manufacturer: Cpo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Ropartz: Symphonies No. 1 & 4
Kurt Atterberg: Sinfonia per archi
Paul Moravec: The Time Gallery; Protean Fantasy; Ariel Fanstasy
Bartok: The Piano Concertos
Bach Cantatas, Vol. 10: Potsdam/Wittenberg

ASIN: B000EBEGRI
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Tracks:

Allegro Non Troppo Ed Espressivo
Molto Adagio Con Anima Ed Espressione-Dolcissimo
Tempo Di Minuetto. Scherzo Quasi Allegro-Piano E Legatissimo
Finale: Scherzo-Allegro Con Spirito
Lento Patetico-Tempo Agitato
Tempo Vivace E Con Fuoco Quasi Presto-Sempre Molto Legato
Introduzione: Grave
Allegro Moderato
Molto Adagio E Sostenuto
Tempo Di Minuetto Piu Tosto Allegro
Rondo: Allegro Moderato Ed Espressivo

Customer Reviews:

DUSSEK: Beethovenian Contemporary..........2007-06-13

.
Quoting Jed Distler: "Charm, harmonic sophistication, and idiomatic keyboard fluency simply ooze from the best of the 40-odd piano sonatas by Jan Ladislav Dussek (1760-1812). Slowly but surely pianists are rediscovering this delightful repertoire on disc, if not necessarily in concert. Markus Becker's nimble, pellucid fingerwork and cameo-like demeanor prove more convincing in the A-flat and F-sharp minor sonatas than Jan Novotny's overly careful, underplayed interpretations that my colleague Luca Sabbatini rightly critiqued. Still, I contend that less rounded phrasing, greater dynamic contrasts, and more rhythmic snap would enhance the music's profile.
To cite one instance, Becker holds back in the central Agitato section of the F-sharp minor sonata's brooding first movement, keeping its boiling anguish under cover. By contrast, Frederick Marvin's out-of-print recording on Dorian offers a far more passionate and vibrant performance (his three-volume Dussek cycle cries out for reissue). On the other hand, the ambitious five-movement E-flat major sonata Op. 44 inspires more contrasted and characterful playing all around. I especially like how the pianist brings out the fourth-movement minuet's offbeat accents and cross rhythms. Within its small-scaled parameters, Markus Becker's Dussek is a pleasure to behold."

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An dramatic testimony of turmoil tyimes
Obscured Classics - The Forgotten Art of the Pianoforte
Little heard works from an underappreciated composer

Dussek: Klavierkonzerte

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Dussek: Piano Sonatas, Fantasia & Fugue
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Kozeluch: Symphonies
Bach C.P.E: Chamber Music

ASIN: B000001WPX
Release Date: 1996-03-05

Tracks:

The First Reflection : Einleitung
The Lord is coming: The First Reflection : Coro
Keep calling: The First Reflection : Recitativo
Yes, fear, fear the thunderer's scolding: The First Reflection : Aria
Who is bold enough to throw off his yoke?: The First Reflection : Recitativo
Now I know: The First Reflection : Aria
Enough shame is exposed: The First Reflection : Recitativo
The stroms thunderous voices resound: The First Reflection : Aria
Quite right: the finite passes away: The First Reflection : Recitativo
Then rejoice at the seed of righteousness: The First Reflection : Coro
There is a roar: The Second Reflection: Coro
There they are, the signs of devestation!: The Second Reflection: Accompagnato
There consuming lightings clash: The Second Reflection: Aria
Mighty element: The Second Reflection: Recitativo
But I soar aloft: The Second Reflection: Arioso
O God, I see the angel of your vengeance: The Third Reflaction : Accompagnato
Thus says the Lord: The Third Reflaction : Arioso
Now the whole earthly sphere: The Third Reflaction: Recitativo
Be blessed by me: The Third Reflaction: Aria
You king of honour, Jesus Christ: The Third Reflaction: Coro
There he sits: The Third Reflaction: Recitativo
Ah, help! Woe is us!: The Third Reflaction: Coro
Vainly do we flee: The Third Reflaction: Recitativo
Away out of my sight!: The Third Reflaction: Aria
Ring out, ye songs of jubilation: The Fourth Reflaction : Coro
Now is come salvation and strength: The Fourth Reflaction : Aria - Coro
An everlasting palm encircles my hair: The Fourth Reflaction : Arioso
Holy is our God!: The Fourth Reflaction : Coro
Hail!: The Fourth Reflaction : Arioso
Worthy is the lamb that was slain: The Fourth Reflaction : Arioso - Coro
I am awakened to wisdom: The Fourth Reflaction : Aria
Praise him, ye choirs of seraphim!: The Fourth Reflaction : Coro
It has come to pass: The Fourth Reflaction : Recitativo
The right hand of God is raised: The Fourth Reflaction : Coro

