Beethoven: Symphonies, Vol. 1 / Uys, Schoeman
Details
- Composer
- BEETHOVEN SCHUMANN
- Artist
- Uys, Schoeman
- Format
- CD
- Label
- SOMM Recordings
- Released
- Jul 30, 2021
- Catalog #
- SOMMCD 0637
- UPC
- 748871063723
About
| SOMM Recordings announces the launch of a major six-volume series of Franz Xaver Scharwenka’s transcriptions of Beethoven Symphonies featuring the label debut of the Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman Piano Duo. Formed in 2010, the Duo began their in-concert exploration of Scharwenka’s four-hand Beethoven transcriptions in 2015 and now bring that experience to disc for the first time. Volume 1 includes the premiere recording of Scharwenka’s piano duet transcription of Symphony No.3, the ever-popular Eroica, and Debussy’s two-piano arrangement of Robert Schumann’s Six Studies in Canonic Form. As Robert Matthew-Walker’s booklet notes reveal, Scharwenka had a direct line to Beethoven, having been taught by Franz Kullak, who was tutored by Carl Czerny whose own teacher, in turn, had been Beethoven himself. A composer of no mean stature in his own right, Scharwenka’s transcriptions were once widely admired, making masterpiece symphonies available to every home with a piano. Possessing, says Matthew-Walker, “significant qualities which are often overlooked today”, his Eroica transcription receives ardent, eloquently persuasive championing by Schoeman and Uys. Scharwenka wasn’t alone in exploiting new developments in piano technology. Robert Schumann’s Six Studies in Canonic Form made use of the then novel ‘pedal-piano’ (a standard piano with an additional bass pedal-board) even as he was looking back stylistically towards his idol, Bach. Debussy’s arrangement for two pianos adroitly accommodates Schumann’s original to “rescue this fine music from the obscurity of the pedal-piano repertoire.” Born in Cape Town and a Royal Academy of Music Associate, Tessa Uys has an impressive reputation as a concert and broadcasting performer, appearing at major venues throughout the world. Her multi-prize-winning South African compatriot Ben Schoeman also has a busy international profile and is currently a senior lecturer in piano and musicology at the University of Pretoria. |
Tracklist 10 tracks
-
1 I. Allegro con brio 18:28
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro con brio
- Duration
- 18:28
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
2 II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai 15:10
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
- Duration
- 15:10
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
3 III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Trio 05:34
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Trio
- Duration
- 05:34
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
4 IV. Finale: Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto 12:36
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Finale: Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto
- Duration
- 12:36
- Composer
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
5 No. 1 in C Major: Nicht zu schnell 01:58
- Track
- 5
- Title
- No. 1 in C Major: Nicht zu schnell
- Duration
- 01:58
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
6 No. 2 in A Minor: Mit innigem Ausdruck 03:25
- Track
- 6
- Title
- No. 2 in A Minor: Mit innigem Ausdruck
- Duration
- 03:25
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
7 No. 3 in E Major: Andantino - Etwas schneller 01:44
- Track
- 7
- Title
- No. 3 in E Major: Andantino - Etwas schneller
- Duration
- 01:44
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
8 No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Innig 03:08
- Track
- 8
- Title
- No. 4 in A-Flat Major: Innig
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
9 No. 5 in B Minor: Nicht zu schnell 02:14
- Track
- 9
- Title
- No. 5 in B Minor: Nicht zu schnell
- Duration
- 02:14
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys
-
10 No. 6 in B Major: Adagio 03:55
- Track
- 10
- Title
- No. 6 in B Major: Adagio
- Duration
- 03:55
- Composer
- Robert Schumann
- Performer
- Ben Schoeman, Tessa Uys