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Rameau: The Complete Keyboard Music, Vol 3 / Gutman
Toccata

Rameau: The Complete Keyboard Music, Vol 3 / Gutman

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Details

Composer
RAMEAU, JEAN-PHILIPPE
Artist
Stephen Gutman
Format
CD
Label
Toccata
Released
Feb 25, 2014
Catalog #
TOCC0052
UPC
5060113440525

About



RAMEAU Suites: No. 4 in A/a; No. 5 in G/g. La Dauphine. Les petits marteaux. RAMEAU-GUTMAN Pièces de clavecin en concerts: Concert No. 5 in D/d. RAMEAU-BALBASTRE Pigmalion: Giga • Stephen Gutman (pn) • TOCCATA 0052 (68:48)


I am always overjoyed to hear a new recording of Rameau’s keyboard music performed on the piano; it is a repertoire which I find completely underappreciated by most pianists today who favor the works of either Bach or Scarlatti for their recital programs. For whatever the inexplicable reasons, it is both their loss in playing this repertoire and ours in hearing it performed on an instrument capable of such tonal nuances as benefits this music. That said: This is the third and last of Stephen Gutman’s recordings of the complete keyboard music of this master, but only the first that I’ve heard. After playing this disc over and over again this month, I’ll be sure to run—not walk!—to my nearest shop to obtain the first two releases which I’ve missed out on thus far.


Luckily for me, Gutman here performs two of Rameau’s greatest keyboard suites—the one in A-Minor/Major, which ends with the virtuosic Gavotte with six variations (or doubles as he labels them), most likely modeled on the “Air and Variations” from Handel’s D-Minor Suite, and the one in G Major/Minor, which includes some of the most famous of Rameau’s excerpted pieces—“La poule,” “Les sauvages,” “L’enharmonique,” and “L’egiptienne,” among others. From the very first notes of the opening A-Minor Allemande, the pianist’s sense of exploration, his wide tonal palette, and his rhythmic freedom can all be heard to good advantage, along with his intimate and scholarly knowledge of these works—from correct ornamentation to matters of tempo. Importantly, the pianist looks to characterize each of these movements in their own particular way, and does so well—from the serious Courante to the intimate Sarabande, from the athletic and virtuosic “Les trois mains” to the exuberant and joyful “La triomphant.” Perhaps the only aspect I miss a bit comes in the concluding Gavotte, where just a bit more bombast could surely do no harm; here the minute characterization of each variation takes away from the inherent drive to the end which should pervade the entire set. As the following Suite in G is comprised of mostly named movements— à la Couperin—it benefits even more so from Gutman’s quick and profound characterization: “La poule,” being one of the best examples, demonstrates just how quickly he can portray these musical numbers. From the opening repeated-note gesture one is pulled in, only to be startled by the quick flourishes which drive the music forward. The ornaments found throughout the piece are hardly simple trills or mordents—rather, they are sounds of the hen herself. Though “Les sauvages” could be a bit more brutal in character, the pianist’s tendency to emphasize the gallant and graceful aspects in the music is in keeping with the age. “L’egiptienne” makes for a mysterious, yet rousing, conclusion.


The other works here include two transcriptions—one made by Gutman of the Concert No. 5 from the Pièces de clavecin en concerts , which includes three movements (“La Forqueray,” “La Cupis,” and “La Marais”) and the Giga from Pigmalion , possibly transcribed by one Claude-Bénigne Balbastre. Of the two works, the former is the more impressive piece, originally conceived, as is was, for a chamber ensemble of strings and keyboard; the opening work, “La Forqueray,” is actually a four-part fugue, which Gutman carefully choreographs for performance on a single keyboard—no small feat! While there are, of course, interesting little details left out, Gutman is careful to capture the most important aspects of the piece, in both transcription and performance.


Throughout this very fine recital Gutman proves himself a guide of the first order—not only does he understand this music both inside and out, he never allows the scholar in him to inhibit the performer; rather he uses the knowledge to bring out the best in this music. And while I may have my quibbles about matters of performance, there is hardly a movement in the entire recital that will not charm and delight the most judgmental of listeners. Recorded in generally good, though somewhat dry, sound and accompanied by excellent program notes (both by Graham Sadler and the pianist himself), this is a release to savor. Recommended.


FANFARE: Scott Noriega

Tracklist 28 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allemande 07:43
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allemande
    Duration
    07:43
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  2. 2 II. Courante 03:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Courante
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  3. 3 III. Sarabande 02:21
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Sarabande
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  4. 4 IV. Les trois mains 04:16
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Les trois mains
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  5. 5 V. Fanfarinette 03:08
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Fanfarinette
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  6. 6 VI. La triomphante 01:38
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. La triomphante
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  7. 7 VII. Gavotte with 6 double 01:00
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Gavotte with 6 double
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  8. 8 VIII. Premier double de la Gavotte 00:52
    Track
    8
    Title
    VIII. Premier double de la Gavotte
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  9. 9 IX. Deuxieme double 00:51
    Track
    9
    Title
    IX. Deuxieme double
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  10. 10 X. Troisieme double 01:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    X. Troisieme double
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  11. 11 XI. Quatrieme double 00:49
    Track
    11
    Title
    XI. Quatrieme double
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  12. 12 XII. Cinquieme 00:54
    Track
    12
    Title
    XII. Cinquieme
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  13. 13 XIII. Sixieme double 01:09
    Track
    13
    Title
    XIII. Sixieme double
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  14. 14 I. Les tricotets 01:56
    Track
    14
    Title
    I. Les tricotets
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  15. 15 II. L'indifferente 02:03
    Track
    15
    Title
    II. L'indifferente
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  16. 16 III. Minuet I 00:56
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Minuet I
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  17. 17 IV. Minuet II 01:07
    Track
    17
    Title
    IV. Minuet II
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  18. 18 V. La poule 04:23
    Track
    18
    Title
    V. La poule
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  19. 19 VI. Les triolets 03:09
    Track
    19
    Title
    VI. Les triolets
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  20. 20 VII. Les sauvages 02:04
    Track
    20
    Title
    VII. Les sauvages
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  21. 21 VIII. L'enharmonique 04:33
    Track
    21
    Title
    VIII. L'enharmonique
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  22. 22 IX. L'egiptienne 02:47
    Track
    22
    Title
    IX. L'egiptienne
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  23. 23 I. La forqueray 02:09
    Track
    23
    Title
    I. La forqueray
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  24. 24 II. La Cupis 06:02
    Track
    24
    Title
    II. La Cupis
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  25. 25 III. La marais 02:27
    Track
    25
    Title
    III. La marais
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  26. 26 La Dauphine 03:12
    Track
    26
    Title
    La Dauphine
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  27. 27 Les petits marteaux 00:49
    Track
    27
    Title
    Les petits marteaux
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman
  28. 28 Pigmalion (Pygmalion): Giga (arr. C. Balbastre for piano) 01:54
    Track
    28
    Title
    Pigmalion (Pygmalion): Giga (arr. C. Balbastre for piano)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Jean-Philippe Rameau
    Performer
    Stephen Gutman