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Naxos

American Classics - Griffes: Complete Piano Works Vol 2

$19.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
GRIFFES
Artist
Janice, Michael, Weber, Lewin
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Mar 01, 2000
Catalog #
8559046
UPC
636943904626

About

Charles Tomlinson Griffes only lived 35 years; his death in 1920 cut short one of the most promising careers in American music. During his short life span he created a collection of short, rhapsodic works that are full of color and romantic adventure. The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla-Khan is best known in its orchestrated version, expanded and altered somewhat from the original piano composition. It is a lush, lyrical, and dramatic work whose exotic melodies exude Middle-Eastern and Oriental influences. Of the other compositions, the Piece in D minor, from 1915, stands out. Elegant, impassioned impressionism reigns in this engaging work, and it certainly deserves wider recognition. Though the rest of the pieces on the CD are all worth hearing, the early transcription for two pianos of the Hansel and Gretel overture is most impressive. Griffes had gone to Europe to study with Humperdinck, and no doubt intended his masterful arrangement as a tribute. As performed here, it is one of the most charming duo-piano pieces in the repertoire. Michael Lewin plays the rest of the program with passion and precision, though his interpretations lack that last measure of urgency given by James Tocco on Gasparo. The latter, however did not record all of this music, so at the low Naxos price, no one should mind duplicating a few of these works. The recorded sound is exemplary, using 24-bit technology for the highest resolution. --Rad Bennett, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla-Khan 09:08
    Track
    1
    Title
    The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla-Khan
    Duration
    09:08
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  2. 2 Prelude No. 1 01:15
    Track
    2
    Title
    Prelude No. 1
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  3. 3 Prelude No. 2 00:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    Prelude No. 2
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  4. 4 Prelude No. 3 01:41
    Track
    4
    Title
    Prelude No. 3
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  5. 5 Piece in E Major 02:19
    Track
    5
    Title
    Piece in E Major
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  6. 6 Dance in A Minor 02:22
    Track
    6
    Title
    Dance in A Minor
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  7. 7 Barcarolle 06:53
    Track
    7
    Title
    Barcarolle
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  8. 8 Notturno 06:03
    Track
    8
    Title
    Notturno
    Duration
    06:03
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  9. 9 Scherzo 04:31
    Track
    9
    Title
    Scherzo
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  10. 10 Piece in D Minor 02:45
    Track
    10
    Title
    Piece in D Minor
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  11. 11 Piece in B-Flat Major 03:08
    Track
    11
    Title
    Piece in B-Flat Major
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  12. 12 Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture 06:53
    Track
    12
    Title
    Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes
  13. 13 Symphonische Phantasie for Two Pianos 13:25
    Track
    13
    Title
    Symphonische Phantasie for Two Pianos
    Duration
    13:25
    Composer
    Charles Tomlinson Griffes