These pieces represent a special notebook of the fin de siécle and the beginning of the twentieth century

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) wrote several operettes, countless songs and even a string quartet, but never touted himself as an important composer; nevertheless, he made a huge contribution to the broadening of the violin repertoire with his transcriptions, arrangements, and, last but not least, his own original works. Some of these little pieces became wildly popular almost the moment they were written, appearing in the programme of almost all the important violinists of the time. Kreisler's seductive tone, his particular vibrato, his portamento never breaching the boundaries of good taste, are first-hand remnants of the magic of the Viennese Secession, of the musical Babel of Austria-Hungary in its final years of peace. These pieces, short or sometimes more extended ones, represent a special 'notebook' of the fin de siécle and the beginning of the twentieth century, perhaps one of the most interesting periods in music history. They reflect the mood of the era just as in his time Franz Liszt, with his transcriptions and paraphrases. No wonder their popularity outlived the changes in period, style, and approach.
A multifaceted musician, Kreisler was also an excellent pianist, he stands out for the extremely high quality of the piano accompaniments in his pieces, the vast majority of which require great technical skill and interpretative insight. Even at first sight, these piano parts strike one as the work of a pianist himself, at least as far as being able to match the music written with his own physiological and auditory experiences.
His piano parts are far from being sight-reading material, and require thorough and subtle preparation. Hardly a single one of his pieces has an accompaniment lacking in precision or minute detail. The textures show his orchestral thinking yet never become unplayably difficult; but the pianist cannot get by without hard work, and even regular experimentation.
(based on the booklet text by Zoltán Kocsis)

Track Listing

• Tambourin chinois, Op. 3
• Chanson Louis XIII et Pavane (in the style of Louis Couperin [1626-1661])
• Allegretto (in the style of Luigi Boccherini [1743-1805])
• Slavonic Dance, No. 2
• Dirge of the North
• Liebesleid
• Liebesfreud
• Schön Rosmarin
• Syncopation
• Rondino on a Theme of Beethoven
• Indian Lament
• Marche miniature viennoise
• Humoreske, Op. 101, No. 7
• La Gitana (Arabic-Spanish Gypsy-Song from the 18th century)
• Gypsy Caprice
• Andante cantabile, Op. 11 (from the Quartet in D)
• Toy Soldier's March
• Recitativo und Scherzo-Caprice, Op. 6
• Midnight Bells (Der Opernball)
• Caprice viennois, Op. 2
• Praeludium und Allegro (in the style of Gaetano Pugnani [1731-1798])

Additional Details

Label: BMC Records

Genre: Classical

Language: English

Run Time: 75:20 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 04/07/17

UPC: 5998309302503