J. Rodrigo - Piano Music - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Antoine Dornel' imaginative and dynamic compositional style was perfectly suited to the lively and ever-changing musical environment of Paris in the first decades of the eighteenth century. Album Tracks 1. Sonate en Quatuor, from Livre de Simphonies (1709) 2. Sonate IV in D Major, 'La Forcroy', Op. 2 (1711) 3. Cinquiãƒâ¨Me Suite in C Major, from Piãƒâ¨Ces de Clavecin (1731) 4. Sonate II in D Major, 'La Triomphante', Op. 3 (1713) 5. Troisiãƒâ¨Me Suite in E minor, Op. 2 (1711) 6. Sonate VII in D minor, 'Pour Trois Dessus', Op. 3 (1713) 7. Sonate III in B minor, Op. 3 (1713)

In addition to composing a prolific variety of orchestral and instrumental music, Joaquin Rodrigo was a virtuoso pianist. Album Tracks 1. Marã-A de los Reyes (Sevillanas). Allegro 2. A la Jota (Jota de Las Palomas) (Jota of the Doves). Allegro 3. Cancã-On Del Hada Rubia (Song of the Golden-Haired Fairy). Andantino 4. Cancã-On Del Hada Morena (Song of the Dark-Haired Fairy). Allegro 5. El Negrito Pepo (Little Black Pepo). Andante Moderato 6. Borriquillos a Belã©N (Little Donkeys in Bethlehem). Andantino 7. Rustica. Molto Tranquillo 8. Danza de Las Doncellas (Dance of the Three Maidens). Allegro 9. Serrana. Allegro 10. Toccata a Modo de Pregã³N (Toccata in the Style of a Proclamation). Allegro Comodo 11. Sonata No. 1 in F Sharp minor. Allegro Moderato 12. Sonata No. 2 in D Major. Quasi Lento 13. Sonata No. 3. Allegro Moderato 14. Sonata No. 4 Como Un Tiento (In the Style of a Tiento). Andante 15. Sonata No. 5 in a Minor. Allegro Molto Ritmico 16. Preludio. Vivace 17. Siciliana. Lento Dolcemente 18. Bourrã©E. Allegro 19. Minuã© 20. Rigodã³N. Allegro Moderato 21. Tarde en El Parque (Afternoon in the Park). Allegro Moderato 22. Noche en El Guadalquivir (Night on the Guadalquivir) 23. Maã±Ana en Triana (Morning in Triana). Allegro Molto

Padre Donostia's greatest achievement was to bring prestige to traditional Basque music. He succeeded in finding and conveying it's deeper significance, faithfully and elegantly, as well as in achieving the perfect balance between the assimilation of tradition and the huge influence of his impressionist contemporaries, Ravel and Debussy. At the core of his piano repertoire are the four books of Preludes (1912-16), to which must also be added the Menuet basque (Basque minuet), Andante para una sonata vasca (Andante for a Basque sonata), Herrimina (Nostalgia), Homenaje a J.C. de Arriaga (Tribute to Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga), Prière plaintive à Notre-Dame de Socorri (Heartfelt Prayer to Our Lady of Socorri), and two original pieces for guitar, Tiento y canción (Tiento and Song) and Vora'l Ter (On the Banks of the Ter). Common to the four books of Preludes is a concern for the strict reproduction of the traditional melodies, which are always allowed to shine through. Padre Donostia's expressive writing rises up above the melody, it's express intention being to describe the text, harmonic backgrounds representing landscapes, rhythmic patterns, impressionistic recitatives, distant music from religious processions and festivities, children's games, and so on, all of which are marked by their simplicity and nostalgic lyricism. Although the works were written within a short time of one another, the later pieces show that Padre Donostia's musical and harmonic idiom was beginning to move away from it's classical roots to become more impressionistic in nature. Album Tracks 1. Bat-Batian (Improvisation) 2. Izketan (Dialogue) 3. Oyanian (In the Wood) 4. Eresia (Sad Song) 5. Aur-Dantza (Children's Dance) 6. Oã±Azez (Grief) 7. Aitonaren Ele-Zaarrak (Grandfather's Tale) 8. Artzai Gaztearen Oiuak (Shepherd-Boys' Song) 9. Seask Aldean Eresiz (Lullaby) 10. Borda