[ABOVE: Seta Karakashian: Rarely Performed Piano Works; Romeo Records 7227 (2004) (68:44) BELOW: William
Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music,
and is used with permission)]
William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which
features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de
Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
The entry for Kaintuck'
describes
the composition as a work for piano and orchestra. It was also arranged for two pianos. The work was commissioned by the League of
Composers, and was dedicated to Verna Arvey:
“Kaintuck';
Poem,
for
piano & orchestra (1935). Mission Viejo CA: WGS Music. 30p.
Instrumentation: 3232 (p), 4331, timp, perc, strings. Commission:
League of Composers. Duration: 14:00. Dedication: ´To my wife, Verna
Arvey.' Library: Columbia (lead sheet, 1937), Lerma, Library of
Congress (lead sheet, 1937), Yale (manuscript).”
“This
remarkable recital by renowned pianist Seta Karakashian brings
together splendid performances of notable works by composers of the
19th and 20th centuries, from Franz Liszt (b. 1811) through Arno
Babadjanian (b. 1921). Interestingly, all five composers whose works
are played by Ms. Karakashian are especially known for their
compositions for the piano.”
The
liner notes tell us:
“Kaintuck'
(1935)
was composed as a work for piano and orchestra and in an arrangement
for two pianos heard on this recording. The work represents Still's
reaction to his exposure to Bluegrass music from the state of
Kentucky, a lovely piece that evokes the spirit of the music it pays
tribute to. And yet, according to Still's daughter, Judith Anne
Still, her father 'composed Kaintuck'
while
riding a train through Kentucky, and the sound of the locomotive is
built into the music, [but]
Kaintuck' is
also a love poem for Verna Arvey,' the woman Still would marry in
1939.”
We
agree that the works on this album are rarely performed. We have
recordings by all of the five composers, with many discs by Still,
Grieg and Bartók. None include Six
Poetic Tones Pictures,
Op. 3 of Edvard Grieg; the Burlesques
or Rumanian
Folk Dances
of Bela Bartók; the Six
Consolations, Six Pensées Poètiques of
Franz Liszt; the Four
Pictures
of Arno Babadjanian; or Kaintuck'
of
William Grant Still.
The
recording is one of many collection discs which include works of William
Grant Still. For an inquisitive fan of classical music, it stands
out for its lesser-known works of composers who are themselves
relatively well known. Seta Kashkashian is joined on Kaintuck'
by
the late pianist Richard Fields, to whom the recording is dedicated.
The time of this version is 11:13. It was performed before a live
and appreciative audience. We have enjoyed listening to the CD for
pleasure many times since receiving it. Disclosure:
A review copy of this CD was provided by William Grant Still Music.
No comments:
Post a Comment