B. Martinu - Works Vc/Pno-Vol. 1 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Charles Ives' Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord Mass. 1840-60, popularly known as the Concord Sonata, has been recorded a good many times in the last 55 years, with no two interpretations turning out quite the same. This one, by pianist Steven Mayer, radically departs from most in that between the movements actor Kerry Shale reads relevant passages from Ives' writings on the subject, in addition to a couple of bits drawn from Emerson and Thoreau, transcendentalist authors whose works inspired Ives to compose this sonata. The effect is not distracting and the passages are brief; to those still struggling to come to terms with Ives' difficult work, the spoken interpolations may well prove enlightening. Album Tracks 1. Readings from 'Circles' (R.W. Emerson) and Ives on 'Emerson' 2. Emerson 3. Reading from Ives on 'Hawthorne' 4. Hawthorne 5. Reading from Ives on 'The Alcotts' 6. The Alcotts 7. Readings from 'Walden' and Journal Excerpts By H.D. Thoreau 8. Thoreau 9. Varied Air and Variations 10. The Celestial Railroad 11. Transcriptions from 'Emerson', No. 1

Album Tracks 1. Chorus Christen Atzet Diesen Tag 2. Alto Recitative O Selger Tag! 3. Aria (Duet) Soprano, Bass Gott, Du Hast Es Wohl Gefuget 4. Tenor Recitative So Kehret Sich Nun Heut 5. Aria (Duet) Alto, Tenor Ruft Und Fleht Das Himmel, An 6. Bass Recitative Verdoppelt Euch Demnach, Ihr Heissen Andachtsflammen 7. Chorus Hochster, Schau in Gnaden An 8. Chorus Sie Werden Aus Saba Alle Kommen 9. Chorale Die Kon' Ge Aus Saba Kamen Dar 10. Bass Recitative Was Dort Jesaias Vorhergesehn 11. Bass Aria Gold Aus Ophir Ist Zu Schlecht 12. Tenor Recitative Verschmahe Nicht 13. Tenor Aria Nimm Mich Dir Zu Eigen Hin 14. Chorale Ei Nun, Mein Gott, So Fall Ich Dir 15. Chorus Sanctus

Album Tracks 1. Son No.1 I. Poco Allegro 2. Son No.1 II. Andante 3. Son No.1 III. Allegro Con Brio 4. Son No.2 I. Allegro 5. Son No.2 II. Largo 6. Son No.2 III. Allegro Commodo 7. Son No.3 I. Poco Andante 8. Son No.3 II. Andante 9. Son No.3 III. Allegro