Marc-André Hamelin - Roslavets: Piano Music (1997)

Tracklist

01. 3 Compositions: No. 1, Adagio. Nobilissimo
02. 3 Compositions: No. 2, Agitato con passione
03. 3 Compositions: No. 3, Allegretto grazioso
04. 3 Etudes: No. 1, Affetamente
05. 3 Etudes: No. 2, Pianissimo. Con dolce maniera
06. 3 Etudes: No. 3, Burlando
07. Piano Sonata No. 1
08. Prelude
09. 2 Compositions: No. 1, Quasi Prélude. Très modéré
10. 2 Compositions: No. 2, Quasi Poème. Lent
11. Piano Sonata No. 2
12. 2 Poems: No. 1, Allegretto – Fervido
13. 2 Poems: No. 2, Moderato – Sempre poco rubato
14. 5 Preludes: No. 1, Andante affettuoso
15. 5 Preludes: No. 2, Allegretto con moto
16. 5 Preludes: No. 3, Lento
17. 5 Preludes: No. 4, Lento
18. 5 Preludes: No. 5, Lento – Rubato
19. Piano Sonata No. 5

Roslavets was the most radical of all Russian musical innovators in the early decades of the twentieth century. His so-called 'new system of tone organization' involves highly original manipulation of 'synthetic chords' and transposition throughout the twelve degrees of the chromatic scale. As for so many composers, the genre of the piano miniature became Roslavets' chosen vehicle for much of this experimentation. The pieces on this recording span much of the composer's mature career, from the Three Compositions of 1914 to the Sonata No 5 of 1923 (the three Sonatas presented here are numbered 1, 2 and 5Nos 3 and 4 are lost). The Three tudes are among the most daunting of piano music around, using as many four staves at moments of emotional climax. (As a point of reference, Roslavets' piano music may best be compared to the later works of his compatriot ScriabinHamelin goes so far as to say 'Scriabin on acid'!)

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