Op.19 | Arnold Schoenberg (1874 - 1951) |
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Yuhao Yan, Piano |
Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19 (or Six Little Piano Pieces) is a set of pieces for solo piano written by the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg, published in 1913. |
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Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) |
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Kirrily Swatton, Flute |
Rhodri Clarke, piano |
Written in Mannheim in 1778, this piece is the same concerto as the oboe concerto in C Major supposedly written in 1777. There is much controversy as to whether it was originally written as a sketch for Flute and then published as the Oboe Concerto or whether it was the simple fact Mozart didn\'t like the flute (or flute player he was commissioned the piece by) and was just being lazy. This is the first movement. |
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Etude Op.33 No.2 | Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943) |
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Kane Chang, piano |
The Études-tableaux ("study pictures"), Op. 33, is the first of two sets of piano études composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff. They were intended to be "picture pieces", essentially "musical evocations of external visual stimuli". But Rachmaninoff did not disclose what inspired each one, stating: "I do not believe in the artist that discloses too much of his images. Let paint for themselves what it most suggests." However, he willingly shared sources for a few of these études with the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi when Respighi orchestrated them in 1930. |
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Etude op.10 No.10 | Frederic Chopin (1810 - 1849) |
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Kane Chang, piano |
Étude Op. 10, No. 10, in A♭ major, is a technical study composed by Frédéric Chopin. This étude places huge demands on the performer in varying a single pattern by changes of accent and touch. Chopin's primary concern in this work is for the widest possible variety of touch that can be given to a single figuration, with the continuous changes of accent highlighting not only different parts of the figuration but also emphasizing the polyphonic nature of the pattern. |
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Concerto No.7 In E Minor | François Devienne (1759 - 1803) |
iii. Rondo |
Wil Rigby, Flute |
Rhodri Clarke, piano |
François Devienne was a French Flautist, Bassoonist, and Composer in the late 18th Century. He wrote a significant amount of repetoire for the flute including more than twelve concerto's, chamber works as well as a method on playing the flute. For this reason he became known as the Mozart of the flute. Devienne's Concerto's contain more than passing similarities to the works of Mozart and this sparkling Rondo is a example in point of similarity to the final movements of the Mozart flute concertos. |
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Hypnosis | Ian Clarke (1964 - ) |
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Wil Rigby, Flute |
Rhodri Clarke, piano |
Hypnosis evolved as part of an improvisation that Ian Clarke performed in his earlier years as part of a performing rock group. Unlike most of Ian Clarke's works it does not invoke contemporary and experimental techniques and the work maintains a certain expressive and dreamy quality throughout. |
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Six German Dances D820 | Franz Schubert (1797 - 1829) |
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YUHAO YAN, Piano |
This six dances are extremely exquisite, the performer must always be able to capture Schubert's sensitivity and subtlety. |
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A selection of Lied | Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828) |
Winterreise D.911, XI. Frühlingstraum; and
D.533 Auf der Donau |
Alexander Owens, Voice |
Rhodri Clarke, piano |
Schubert’s Winterreise (1827) is arguably the most renowned song cycle in Western canon. Based on text by Wilhelm Müller, the cycle follows the metaphorical journey of a man compelled to leave his beloved and a deep melancholy pervades this “winter’s journey”. Frühlingstraum, coming halfway through the 24 song set, epitomises these themes through portraying the man waking from a dream of his love in spring-time, only to find the bleak winter surrounding him.
Auf der Donau is a stand-alone Lied for bass, published in 1817 with text by Johann Mayrhofer, is desolate, still and ghostly, similarity rich with themes of death and loss. |
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Songs of Travel | Ralph Vaughan Williams (1879 - 1958) |
I. The Vagabond
II. Let Beauty Awake |
Alexander Owens, Voice |
Rhodri Clarke, piano |
Ralph Vaughan Williams is known as one of the most quintessentially English composers in the way his work reflects the character of his homeland, both stylistically and upon reflection of his years of study of English folk music. Songs of Travel follows a traveller as he journeys the countryside.
The Vagabond, the most well-known song from the cycle and a staple for the lower voice, introduces us to this character, to his love of travel, and his determination and strength of character.
Let Beauty Awake then explores a softer side to this character, whilst reflecting on the natural beauty of the English landscape. |
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Sonata No.29, Op. 106 | L.V. Beethoven (1770 - 1827) |
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo: Assai vivace
3. Adagio sostenuto
4. Introduzione: Largo... Allegro – Fuga: Allegro risoluto |
Kevin Chow, Piano |
Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29 "Hammerklavier" is widely viewed as one of the most important works of the composer's third period and among the greatest piano sonatas. |
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