Fiddler's Blues / Graffin, Désert
Details
- Composer
- DEBUSSY ENESCU RAVEL YSAYE
- Artist
- Graffin, Desert
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Avie Records
- Released
- Feb 01, 2019
- Catalog #
- AV2399
- UPC
- 822252239928
About
Philippe Graffin’s virtuosity combined with his skills as a sleuth have led to the world-premiere recording of a “Posthumous” solo violin sonata by Eugene Ysaye, an astonishing discovery that extends the Belgian composer’s canon of his essential six sonatas for the medium. Philippe unearthed the nearly-completed manuscript in the library of the Brussels Conservatoire, and polished off the final movement in the most Ysaye-esque manner possible. Philippe’s penchant for intuitive programming I brought to bear on Fiddler’s Blues, combining two Ysaye works - including another premiere, with a pair of folksy, Bohemian-flavored works by George Enescu, another virtuoso violinist/composer who emigrated from his native Romania and like Ysaye settled in Paris.
Enescu was a classmate of Maurice Ravel, whose Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Faure is an affectionate nod to their teacher at the Paris Conservatoire, whilst his azure-tinged Violin Sonata influences the album’s title. Ravel’s slightly older contemporary Claude Debussy befriended Ysaye. Whereas Ysaye soared writing works for solo violin, Debussy wrote none. Suggesting how such a work may have sounded, Philippe contributes his own arrangement for solo violin of Debussy’s enduring piece Claire de lune.
REVIEWS:
This duo’s rapport comes across in sparky performances. Premieres of pieces by Ysaÿe are a draw, but the Enescu sonata and Hora Unirii are a real treat and leave you feeling anything but blue. ★★★★
-- BBC Music Magazine
The big story here is the first recording of a previously undiscovered seventh unaccompanied violin sonata by Eugène Ysaÿe…Played with flourishing panache and easy command, it makes an electrifying opening to this deceptively titled recital: essentially a survey of the early 20th-century Parisian scene…There’s a real feeling of dialogue.
-- Gramophone
Tracklist 13 tracks
-
1 I. Allegro molto moderato ma con brio 03:39
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Allegro molto moderato ma con brio
- Duration
- 03:39
- Composer
- Eugène Ysaÿe
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin
-
2 II. Canzona: Lento e mesto 03:30
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Canzona: Lento e mesto
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- Eugène Ysaÿe
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin
-
3 Violin Sonata: III. Finale: Giocoso (from Ysaÿe's sketchbook, Brussels Conservatoire, completed by P. Graffin) 02:08
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Violin Sonata: III. Finale: Giocoso (from Ysaÿe's sketchbook, Brussels Conservatoire, completed by P. Graffin)
- Duration
- 02:08
- Composer
- Eugène Ysaÿe
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin
-
4 I. Allegretto 07:44
- Track
- 4
- Title
- I. Allegretto
- Duration
- 07:44
- Composer
- Maurice Ravel
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
5 II. Blues: Moderato 05:26
- Track
- 5
- Title
- II. Blues: Moderato
- Duration
- 05:26
- Composer
- Maurice Ravel
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
6 III. Perpetuum mobile: Allegro 03:58
- Track
- 6
- Title
- III. Perpetuum mobile: Allegro
- Duration
- 03:58
- Composer
- Maurice Ravel
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
7 Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune (arr. D. Matthews and P. Graffin for violin) 05:04
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune (arr. D. Matthews and P. Graffin for violin)
- Duration
- 05:04
- Composer
- Claude Debussy
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin
-
8 Petite fantaisie romantique 04:59
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Petite fantaisie romantique
- Duration
- 04:59
- Composer
- Eugène Ysaÿe
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
9 I. Moderato malinconico 09:20
- Track
- 9
- Title
- I. Moderato malinconico
- Duration
- 09:20
- Composer
- George Enescu
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
10 II. Andante sostenuto e misterioso 08:25
- Track
- 10
- Title
- II. Andante sostenuto e misterioso
- Duration
- 08:25
- Composer
- George Enescu
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
11 III. Allegro con brio, ma non troppo mosso 08:23
- Track
- 11
- Title
- III. Allegro con brio, ma non troppo mosso
- Duration
- 08:23
- Composer
- George Enescu
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
12 Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré 02:43
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré
- Duration
- 02:43
- Composer
- Maurice Ravel
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert
-
13 Hora Unirii 01:52
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Hora Unirii
- Duration
- 01:52
- Composer
- George Enescu
- Performer
- Philippe Graffin, Claire Désert