Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL279
Release Date: 2010-09-15
Joan Yarbrough, piano; Robert Cowan, piano
In August, 1973, Yarbrough and Cowan gave the world premiere of Wallingford Riegger's Variations for Two Pianos and Orchestra with the Peninsula Festival Orchestra under the direction of Thor Johnson, at Fish Creek, Wisc. This work bears the opus number 54b. Riegger's original Op. 54 is the version for one piano and orchestra. Like Brahms, Ravel and the American Ruggles, Riegger liked to re-arrange his music for several different combinations of instruments. Op. 54a is the version. for two pianos alone. It is, in any version, one of the most successful compositions from the last decade of Riegger's life, being elegant, witty and highly pianistic.
Vincent Persichetti's Concerto and Serenade for One Piano, Four Hands are well known but this Sonata is his only work for two pianos, which is unfortunate, considering its great elegance and feeling for the medium. It is almost a sonatina in form, each of its four movements being brief and concise, without extended development.
Nicolai Berezowsky's Fantasy was first composed in the version that appears on this recording. A year later, he composed an arrangement for two pianos and orchestra which is also in the repertory of Yarbrough and Cowan. It is in both cases, a big, delightfully splashy work, filled with heroic neoromanticism.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
In August, 1973, Yarbrough and Cowan gave the world premiere of Wallingford Riegger's Variations for Two Pianos and Orchestra with the Peninsula Festival Orchestra under the direction of Thor Johnson, at Fish Creek, Wisc. This work bears the opus number 54b. Riegger's original Op. 54 is the version for one piano and orchestra. Like Brahms, Ravel and the American Ruggles, Riegger liked to re-arrange his music for several different combinations of instruments. Op. 54a is the version. for two pianos alone. It is, in any version, one of the most successful compositions from the last decade of Riegger's life, being elegant, witty and highly pianistic.
Vincent Persichetti's Concerto and Serenade for One Piano, Four Hands are well known but this Sonata is his only work for two pianos, which is unfortunate, considering its great elegance and feeling for the medium. It is almost a sonatina in form, each of its four movements being brief and concise, without extended development.
Nicolai Berezowsky's Fantasy was first composed in the version that appears on this recording. A year later, he composed an arrangement for two pianos and orchestra which is also in the repertory of Yarbrough and Cowan. It is in both cases, a big, delightfully splashy work, filled with heroic neoromanticism.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Modern Music for Two Pianos
| MP3/320 | $7.99 | |
| FLAC | $7.99 | |
| WAV | $7.99 | |
| CD-R | $7.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Tema - Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. I. Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. II. Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. III. Lento, Vivo
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. IV. Moderately Fast
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. V. Lightly
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. VI. Andante eroico
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. VII. Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. VIII. Without Accent, Like a Will o'-the Wisp
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. IX. Lazily
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. X. Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. XI. Moderato
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Interlude
Wallingford Riegger
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Variations for Two Pianos, Op. 54: Var. XII. Veloce, e Coda, Allegro
Wallingford Riegger
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Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 13: I. Lento
Vincent Persichetti
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Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 13: II. Allegro
Vincent Persichetti
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Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 13: III. Largo
Vincent Persichetti
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Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 13: IV. Vivace
Vincent Persichetti
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Fantasy for Two Pianos, Op. 9
Nicolai Berezowsky
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