Customer Reviews:

An dramatic testimony of turmoil tyimes .......2006-01-30

Other reviews are so briliant in historical and musical
matter, that I realy have nothig else to add to it. However,
my objective is to review product itselfs.
This package CD and booklet values times more than its
bargain prise. Two concertos that overlap classicism with
oncaming romatic revolutionary expression are fascinating
testimony of Dussek's time and his well adopting to new
movement. After wery expressive consertos- thanks to Concerto
Keln and A.Staier- next on CD is music drama for actor and
piano which with its concise fusion of emotions given in
very simply form, embellishes the complete impression of
the CD. Short hisorical drafts in a booklet support the whole
experience of listening of this music.
I think that this CD is exceptional experience for good
taste listeners and I highly recomend it.
Mirro

Obscured Classics - The Forgotten Art of the Pianoforte.......2005-11-20

When classics that seem to reflect less intimations of their age garner a timeless reputation and place with music lovers through the ages, the real barnstormers of music that usher in new horizons on the brink of new styles seem to be consigned to oblivion with the passing of time.

Such can hardly be an overstatement with regards to Dussek's monumental oeuvre for piano and orchestra, the Concerto in G minor, Opus 49.

Only four years junior to Mozart and ten years Beethoven's senior, this master of the pianoforte seemed to have struck at his own chords in his own language, away from the refined Rococo Classicism that pervade Viennese music around the end of the 18th century.

Yet perhaps it was little more than coincidence or out of respect that the introduction to Dussek's Concerto in G minor should sound strikingly familiar to Mozart's Concerto in C minor, with its mysterious question and answer style. Pianistically it expands the technique already set in place by Mozart and C.P.E. Bach to portend the innovations by a composer that has since acquired more fame than Dussek himself - J. N. Hummel.

While structurally the G minor concerto might have been less cohesive than Beethoven's, the drama inspired is notwithstanding. Perhaps Dussek would have much more in common with his contemporary Hummel in terms of orchestration, when one compares the former's Concerto in G minor to the latter's B minor - the passionate outbursts with interpolating themes of gentle longing and unabashed romanticism perhaps join them in unison with regards to their influence on the Early Romantics, more than Beethoven himself could have ever imagined.

In contrast, the B flat major Concerto is much more conventional, bearing striking similarities with Beethoven's own concerto of the same key that is somewhat contemporaneous. Having said, Dussek's masterpiece begins unconventionally in the minor mode, an innovation that somewhat misleads the listener.

The Marie Antoinette Tableau is notable for its tone painting prior to the Early Romantics, and is a commendable effort at programmatic music. There is even a section that offers a quasi-quotation from Mozart's Non piu andrai, casting the ill-fated Queen in a somewhat heroic light that has been defended by historians of recent.

This disc is a definitive collection for connoisseurs of Classical period pianoforte music as well as similar enthusiasts of piano music contemporaneous to Mozart and Beethoven, no less in the light of masters such as Hummel and Dussek.

Little heard works from an underappreciated composer.......2001-12-13

If you were lucky enough to find this review, I'd recommend buying this CD right off the bat. Dussek was a true piano virtuoso, and this is a rare and interesting recording. The soloist is Andreas Staier -- one of my favorite keyboard performers -- playing with the vivacious Concerto Koln. The instrument is an 1806 Broadwood. This recording contains two piano concertos and a "tableau," described below.

Dussek's piano concertos are (not surprisingly) best understood in comparison to those of Beethoven and Mozart. The B-flat concerto was written in 1793, two years after the death of Mozart, while the impressive G minor concerto is a product of 1801, after Beethoven's first two concertos but before his third (the appealing C minor piano concerto). The B-flat concerto is a fascinating document if for no other reason than the time period from which it emerged. Outside of England, where Haydn, Clementi and Dussek were active, the decade 1790-1800 didn't see too many great works produced (due to the turmoil plaguing Europe at the time) but marks a significant shift between the Classical style and the Romantic.

