Piano Music: July 2008 Archives

Agathe Backer Grøndahl
(1847-1907)

Complete Piano Music Vol. IV

Natalia Strelehenko, Piano
Arena AR07015

A concert artist, wife, mother, sufragette, and prolific composer, Grøndahl wrote over 190 songs, approximately 120 piano pieces, collections of Norwegian folksongs, some choral works, and some student orchestral works. Grieg was so impressed by her piano playing that he asked her to perform his piano concerto in concert. She was called "another Clara Schumann" … high praise!

This lovely and melodious piano music most reminds me of the Lyric Pieces of Grieg. It is easy to listen to and difficult to forget.

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[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus - Musicnotes.com ]

Déodat de Séverac
(1872-1921)

Le chant de la terre (1899-1900)
En Languedoc (1903-04)
Les Naïdes et le faune indiscret (1908-19)
Baigneuses au soleil (1908)

Izumi Tateno, piano
Apex 60625-2 72:21

Apart from a period of musical training in Paris with Magnard and d'Indy, Séverac spent his life in the south of France which provided inspiration for his piano compositions. He counted Albéniz and Ravel among his friends, and their influence – and that of Debussy – is evident in these very attractive works.

[ Available on CD: Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan ]

[ Sheet music by this composer: Sheet Music Plus – Musicnotes.com ]