Victor Ryabchikov - Victor Ryabchikov Plays - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Montréal pianist Isabelle David's debut solo album includes 14 works from pianist and composer Auguste Descarries. Two of these are previously unreleased contributions to Quebec piano literature. Decarries holds a special place in Ms. David's musical background, as her maternal grandmother was one of the students who benefited from his teaching. This special link and the discovery of the composer's manuscripts led Ms. David to pursue a doctorate in music performance, where she devoted four years of research to Descarries's piano works. She writes InchThis album is the culmination of all the work undertaken in the past few years. It is part of an endeavor shared with other musicians and music lovers who wish to raise the profile of Auguste Descarries's great piano legacy. I trust that you will enjoy the composer's unreleased pieces, whose opus makes a very original contribution to the piano literature of Quebec. Happy listening!Inch

Victor Ryabchikov - Complete Piano Music 3 [COMPACT DISCS] date 04/01/1999

The music of the Paraguayan guitarist-composer Augustin Barrios (1885-1944) has come to the attention of guitarists through the efforts of such artists as John Williams. The music of Barrios is typical of the acculturation that was present in the works of Latin American composers at the turn of the century. His compositional style shows both the influences of European Romanticism and of the nationalistic trends that were prevalent in Latin-American music in the latter half of the nineteenth century. His use of forms ranges from European staples such as the mazurka and waltz to South-American folk-music such as the Danzas Paraguayas. Though not as conspicuously programmatic as some of his other works, La Catedral is said to be based on a personal experience of the composer. Though perhaps apocryphal, the story provides a colorful backdrop to the piece. Finding solace near a quiet church in the bustling city of Montevideo, Barrios was inspired to compose the Andante religioso, with it's chorale-like textures and plaintive harmonies. The ensuing Allegro Solemne is said to represent his return to the noisy soundscape of the city. The prelude, initially composed as a single movement saudade in tribute to his wife, was later added to the piece.