Dussek's concertos were not as revolutionary as his sonatas and other piano works, but these pieces are satisfying in and of themselves. Afficionados of the Classical and Early Romantic piano concerto should definitely investigate. The G minor concerto leads off with a fairly sunny orchestral introduction, interrupted by a stormy piano entrance close to the three minute mark. "Pastoral" might be a fair description of this work, which lends itself to the sort of nature metaphors popular at the time. The second movement feels like a lazy Spring picnic, or an afternoon reclining in a rowboat, with only a brief disruption around five minutes in. The Rondo finale is spritely but ever-shifting: bustling one moment, thoughtful the next.

The B-flat concerto is more energetic throughout, from the busy Classical-style writing in the strings to the meandering fingerwork of the soloist. Pizzicato interludes and dance-like elements spruce things up, but overall this is a surprisingly standard work. It resembles Mozart's early Viennese concertos, by this time a decade old. It is clear that Dussek was much less comfortable with orchestral writing than he was with solo piano works (the majority of his compositional output was for piano, though he did write one opera, a mass, and a cantata). He is perhaps better known as a performer than a composer, but his piano sonatas were truly groundbreaking. This concerto is functional and pleasing, certainly, though it will not give the listener a complete picture of Dussek's importance. I highly recommend Staier's recordings of Dussek's sonatas on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (both out of print). Seek those out first, if you can.

An odd little creature rounds out the disc. The "Tableau Marie Antoinette" is off-putting in its presentation, to say the least: a solo piano piece which "describes" the last days of the ill-fated queen through dramatic piano gestures and introductory titles read in French. The expository element makes this piece both a fascinating oddity and a near-laughable melodrama. English translations are not provided, but the text is brief (and not too difficult to follow even with my rudimentary understanding of the language).

Well regarded by Haydn, Dussek is worth exploring. I'd also recommend John Khouri and Janine Johnson's recording of Dussek's piano duos. They were originally written for piano and harp but work very well in the two piano versions.

Dussek: Piano Sonatas, Fantasia & Fugue
Average customer rating:

A Collection to Behold

Dussek: Piano Sonatas, Fantasia & Fugue
Andreas Staier
Manufacturer: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi/Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Dussek: Klavierkonzerte

Haydn: Sonatas & Variations for Piano

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Reger: Piano Trios

ASIN: B0007AC1GY
Release Date: 2005-07-18

Tracks:

Sonata In B Flat Major Op.35/1 C149
Sonata In G Major Op.35/2 C150
Sonata In C Minor Op.35/3 C151
Sonata In D Major Op.31/2 C133
Fantasia And Fugue For The Pianoforte In F Minor C199
Le Retour A Paris Sonata For Pianoforte In A Flat Major C221
Elegie Harmonique In F Sharp Minor Op.61, C211

Customer Reviews:

A Collection to Behold.......2006-05-30

I'm surprised that no one has yet reviewed this item, since Staier is certainly one of the more visible exponents of the fortepiano and its works of recent, if not necessarily the most authoritative.

First of all this is a commendable re-release of Staier's earlier release on the label on a budget price. I remember reading reviews on other Dussek recordings that made some comments on Staier's interpretations here. While I unreservedly relish the view that Staier is a virtuoso of the first rank on the fortepiano in every sense, clearly exemplified by his power-packed, precise and effortless execution, I also have reservations; the point made by another commentator that Staier tends to bang rather than to express himself eloquently is not unfounded. Much of the time the sound turns out pretty ugly - but if you are looking for a heightened sense of drama and virtuosity of Dussek's works on the instrument, Staier is very much the choice.

Staier has chosen to record the more familiar pieces from the earlier and later Dussek. The earlier ones include the Op. 35 set dedicated to Camille Pleyel, the most famous being No. 3 in C minor, noted for its pre-Romantic intensity that sits somewhere between middle period Mozart and Beethoven. There's even one passage in the exposition of the Allegro that seemed to be wholesomely plagiarized from the first movement of Mozart's C minor Sonata! That being said, Dussek's work is full of charming vitality and originality, turns and twists that's set to retain the viewer's attention.

The Fantasia and Fugue is a dramatic work of high order, an obvious essay showcasing Dussek's prodigious pianoforte technique (like many other of his pieces), deserving no less a dedication to his esteemed friend and piano pedagogue than J. B. Cramer. Staier plays like he's intent to burn the house down, not unlike the furies on a wild relentless chase; perhaps the dramatic and tragic character of the work warrants such a treatment, while it's a pity this work hasn't been recorded on a more sonorous modern grand, where a more restrained performance could have elicited the more musical qualities of the work.

