complete piano transcriptions for piano vol
complete piano transcriptions
For pianists who love the sound of Liszt but don’t have the time or inclination to tackle his complete piano sonatas, this series offers an attractive alternative. The first volume concentrates on his piano transcriptions and features many of his best-loved encore pieces such as the sensuously achieved transcription of Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orfeo ed Euridice, guaranteed to hush any audience into silence. The other works on the discs vary from the dramatic to the serene, and from wildly expressive to the almost clinical.
The performances are generally attractive though sometimes seem to run out of steam as the discs progress. The piano idiom is conservative rather than virtuosic, and a more incisive fingerwork would have done greater justice to the composer’s thicker keyboard writing (such as in the Op. 12 and 18 groups). That said, Sgambati’s idiomatic yet conservative keyboard approach is certainly attractive, and his sensitivity to the music is undeniable.
A more adventurous interpreter is found on CDs 3, 4, and 5. Here the music has a truly virtuosic character. Cohen can enthrall listeners with music that hovers on the brink of silence or extinction (such as the F sharp Impromptu) or spark and sport with a devilish intent (Danse macabre, Totentanz). He can also send the simpler, more sylvan music – such as the lyrical Nuages gris or La lugubre gondola Nos 1 and 2 – into an enthralling storm and twirl.
complete piano transcriptions for piano vol
Of the three CDs on Roussel, this one is the most appealing. It varies from the rest of the set in that it avoids a simple chronological track order and thus succeeds in engaging the listener from the outset. It is well recorded and features highly-accomplished playing complemented by comprehensive sleeve notes.
A useful introduction to a composer who seems strangely off the musical map. Roussel’s unique piano style can be hard to get to grips with, but these recordings give a flavour of the music and pique interest. Although the two previous releases from Naxos of Roussel’s complete piano music, by Eric Parkin on Chandos and by Emanuele Torquati on Brilliant Classics, are also worth hearing, this new one is superior to both, with better piano sound and an idiomatic sense of the style. It’s the ideal ‘taster’ before the larger 3-CD Naxos series featuring all of his piano music is released.
A piano transcription is a musical arrangement where a piece originally written for another instrument or ensemble is adapted for the piano. This process involves translating the original composition’s melodies, harmonies, and textures into a format suitable for performance on the piano.
Transcriptions serve several purposes. They allow pianists to explore and perform music from a variety of genres and styles that may not have been originally written for the piano. Additionally, transcriptions enable pianists to showcase their technical skills and interpretive abilities by bringing new life to existing compositions.
Creating a piano transcription requires a deep understanding of both the original piece and the capabilities of the piano. The arranger must carefully consider how to capture the essence of the music while accommodating the piano’s limitations, such as its range, timbre, and polyphony. This often involves making decisions about which parts of the original composition to prioritize and how to adapt them effectively for the piano. Overall, piano transcriptions offer a rich and diverse repertoire for pianists to explore, allowing them to engage with music from various traditions and time periods in a unique and expressive way.