Piano Music of Walter Niemann volume 11
Prelude, Intermezzo and Fugue, op. 73 • Immensee, op. 54 • Pharaonenland, op. 86 • Aus alter Zeit, nach Th. Storm, op. 39 • 8 Mazurkas, op. 74 • Von Gold drei Rosen, op. 42 • Der Kuckuck, op. 38 (includes first recordings)
John Kersey, piano
RDR CD121
Price: £18.99. Click the button below to purchase this CD securely online.
Total time: 71 minutes 13 seconds
1. Präludium, Intermezzo und Fuge, op. 73 (9:27)
i. Präludium – Moderato ii. Intermezzo – Come una Cadenza, vivo a capriccio iii. Fuga – Moderato, ma sempre poco giocoso
2. Immensee – romantic fantasy after Theodor Storm, op. 54 (14:25)
3. Land of the Pharaohs, three pictures, op. 86 (10:48)
i. Evening on the Nile (Elegie) – Andante poco sostenuto e languido ii. Sphinx (Basso ostinato) – Lento misterioso iii. Ancient Egyptian Temple Dance – Molto moderato solenne
4. From olden times: little suite after words of Theodor Storm, op. 39 (8:26)
i. Pavane (In the ballroom) – Solenne con gravita ii. Allemande (Spring Sunday in the old garden) – Moderato ed amabile iii. Hornpipe (Sailors’ Dance) – Spirituoso iv. Capriccio (The Farewell) – Un poco sostenuto ed agitato
5. Eight Mazurkas, op. 74 (15:48)
i. Ruhig und ein wenig gehalten ii. Hell und frisch bewegt iii. In trübem Sinnen iv. Mässig, mit Anmut und Grazie v. Mit stiller, edler Trauer, sehr gehalten und gedämpft vi. Zart und anmutig, im ruhigen naiven Pastoralton vii. Mit sinniger Grazie viii. Frisch, herrisch und markiert
6. Three Golden Roses, op. 42 (5:06)
7. The Cuckoo: little suite, op. 38 (6:58)
i. Präludium – Moderato, ma con anima ii. Tempo di Minuetto iii. Tokkatina – Vivace iv. Arietta – Andantino amabile v. Gigue (Little Hunting Piece) – Alla caccia, molto vivace e giocoso
“Nu harr de Kukuk Hochtid makt/Und lach opt allerbest” – Claus Groth
Our thanks go to Nicolo Figowy and Steffen Herrmann for their generous loan of scores.
Walter Niemann was regarded in 1927 as “the most important living piano composer who knows how to make music from the piano in a subtle and colorful way, although he often enters the field of salon music” (H. Abert, Illustrated Music Lexicon). This most sensitive and introverted master of the piano devoted his life to composition and musical scholarship, also performing his music in concerts and radio broadcasts. Niemann’s vast output for the piano is only now starting to become more widely known. Although his style is generally unashamedly conservative, he was one of the very few German composers to explore Impressionism in music, and this also reflected a fascination with the Far East. Elsewhere, Niemann’s imagination takes us from much Baroque recreation to large-scale epic sonatas, Schumannesque miniatures and even the exploration of early jazz styles. His understanding of the capabilities of the piano was complete, and his works include both collections for young pianists and mature works that exploit the full range of pianistic effect and make significant demands on the performer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.