The single work that deserves the most attention is perhaps Dussek's most illustrious work, the Sonata in A-flat Major, titled "The Return to Paris". Ceremonial titles like these were rife during those days (Dussek's esteemed colleague Cramer attributed closely similar titles to his Sonatas), but Dussek has clearly created a masterpiece that bespoke the title. This is one sonata that perhaps sound equally beautiful in different ways on both the modern piano and its ancestor. If it's more suited to the modern grand, it's largely in lieu of its lyrical qualities. My previous comments on Staier's playing applies here as well.

The Piano Sonata in F sharp minor is another milestone of Dussek's piano works. Inspired by tragedy - the death of his confidante the Prince Ferdinand of Prussia, the work again takes inspiration from Mozart - whose Fantasie in C minor is ever-so-present in the introduction to Dussek's Sonata; while the development of the main theme is on the other hand, a fine example of Dussek's genius in employing unique harmonization to dramatic effect and conveying an unspeakable sense of tragedy.

While the notes (supplied by Staier) could have displayed more research and thought, the very few recordings of Dussek's works on the fortepiano make this collection a compelling if not authoritative collection for any Dussek admirer.

Average customer rating:

Jan Ladislav Dussek: 5 Piano Trios

Manufacturer: Cpo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Dussek: Klavierkonzerte

ASIN: B00004TTK0
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Sonata op. 20 No 3 In F Major: Allegro vivace
Sonata op. 20 No 3 In F Major: Cantabile con espressione
Sonata op. 20 No 3 In F Major: Rondo. Allegretto
Sonata op. 24 No 3 In B Flat Major: Allegro con spirito
Sonata op. 24 No 3 In B Flat Major: Larghetto con Variazioni
Sonata No 1 In B Flat Major: Allegro
Sonata No 1 In B Flat Major: Adagio non troppo
Sonata No 1 In B Flat Major: Allegretto moderato, Rondo. Allemande
Sonata No 2 In D Major: Allegro non tanto
Sonata No 2 In D Major: Adagio con Expressione
Sonata No 2 In D Major: Pastorale. Allegro non troppo. Could Be The Rebels Cast Oppressors Base And Bloody A Scotch Reel
Sonata No 3 In C Major: Allegro vivace
Sonata No 3 In C Major: Scoth Air: Auld Robin Gray. Larghetto con expressione
Sonata No 3 In C Major: Allegro Scherzo

Average customer rating:

Foreshadowing a Great Career
Igor Kipnis: Brilliant, as ever!

Igor Kipnis Solo Recordings 1962

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Goldberg Variation; Italian Concerto; French Overture; Italian Variations
Bach: Partitas for harpsichord, Nos.3, 5 & 6
The Spanish Harpsichord
Bach: Solo Partitas Nos. 1, 2, 4

ASIN: B00001QGKL
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Foreshadowing a Great Career.......2003-01-08

In all honesty, don't get me wrong about Igor Kipnis. Now I know that I wrote a pretty devastating review of his Bach French Overture and Goldberg Variations, but I actually have a great deal of respect for him as a harpsichordist and musician, and admire him for his independently-minded interpretations. It's just that I think that he had the potential to do better.

Of the Bach pieces, the best are the latter two, namely the Prelude, Fugue, & Allegro in E-flat and the Toccata in e minor -- the French Suite just drags too much and is marred by the obnoxious action of the Rutkowski harpsichord used by Kipnis. As a side note, it's disappointing that he used harpsichords by Rutkowski so much - I think that they were perfectly horrid and wooden-sounding instruments, and that he would have been better off at least with a Neupert or Sperrhake (it was 1962, folks - either these or Pleyels). There are some particularly beautiful moments offered by Kipnis in the Toccata, and his declamation of the Fugue in the E-flat piece is astounding, even if the registration is somewhat off the wall. The Haendel Suite is more or less ordinary, although Kipnis' improvised ornamentation is astounding, particularly in the "Harmonious Blacksmith" section of the piece. I wish that other harpsichordists would take his lead and not be so dull sometimes.

