Sonata in F Major for Violin and Piano (1820) 1. Allegro (4:23) 2. Andante (5:34) 3. Presto(3:02) Nomos Duo Nicholas Milton, violin Nina-Margrét Grímsdóttir, piano
DCCCLXXVIII. BARTÓK, Béla (1881-1945) Petite Suite (1936) 1. Slow Dance 2. Whirling Dance 3. Quasi Pizzicato 4. Ruthenian Dance 5. Bagpipes Chris Beemer, piano (6:25)
Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (1915) 1. Pastorale: Lento, dolce rubato 2. Interlude: Tempo di Minuetto 3. Finale: Allegro moderato ma risoluto Emmanuel Pahud, flute Yulia Deyneka, viola Aline Khouri, harp (17:57)
Les Ruses d'amour (1900) 1. Introduction et Scène I 2. Récitatif mimique 3. Sarabande 4. Farandole et Scène II 5. Danse des marionettes 6. Scène III 7. Scènes IV et V 8. Variation 9. Scène VI, Marcia 10. Scène VII, Grande Valse 11. Scènes VIII-XI 12. Ballabile des paysans et des paysannes 13. Grand pas des fiancés 14. Variation 15. La Fricassée USSR Symphony Orchestra Yevgeny Svetlanov, cond. (56:43)
A respectable, if overused, plot.
Isabella, the daughter of a duchess, is betrothed to the Marquis Damis, but resolves to test his love by disguising herself as a servant. The Marquis eventually agrees to elope with her. She then reveals her true identity, satisfied at last that her betrothed loves her for herself and not for her title.
Although seldom performed these days, Glazunov's music is full of sparkle and wit. That inventive Russian orchestration is evident throughout the ballet ...
Carnival of the Animals (1886) 1. Introduction (0:59) 2. Royal March of the Lions (1:34) 3. Hens and Roosters (1:28) 4. Wild Asses (0:49) 5. Tortoises (2:00) 6. The Elephant (2:00) 7. Kangaroos (1:35) 8. Aquarium (2:41) 9. People with Long Ears (1:13) 10. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Forest (1:59) 11. Aviary (1:25) 12. Pianists (1:48) 13. Fossils (1:38) 14. The Swan (3:47) 15. Finale (2:16) Peter Schickele, narrator Ralph Markham, piano Kenneth Broadway, piano Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Yoel Levi, cond.
Septet (1952-53) 1. 1/4-note = 88 2. Passacaglia, circa 1/4-note = 60 3. Gigue, dotted-1/8th = 112-116 Emilio Ferrando, clarinet Julio Pallás, bassoon Amadeo Catalám, French horn Juan Carlos Segura, piano Victor Parra, violin Carlos Seco, viola Zsolt G. Tottzer, cello Juan José Olives, cond. (14:37)
Stravinsky goes 12-tone! This period of his life was always talked about like it was such a big deal when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's.
In fact -- a lot like Berg -- he used the rigid systems of serialism to explore and diversify his omnipresent love of all things classical -- thus neo-classicism.
The final movement is fugues and double fugues, with the series notated above the parts, and a tapestry of connections with previously-heard music.
Symphony #86 in D Major (1786) 1. Adagio -- Allegro spiritoso 2. Capriccio: Largo 3. Menuetto: Allegretto 4. Finale: Allegro con spirito Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Colin Davis, cond. (26:23)
First movement
After an appropriately royal adagio introduction, Papa immediately pulls a fast one!
using a secondary dominant (B -- V/ii) for his opening phrase; these little surprises that quickly resolve appear throughout ... but he then barks out a tutti -- the orchestra playing three 1/8th-notes, while the first violins fill the 1/8th-rst with a few 16ths ...
Nothing particularly noteworthy in the development and recap. A very militant D Major.
Second movement
In the dominant G Major, Haydn begins with yet another simple arpeggio.
but Haydn gives the simple tonality grace and foundation with the combination of 16ths and 32nds ...
Third movement
Menuet
and Trio:
Fourth movement
Con spirito, indeed. Still decorating arpeggios with passing tones, at this tempo the music is moving along.
En blanc et noir (1915) 1. I 2. II 3. III Martha Argerich, piano Iddo Bar-Shai, piano (17:10)
This is some of Debussy's greatest work. It is amazing what our geniuses created during periods of intense suffering.
Inside and out. He had cancer and had decamped to Normandy -- and his country was at war with a seriously deranged enemy ...
The title certainly references the keys of the piano, but Debussy added an additional explanation in his correspondence:
"These pieces need to draw their colour, their emotion, simply from the piano, like the 'grays' of Velázquez, if you understand me."
Each movement is preceded by a literary quotation.
1. I
Qui reste à sa place Et ne danse pas De quelque disgrâce Fait l'aveu tout bas -- Barbier & Carré, Romeo et Juliette (Gonoud)
2. II
Prince, porté soit des serfs Eolus En la forest ou domine Glaucus Ou privé soit de paix et d'espérance Car digne n'est de posséder vertus Qui mal vouldroit au royaume de France -- Villon, Ballade contre les ennemis de la France