Kodály: Complete Piano Music

1. Dances of Marosszék for orchestra or piano
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

2. Háry János-Suite, Op 35a/1-6, complete Dal (Song)
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

3. Háry János-Suite, Op 35a/1-6, complete Közjáték (Intermezzo)
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

4. Háry János-Suite, Op 35a/1-6, complete Bécsi harangjáték (Viennese clock)
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

5. Valsette for piano
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

6. Pieces (9) for piano, Op 3
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

7. Little Canons (24) on the Black Keys
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

8. Dances of Galánta for orchestra
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

9. Pieces (7) for piano, Op 11/1-7, complete
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

10. Meditation on a motive of Claude Debussy for piano
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

11. Gyermektáncok (Children's Dances), for piano
Composed by Zoltan Kodaly
with Adam Fellegi

Tracks:

Pelimannit-Fiddlers, Op. 1: Narbolaisten braa speli
Pelimannit-Fiddlers, Op. 1: Kopsin Jonas
Pelimannit-Fiddlers, Op. 1: Klocker Samuel Dikstrom
Pelimannit-Fiddlers, Op. 1: Pirun polska
Pelimannit-Fiddlers, Op. 1: Hypyt
Divertimento: Allegro
Divertimento: Adagio
Divertimento: Allegretto ma energico
Suite For Strings: Presto
Suite For Strings: Andante
Suite For Strings: Vivace assai (Alla giga)
Hommage a Liszt Ferenc
An Epitaph For Bela Bartok (Prelude and Fugue)
Hommage a Kodaly Zoltan

Tracks:

Canto I
Canto II
Canto III
Canto IV
Ballad for Harp and Strings
A Finnish Myth
Ostrobothnian Polska

Amazon.com

The music of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928) is a wily mix of regional Romanticism and many of the European trends in atonality that began in the 1950s. Yet Rautavaara's music is both endurable by and accessible to the first-time listener. This two-CD set of works for string orchestra appeared on two Ondine discs, both released in 1995. It offers a wide range of works that highlight Rautavaara's compositional strengths and musical interests. Disc one contains his tone poems, works that tend toward the Romanticism of Sibelius, especially Pelimannit--The Fiddlers (1952) and the gorgeous Divertimento (1953). Disc two contains the more acerbic compositions of the latter part of the 20th century. Best here are Ballad for Harp and Strings (1973/1981) and Canto IV (1992). If you missed the original releases of this music, then track this one down. It's a must for Rautavaara fans. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

It all started with his 3rd Symphony and "Cantus Arcticus.".......2001-10-24

It started innocently enough. Approximately a year and a half ago, I had barely - if that - a subliminal awareness of Einojuhani Rautavaara as a "contemporary" composer, one of a large number of present-day Finnish composers. (There is something weirdly wonderful about such a small country having such a large number of active - and recognized - composers, but that is a whole 'nother story.)

In the intervening 18 months, that initial hearing of Rautavaara's music (on a Naxos release which I review elsewhere at Amazon.com) led me to become pretty much a Rautavaara "compleatist." As I write this, there are very few holes in my library of his music, and I figure that those holes will be plugged rather quickly. He's had that kind of effect on me.

This double-CD album of Rautavaara's complete works for string orchestra is the latest release by Ondine, the Finnish label which has an exclusive contract for first recorded performances of his works. The compositional period covered almost matches Rautavaara's career, in that dates for the various works cover the period 1952 - 1993. The album provides, as a result, an excellent overview of how his style has changed throughout his career, from Stravinsky-like neoClassicism in the earlier works to his mature evocative "Angels" style of his later works.

The album begins - logically enough - with his Op. 1, Pelimannit ("The Fiddlers" [1952]), a whacky riot of fun with its occasional off-tune fiddling. The next two works (Divertimento [1953] and Suite for Strings [1952]) clearly suggest the neoClassicism of Stravinsky (an early idol of Rautavaara's), but it is also possible to read into these works the sound worlds of both Britten and Respighi in the ways that they evoked earlier styles. Taken together, these three youthful works capture Rautavaara's early style, which goes down very easily in its accessibility.

