Lloyd / Mennin - Piano Works - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Polonaise in C-sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1 and the Polonaise in E-flat minor, Op. 26 No. 2 were composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1836. Both of them were dedicated to Josef Dessauer. Both Polonaises require considerable technique and stamina to be performed well. The Polonaise opens with a fiery Allegro appasionato in C-sharp minor, the primary theme preceded by descending octaves. The section climaxes with a series of virtuosic arpeggio figures which give way to a tender melody. This is then followed by a repetition of the theme. After this opening section there is a new theme introduced in the enharmonic D-flat major. This new theme is then developed and followed by a new left hand melody, which increases the tension until a repeat of the meno mosso. This polonaise is very diverse in textures, dynamics, and moods, and sometimes is considered one of the best polonaises by Chopin. Album Tracks 1. Polonaise in C#, Op.26, No.1 2. Polonaise in E Flat, Op.26, No.2 3. Polonaise in a, Op.40, No.1, 'Military' 4. Polonaise in C, Op.40, No.2 5. Polonaise in F#, Op.44 6. Polonaise in a Flat, Op.53, 'Heroic' 7. Polonaise in a Flat, Op.61, 'Polonaise-Fant'

Album Tracks 1. Traffic 2. I 3. II 4. III 5. IV 6. V 7. VI 8. VII 9. VIII 10. IX 11. Rerepriser 12. Prelude 13. Ingen Bevægelse I Roskilde 14. Interlude 15. Efter at Niels Westerby 16. Interlude 17. DFDS Fylder Hundred' ÅR I Morgen 18. Og

As a composer of art-song, Ian Venables is considered to be one of the most important writing today. The Songs of Ian Venables (8.572514), Volume 21 of Naxos' critically acclaimed English Song Series, was the first devoted to a living composer. This new recording introduces US to his music for solo piano and brings together works written between 1975 and 2001. It is Venables' singular melodic gift and highly inventive use of harmony that combine to give US works that range from the deeply reflective and wistful to those in a lighter vein, full of charm and joie de vivre. Album Tracks 1. Caprice, Op. 35 2. Temple to Apollo 3. Palladio's Bridge 4. Pantheon 5. The Grotto 6. Caprice 7. Dance of the Teddy Bears 8. Folk Tune 9. Impromptu, Op. 8, 'The Nightingale and the Rose' 10. Portrait of Janis, Op. 9 11. Molto Adagio - Allegro Energico 12. Allegro Scherzando 13. Molto Adagio Ed Espressivo