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Grechaninov: Complete Music for Viola and Piano / Artamonova, Walker
Toccata

Grechaninov: Complete Music for Viola and Piano / Artamonova, Walker

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Details

Composer
GRECHANINOV, ALEXANDER
Artist
Artamonova, Walker
Format
CD
Label
Toccata
Released
Apr 29, 2014
Catalog #
TOCC0234
UPC
5060113442345

About

Alexander Grechaninov (1864–1956), an eventual Russian exile following the Revolution, was a member of the second generation of nationalist composers – he was a student of both Rimsky-Korsakov and Taneyev – he never abandoned an essentially Russian lyricism. These attractive unknown viola works are as good as unknown: several remain unpublished, and two are in Elena Artanomova’s own viola transcriptions. The CD is released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Grechaninov’s birth this year.

REVIEW:

Primarily known for his orchestral music, Grechaninov also wrote a sheaf of chamber works. That for viola has remained obscure. His Op.161 Sonata for viola (or clarinet) is unpublished which accounts for much of its obscurity and this is its first recording. Its premiere was given by Elena Artamonova and Nicholas Walker in London only in 2013, the same year it was recorded. The premiere was given in December but the recording was made earlier in June. Couched in sonata-form, and written between 1935 and 1940 the work proves amiable, songful and engaging. There is a high quotient of charm in Grechaninov’s chamber music, and that is an element that figures prominently here. His penchant for vocal composition ensures that the melodies are at all times winningly warm, not least in the lyric effusions of the central Canzona movement. I hear hints of Spanish music in the finale though there is certainly a strain of Russian folklore buzzing merrily throughout, and some passages sound almost like Dvo?ák.

The Second Sonata was written in 1943 and is actually a clarinet sonata, whose dedicatee was the great Simeon Bellison. The arrangement for viola is the work of Elena Artamonova, who has taken her cue from the earlier viola sonata and has dealt persuasively with questions of articulation and register. The work sounds convincing in its new form. Once more there’s a fine balance between the instruments, and an uncluttered and jovial quality. Toccata has gone to the trouble of separately tracking each of the variations that mark the theme and variations, with coda, of the second movement of this bipartite work. Here Slavic folk affiliations are to the fore, and a vigorous and engaging variation for solo piano too. I was most taken by the third variation where the piano’s gruff enquiries are met by a pliant viola response. There’s a viola cadenza before the spirited and exciting toccata-like coda.

Early Morning is a cycle of ten pieces written in France in 1930 for cello (or violin) and piano. It has been arranged for viola by Sabine Stegmüller and this is its first recording in this guise. Primarily this is a work of instruction for children, adept and engaging teaching material with nice descriptive titles à la Schumann, two highlights of which are the pensive In the Twilight and the deliciously deft Burlesque. In modo antico is a suite written back in 1918 for violin and orchestra or piano. This arrangement is Artamonova’s. It opens with a somewhat showy cadenza but continues in a romantic vein rather more than anything too self-consciously modo antico, though the movements sport titles such as Sarabande, Gavotte – played with deliciously zesty lift here – and Jig. Finally there are the two Grechaninov transcriptions of songs by Debussy, first published in 1946, which would make excellent recital pieces. Once again these are premiere recordings.

These richly lyrical works, all pretty much unknown, receive highly persuasive and stylistically apt performances from Artamonova – who writes the excellent booklet notes – and Nicholas Walker. Well worth getting to know, in fact.

– MusicWeb International (Jonathan Woolf)

Tracklist 29 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro 05:46
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:46
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  2. 2 II. Canzona: Andante 04:25
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Canzona: Andante
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  3. 3 III. Finale: Vivace 06:29
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Finale: Vivace
    Duration
    06:29
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  4. 4 I. Moderato 03:54
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Moderato
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  5. 5 II. Theme: Andantino 01:00
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Theme: Andantino
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  6. 6 Variation 1: Tempo I 00:54
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation 1: Tempo I
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  7. 7 Variation 2: Allegro 00:37
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation 2: Allegro
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  8. 8 Variation 3: Andante 02:25
    Track
    8
    Title
    Variation 3: Andante
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  9. 9 Variation 4: Molto vivace 02:12
    Track
    9
    Title
    Variation 4: Molto vivace
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  10. 10 Variation 5: Andante 01:04
    Track
    10
    Title
    Variation 5: Andante
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  11. 11 Variation 6: Allegro grazioso 00:45
    Track
    11
    Title
    Variation 6: Allegro grazioso
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  12. 12 Coda: Largo - Vivace 01:22
    Track
    12
    Title
    Coda: Largo - Vivace
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  13. 13 2 Romances: No. 1. L'âme évaporée (arr. A. Gretchaninov for viola and piano) 01:59
    Track
    13
    Title
    2 Romances: No. 1. L'âme évaporée (arr. A. Gretchaninov for viola and piano)
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  14. 14 Beau soir (arr. A. Gretchaninov for viola and piano) 02:21
    Track
    14
    Title
    Beau soir (arr. A. Gretchaninov for viola and piano)
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Claude Debussy
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  15. 15 No. 1. Morning Stroll: Moderato 00:53
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 1. Morning Stroll: Moderato
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  16. 16 No. 2. Homesickness: Andantino 01:19
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 2. Homesickness: Andantino
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  17. 17 No. 3. The Joker: Allegretto grazioso 01:14
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 3. The Joker: Allegretto grazioso
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  18. 18 No. 4. In the Twilight: Andante 02:05
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 4. In the Twilight: Andante
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  19. 19 No. 5. Little Horseman: Allegro 01:34
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 5. Little Horseman: Allegro
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  20. 20 No. 6. On Winter's Eve: Andante 01:40
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 6. On Winter's Eve: Andante
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  21. 21 No. 7. Burlesque: Moderato - Allegro non troppo 00:57
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 7. Burlesque: Moderato - Allegro non troppo
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  22. 22 No. 8. In a Fortress: Moderato 02:08
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 8. In a Fortress: Moderato
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  23. 23 No. 9. Thieves and Policeman: Sempre ben marcato 01:12
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 9. Thieves and Policeman: Sempre ben marcato
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  24. 24 No. 10. Waltz: Moderato, molto grazioso 01:42
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 10. Waltz: Moderato, molto grazioso
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  25. 25 I. Prelude: Con liberta - Andante 04:31
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Prelude: Con liberta - Andante
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  26. 26 II. Sarabande: Allegro moderato 02:25
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Sarabande: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  27. 27 III. Gavotte: Allegro, sempre marcato 02:23
    Track
    27
    Title
    III. Gavotte: Allegro, sempre marcato
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  28. 28 IV. Aria: Lento, ma non troppo 03:25
    Track
    28
    Title
    IV. Aria: Lento, ma non troppo
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker
  29. 29 V. Jig: Vivace 03:43
    Track
    29
    Title
    V. Jig: Vivace
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Alexander Gretchaninov
    Performer
    Elena Artamonova, Nicholas Walker