The next set of three works - homages to the three most famous Hungarian composers (Liszt, Bartók and Kodály) - may not have been intentionally meant to suggest the Ugric ties between the languages of these two countries (Finland and Hungary). These three pieces do capture, however obliquely, various aspects of the three composers' styles, with the Hommage à Kodály Zoltán being the most "Hungarian-sounding." A somewhat more challenging triptych than the first three works, but not at all inaccessible.

The four Cantos opening the second CD show how, over time, Rautavaara developed a post-modernist "late period" style that synthesized many of his earlier styles (including serial, or twelve-tone, efforts). The two earlier Cantos begin to show his unique approach to serialism that was more fully realized in his echt-Bruckner 3rd Symphony; they put the lie to twelve-tone music being "unlistenable." The two later Cantos show Rautavaara's evocatively rhapsodic "Angels" style in full bloom, as do the following two pieces (Ballad for Harp and Strings, and A Finnish Myth).

The album comes full-circle with the final work, Ostrobothnian Polksa, more good cheer in the vein of the Op. 1 opening work. I think that opening work will hook you, and that the balance of this comprehensive album will be equally enjoyable. I may be a Rautavaara compleatist, but this album will be immensely appealing to all who hear it. And do check out that Naxos album I mention at the outset of these comments. That's a great one as well.

Bob Zeidler

Average customer rating:

Kodály: Complete Piano Music

Manufacturer: Hungaroton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000309S
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Average customer rating:

A must-have.

3 Complete Works by Kodály

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000169I
Release Date: 1994-01-04

Tracks:

Dances Of Marosszek
Meditation Sur Un Motif De Claude Debussy
I. Lento
II. Lament From Szekel. Rubato, Parlando
III. 'Il Pleut Dans Mon Coeur Comme Il Pleut Sur La Ville'. Allegretto Malinconico
IV. Epitaph. Rubato
V. Tranquillo
VI. Folk-Song From Szekel. Poco Rubato
VII. Rubato
Apres Une Lecture Du Dante
Soneto 104 Del Petrarca

Amazon.com

Kodály, alas, wrote very little music for the piano; I believe his only piano music not included here is a set of pieces for children. I lament the lack of piano music because the Dances--a collection of genuine folk dances intelligently worked into a medley that has shape and even substance--is one of the most entertaining piano pieces of the 20th century. The Seven Pieces are also first-rate Kodály: mostly small piano pieces with Hungarian folk flavor. I don't know where Bis finds all these excellent, obscure musicians, but László Simon, whoever he is, plays Kodály brilliantly and Liszt just as well. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

A must-have........2007-07-17

Sometimes, I think to myself that the enviable geographic place of Hungary in the map has defined a particular vision respect the music, because that country is just in the frontier between the Slavic airs, the Mediterranean breezes and the inherited refinement of the Austrian Hungarian Empire. This resultant makes the Hungarian music be the perfect balance and the coveted equilibrium between force and expression.

The Hungarian pianists are endowed of a well featured touch of class, colossal technique, well rounded phrasing and even genetic lyricism that allow them to sound so natural, with that natural brightness joined to a lavish sense of deep feeling around the musical structure they perform.

Lazlo Smon is one of the most prominent pianists of the raising Hungarian generation. In particular, Kodaly 's piano music has always regarded as minor and even overlooked for most of well renowned pianists. Similar opinions prevail on Chabrier, Bax, Enesco or Sinding just to carve in relief some other names. They foget the unequaled charm these composers have reside in the universe of their vision, that nothing has to do with the giants of the keyboard but with that sense of miniaturist charm, typical of reduced halls of concert, composed for other goals so different of long breath compositions.

But if besides, you consider these two famous works of Franz Liszt you may understand why this album is so rewarding.