John McCabe - Hindemith: Ludus Tonalis & Suite "1922" (1996)

Tracklist

01. Ludus Tonalis: I. Praeludium. Moderate – Arioso, Quiet – Slow – Solemn, Broad
02. Ludus Tonalis: II. Fuga Prima in C. Slow
03. Ludus Tonalis: III. Interludium. Moderate, with Energy
04. Ludus Tonalis: IV. Fuga Secunda in G. Gay
05. Ludus Tonalis: V. Interludium. Pastorale, Moderate
06. Ludus Tonalis: VI. Fuga Tertia in F. Andante
07. Ludus Tonalis: VII. Interludium. Scherzando
08. Ludus Tonalis: VIII. Fuga Quarta in A. With Energy – Slow, grazioso – Tempo primo
09. Ludus Tonalis: IX. Interludium. Fast
10. Ludus Tonalis: X. Fuga Quinta in E. Fast
11. Ludus Tonalis: XI. Interludium. Moderate
12. Ludus Tonalis: XII. Fuga Sexta in E-Flat. Quiet
13. Ludus Tonalis: XIII. Interludium. March
14. Ludus Tonalis: XIV. Fuga Septima in A-Flat. Moderate
15. Ludus Tonalis: XV. Interludium. Very Broad
16. Ludus Tonalis: XVI. Fuga Octava in D. With Strength
17. Ludus Tonalis: XVII. Interludium. Very Fast
18. Ludus Tonalis: XVIII. Fuga Nona in B-Flat. Moderate, scherzando
19. Ludus Tonalis: XIX. Interludium. Very Quiet
20. Ludus Tonalis: XX. Fuga Decima in D-Flat. Moderately Fast, grazioso
21. Ludus Tonalis: XXI. Interludium. Allegro pesante
22. Ludus Tonalis: XXII. Fuga Undecima in B (Canon). Slow
23. Ludus Tonalis: XXIII. Interludium. Valse
24. Ludus Tonalis: XXIV. Fuga Duodecima in F-Sharp. Very Quiet
25. Ludus Tonalis: XXV. Postludium. Solemn, Broad – Arioso, Quiet – Moderate
26. 1922, Suite for Piano, Op. 26: I. Marsch
27. 1922, Suite for Piano, Op. 26: II. Shimmy
28. 1922, Suite for Piano, Op. 26: III. Nachtstück
29. 1922, Suite for Piano, Op. 26: IV. Boston
30. 1922, Suite for Piano, Op. 26: V. Ragtime

Ludus Tonalis is that great work of intellectual gymnastics which has been called a '20th-century composer's reappraisal of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier', but its twelve fugues and their interludes are notable equally for their emotion as for their (indisputable) logic. The work represents a musical statement of Hindemith's theories yet in it we encounter one of the most adventurous works for solo piano of the twentieth century.

The Suite '1922' has five movements which stylize various American popular dance themes, each featuring Hindemith's characteristically cavalier use of traditional harmony and Satie-like instructions to the performer: 'Regard the piano here as an interesting percussion instrument ...'

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