The piano music of the Bohemian lands from the Romantic era to post World War I has been largely neglected by pianists and is not frequently heard in public performances. However, given an opportunity, one gains insight into the unique sound of the Czech piano repertoire and it's contributions to the Western tradition of piano music. Nationalist Czech composers were inspired by the Bohemian landscape, folklore and historical events, and brought their sentiments to life in their symphonies, operas and chamber works, but little is known about the history of Czech piano literature. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the unique sentimentality, sensuality and expression in the piano literature of Czech composers whose style can be traced from the solo piano cycles of Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884), AntonÃn DvorÃ¡k (1841-1904), Leos JanÃ¡cek (1854-1928), Josef Suk (1874-1935), Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1935) to Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942). Florence brings these spirited works fully to life.

Tracklist:

On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 1, Our Evenings
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 2, A Blown-Away Leaf
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 3, Come With Us
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 4, The Madonna Of Frydek
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 5, They Chattered Like Swallows
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 6, Words Fail!
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 7, Good Night!
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 8, Unutterable Anguish
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 9, In Tears
On An Overgrown Path, Jw VIII/17, Book 1: No. 10, The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away!
Piano Sonata 1.X.1905, Jw VIII/17: I. Foreboding
Piano Sonata 1.X.1905, Jw VIII/17: II. Death
In The Mists, Jw VIII/22: I. Andante
In The Mists, Jw VIII/22: II. Molto Adagio
In The Mists, Jw VIII/22: III. Andantino
In The Mists, Jw VIII/22: IV. Presto
Czech Dances II, Jb 1:114 (Excerpts): No. 1, Furiant
Czech Dances II, Jb 1:114 (Excerpts): No. 2, The Little Hen
Czech Dances II, Jb 1:114 (Excerpts): No. 3, Oats
8 Humoresques, Op. 101, B. 187: No. 8 In B-Flat Minor
Things Lived & Dreamed, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 1, With Wit And Irony, Fuming In Places
Things Lived & Dreamed, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 2, Restlessly And Shyly, Without Strong Emotion
Things Lived & Dreamed, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 3, Mysteriously And Very Light
Things Lived & Dreamed, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 4, Contemplatively, Then Increasingly Aggressive
Things Lived & Dreamed, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 5, On The Recovery Of My Son
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 1, Blues
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 2, Scherzo
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 3, Andante
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 4, Danse
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 5, Capriccio
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 6, Largo
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 7, Etude
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 8, Fox-Trot
5 Etudes De Jazz: No. 1, Charleston
5 Etudes De Jazz: No. 2, Blues
5 Etudes De Jazz: No. 3, Chanson
5 Etudes De Jazz: No. 4, Tango
5 Etudes De Jazz: No. 5, Toccata Sur Le Shimmy "Kitten On The Keys"

UPC: 044747378121
Label: Centaur
Release Date: 4.3.20
Format: CD

Survey Of Czech Piano Cycles / Various - Survey of Czech Piano Cycles (2 CD)