Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

It was African-Americans with little or no formal music training that mostly drove America’s ragtime revolution. During Ragtime’s height, (c.1890-1920), thousands of pieces were written, most notably by Scott Joplin (1868-1917) and Joseph F. Lamb (1887-1960). German pianist Marcus Schwarz specializes in Ragtime-era music and in the rediscovery and revival of long-neglected composers. Included in this recital are works by three talented Ragtime-era female composers, including two by the melodically gifted and chromatically inclined May Frances Aufderheide (1888-1972).

Together with Bella Musica label group, German pianist Tobias Bigger has presented a new solo piano recording, making this his fifth publication in total and the second one on Bella Musica’s Antes label. The album, titled “In altern Stil” (In the Old Style) cultivates Mr. Bigger’s penchant for sonorous virtuoso repertoire rarities, in which field he gained renown both in concerts and through his recordings. Prestigious publications such as KulturSPIEGEL, Piano News, and International Record Review are among the numerous enthusiastic reviews which are testifying to this. This new release, recorded in high-definition 24bit technique, contains 73 minutes of music with mostly premiere recordings and addresses itself (quoting the subtitle) to “Reflections of Baroque music in virtuosic piano works.” It therefore focuses on the reviving and increasing of interest in Baroque music brought about by the Romantic era in a twofold contest: Piano transcriptions of Baroque works are recorded as well as originally Romantic works which are composed “in the old style,” that is to say, underpinned by Baroque influences. The album thus presents both transcriptions after works by J. S. Bach, Rameau, and others, and original works by composers such as Sinding, Brahms, de Castillon, and Reger. Moreover, Mr. Bigger demonstrates his compositional prowess by having included some of his own piano arrangements.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music