Luis Pipa - Philipp Scharwenka: Piano Music, Vol. 2 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Various Artists - Il Trionfo Di Dori Venice 159 / Various [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/25/2014

As composer, pianist and educationalist, the Prussian Philipp Scharwenka (1847-1917) was one of most highly respected musicians of his day, although his star faded soon after his death. His music - more conservative and classical in orientation than that of his pianist-composer brother, Xaver - sits somewhere between Chopin and Brahms, with echoes of Schubert and Schumann. This first installment of a survey of his piano music is intended to put these immediately attractive works before the public once again - for the first time in over a century. They are played here by the Portuguese pianist-composer Luís Pipa, professor of piano and chamber music at the University of Minho, near Porto, following up on his well-received Toccata Classics album of music by his compatriot José Vianna da Motta.

Sunrise Mass is a magical recording that includes compelling music by Ola Gjeilo along with several complementary selections by Durufle, Mendelssohn, and Mocnik. The title was chosen to hopefully represent the journey of each listener to hear new worlds ot colors in each of the selections. At the heart of this recording is Gjeilo's Sunrise Mass, a spiritual, extended work in four movements that will bring you on a metaphysical journey from the heavens to earth. This recording is expertly sung by the Westminster Williamson Voices and conducted by James Jordan. It is simply exquisite. Jordan writes InchThis has been our experience living with this music and, for me, allowing this choir to resonate these sounds in the most honest way we could. Gjeilo's music allows us to connect to a vast wordless world that speaks directly to each of us in deeply personal and meaningful ways. His music was a gift to us, and hopefully will be a gift to you. All of the music on this recording connected itself to us and tethered each piece, one to the other, inside us. And for that reason, and all the reasons above, we are excited to share the magic we felt through sounding all of these incredible scores.Inch