Bacewicz Piano Works
Fine performances of sometimes charming works by a Polish neoClassical composer
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Grazyna Bacewicz
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Faszination Musik
Magazine Review Date: 6/2002
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 75
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: 93 034
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Sonata for Piano No. 2 |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Scherzo Vivace |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Rondino |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Sonatina |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Children's Suite |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
(3) Burlesken |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
(2) Etüden |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Kleines Triptychon |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
(10) Etüden |
Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer
Ewa Kupiec, Piano Grazyna Bacewicz, Composer |
Author:
Although Grove lists several other pieces‚ the booklet claims that this disc includes all Grazyna Bacewicz’s music for solo piano‚ adding that ‘her sister has not authorised publication of the remaining piano works’. What we have here suggests that Bacewicz concentrated what one might call her neoClassical ‘toccata style’ into her keyboard works. She was a fine pianist‚ playing not only her own music in public‚ but she was better known as an exceptional solo violinist; indeed she was so busy with her (dual) solo career that she did not devote herself to fulltime composition until her midforties. Real lyricism‚ what one might call her ‘violin manner’‚ is in rather short supply here: the fine singing melody of the Sonata’s slow movement‚ the very simple‚ almost childlike ‘Mélodie’ of the Sonatina and no more than a couple of the Etudes.
Her ‘toccata manner’ often has real character‚ mark you: the Sonata’s first movement shows that lyricism and elegance can exist within it‚ and although some of the Etudes sound as though they were designed to develop steely‚ agile fingers and strong wrists‚ their textures are inventive enough for most of them to stand up as concert pieces. The early Children’s Suite‚ eight slight but fresh and tuneful miniatures‚ has much charm.
The average length of the pieces on this disc‚ including the Sonata and Sonatina movements‚ is not much over two minutes and they are best not listened to at a sitting. Best of all would be to alternate them with the longer spans and more lyrical expression of Bacewicz’s later chamber music‚ of which a fair amount is now available on disc. Ewa Kupiec plays admirably‚ searching out the essence of these pithy but not often emotionally expansive pieces‚ and she is cleanly recorded.
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