The Soler Fandango and Dussek programme piece are real gems in the album. I've only heard one other interpretation of the Fandango (Andreas Staier - hate it), and Kipnis far surpasses others in this piece, building up in tension and giving enough flavour to make the listener forget that the piece is, harmonically speaking, essentially a Passacaglia. The Dussek piece is fascinating because it is just so funny. My roommate and I regularly put this piece on the stereo and just laugh at its syrup-dripping sentimentality on the "sufferings" of Marie Antoinette of France -- the bravura of "They pronounce the sentence of death," the hilariousness of "They separate her from her children," the diminished sevenths in "The Apotheosis." And yet, Igor Kipnis really pulls it off quite well, and makes it convincing.

About a year ago, Igor Kipnis passed away, and I would like to take the space to honor this harpsichordist, who taught us all how to breathe and live music. Although I never got to see him live, I respect Igor's passion for his art, and his dedication to sharing it with everyone, something which other classical musicians would do well to learn from. Bravo, Igor.

Igor Kipnis: Brilliant, as ever!.......2000-06-04

It is always benefic when one can listen to a past recording and find a superb interpretation!

The programme includes works by Johann Sebastian BACH (French Suite No.6 in E Major, BWV 817; Fantasia in G Minor, BWV 917; Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-flat Major, BWV 998 and Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914), George Frideric HANDEL (Suite No.5 in E Major, Bk.1, HWV 430), Padre Antonio SOLER (Fandango in D Minor) and Jan Ladislav DUSSEK ('The Sufferings of The Queen of France Op. 23').

Although the correct and beautiful interpretation found on the pieces by Bach and Handel, two especial ones claimed my particular attention: the Soler's 'Fandango in D minor' and the Dussek's 'The Sufferings of The Queen of France, Op. 23', an interesting 'música programática' which I heard for the first time.

Mr Kipnis brilliant technique on the harpsichord (together with a careful 'registration') gives to the listeners the composers real 'intention' captured from those particular compositions!

It is a great pleasure to spend some time in listening to this wonderful recording.

Tracks:

Beethoven, Trio, op. 87 for 2 oboes and English horn. Mvt. one, Allegro
Beethoven, Trio, op. 87 for 2 oboes and English horn. Mvt. 2, Adagio; Cantabile
Beethoven, Trio, op. 87 for 2 oboes and English horn. Mvt. 3, Menuetto & Trio; Allegro molto scherzo
Beethoven, Trio, op. 87 for 2 oboes and English horn. Mvt. 4, Finale Presto
Johann Baptist Schenk, Quartetto for oboe, two English horns, and bassoon. Mvt. 1, Allegro moderato
Johann Baptist Schenk, Quartetto for oboe, two English horns, and bassoon. Mvt. 2, Menuetto & Trio
Johann Baptist Schenk, Quartetto for oboe, two English horns, and bassoon. Mvt. 3, Un poco Adagio
Johann Baptist Schenk, Quartetto for oboe, two English horns, and bassoon. Mvt. 4, Rondo Allegretto
Antonio Salieri, Variazioni sulla Follia di Spagna for 2 oboes, 2 English horns, and 2 bassoons
Frantisek Xaver Dussek, Parthia. Mvt. 1, Allegro
Frantisek Xaver Dussek, Parthia. Mvt. 2, Menuetto
Frantisek Xaver Dussek, Parthia. Mvt. 3, Adagio
Frantisek Xaver Dussek, Parthia. Mvt. 4, Finale: Presto
W.A. Mozart, Impressario Overture for 3 oboes, English horn, 2 bassoons, and contrabassoon

Album Description

WiZARDS! is probably the best-known double reed ensemble in the world. The core group is oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn, and bassoon, with added double reeds as needed. This album presents the best of classical period music originally for the instruments plus a stunning transcription for 7 double reeds of the Mozart Impressario Overture. Beethoven's wonderful oboe-English horn Trio is given a spectacular performance, and the works by Schenk, Salieri,and Dussek are given superb premier recordings.

Customer Reviews:

18th & 19th Century Woodwind Consort.......2003-02-11

This CD has really grown on me; the more I listen to it, the more I like it and appreciate the fine efforts of this double-reedests.

Interesting the relationship of Schenk to Beethoven. I especially enjoy Schenk's Quartetto with its duo of English horns and fine bassoon work. The Rondo is especially vibrant and alive in this passionate playing.

This predominate Iowan group is versatile and plays with intensity, balance and listens for each other well.

Music Review: