Gottschalk - Piano Music Volume 3
Philip Martin (piano)
It isn't only the playing here which gives such satisfaction, but the whole package is stylishly produced – Rousseau on the booklet cover and fine notes from Jeremy Nicholas. The piano sound...
Gottschalk - Piano Music Volume 3
Philip Martin (piano)
Purchase product
It isn't only the playing here which gives such satisfaction, but the whole package is stylishly produced – Rousseau on the booklet cover and fine notes from Jeremy Nicholas. The piano sound...
About
This third volume brings to wider attention eleven further morceaux from the pen of Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the father of American composition. With their unique spontaneity and prophetic use of native syncopated rhythmsanticipating ragtime by some fifty yearsthese are works of intoxicating effect and great individuality. All of the music on this album is also available as part of the specially priced box set Gottschalk: The Complete Solo Piano Music: There are some fine Gottschalk albums out there, but Martins is the only complete survey of the composers works for solo piano. Not only that, he has a unique affinity for this music that shines through in every bar Martin reminds us just how consistently assured and interesting Gottschalks keyboard writing really is. Indeed, thats why I found it so easy to listen to all 109 tracks in a single day. Sensitively planned and lovingly played, this set contains some of the most varied and enchanting piano sounds imaginable a must-buy for pianophiles and LMG fans alike (MusicWeb International).
Contents and tracklist
Awards and reviews
2010
It isn't only the playing here which gives such satisfaction, but the whole package is stylishly produced – Rousseau on the booklet cover and fine notes from Jeremy Nicholas. The piano sound from the fastidious Hyperion team is flawless. Martin, operating in a context where some pianists can hardly play softly at all, has a ravishing pianissimo. This makes O ma charmante and the perennial – but highly original – The lasthope simply enchanting. Gottschalk is a real melodist. Martin understands the intimacies of the salon but he also lacks nothing in his transcendental virtuosity.
The more flamboyant numbers, such as Tournament Galop prove this.
About 10 years after Gottschalk's death, his pianist colleague, Artur Napoleão, made a piano arrangement of the first movement of Symphony No 1 (Night in the tropics) which Martin includes here. It's slightly drab compared with the orchestral version and soon feels repetitive.
But don't let that put you off this outstanding continuation of Martin's Gottschalk series.
