Ronald Stevenson - (The) Transcendental Tradition
Playing that demands you re-evaluate the art of transcription
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Franz Liszt, Leopold Godowsky, (Charles-)Valentin Alkan, (George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Ronald Stevenson, Johann Sebastian Bach
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Appian Publications & Recordings
Magazine Review Date: 2/2006
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 76
Mastering:
Stereo
ADD
Catalogue Number: APR5630

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(18) Lieder (Schubert), Movement: Du bist die Ruh' |
Franz Liszt, Composer
Franz Liszt, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
(53) Studies on the Chopin Etudes, Movement: Op 10/9 in F minor (imitation of Op 25/2) |
Leopold Godowsky, Composer
Leopold Godowsky, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
Gavotte d'Orphée (Gluck) |
(Charles-)Valentin Alkan, Composer
(Charles-)Valentin Alkan, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
Ramble on the Last Love-Duet from Richard Strauss's 'Der Rosenkavalier' |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
(3) Gershwin Transcriptions, Movement: The Man I Love |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
(3) Gershwin Transcriptions, Movement: Love Walked In |
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer
(George) Percy (Aldridge) Grainger, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
Peter Grimes Fantasy on themes from Britten |
Ronald Stevenson, Composer
Ronald Stevenson, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
(3) Sonatas and 3 Partitas, Movement: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
Prelude, Fugue and Fantasy on themes from Busoni's 'Doktor Faust' |
Ronald Stevenson, Composer
Ronald Stevenson, Composer Ronald Stevenson, Piano |
Author: Bryce Morrison
All Stevenson’s readings glow with an inner warmth, a musical breathing that has little to do with stereotypical rubato and, above all,a desire to speak and communicate with all the richness and fullness of his being. His way with Du bist die Ruh reminds youthat Liszt paid tribute to the ‘most poeticof all composers’. Again, his towering performance of the Bach-Busoni Chaconne is virtuosic in the only sense that matters – making you forget more outwardly expert rivals and listen intently to his individual and absorbing voice.
His Chopin-Godowsky is included because it is an audacious musical, rather than merely intricate, adventure, and you only have to listen to Stevenson in Percy Grainger’s arrangement of Gershwin’s The Man I Love to hear a musician as alert to whispered confidences as to bold declamation.
Again, Stevenson’s own compositions, while influenced by his father-figure, Busoni, achieve a gritty but wholly personal idiom. Everything in this well recorded recital makes you think again and re-evaluate the art of transcription, as well as the art and essence of great music-making.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.