David Greilsammer – Baroque Conversations (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:04:33 minutes | 486 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: Qobuz | Artwork: Digital Booklet | © Sony Classical
Recorded: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem, 10–12 October 2011
This Sony-label debut release by Israeli pianist David Greilsammer has much in common with his earlier recording Fantasie Fantasme, released on the Naxos label. In fact, here Greilsammer might be said to have refined the ideas on the earlier album. Both combine contemporary and mainstream repertory, and apparently Greilsammer has an inclination toward pretentious graphic design. But here the focus is tightened. Greilsammer constructs a sequence of four Baroque three-movement “pieces,” each consisting of three compositions. Of these sets of three, the outer two are Baroque works, while the center is a contemporary piece, commissioned in two cases by Greilsammer himself from contemporary Israeli composers. Greilsammer balances these works cleverly: the structure of the sets of three is not fast-slow-fast, but not simply random, either; the pieces instead are linked by motive and mood, with the modern work emerging as just a slight shift from what precedes it, and as a logical introduction to the finale. One might make several objections along the way: the Handel Suite for keyboard in D minor, HWV 447, with its four movements, disturbs the plan for no very good reason, and Greilsammer’s readings of the Baroque pieces, especially the opening Gavotte et Six Doubles of Rameau, are a bit too dreamy, a bit too obviously bent to the requirements of the project. Still, there’s no denying that Greilsammer has come closer than most other performers to the grail of integrating contemporary music into a mainstream concert program, and that he has done it in a very inventive way. The combination of a Frescobaldi toccata and the Wiegenmusik of German-born composer Helmut Lachenmann, each with little figures gracefully spinning off an underlying rhythm, is especially effective. Recommended for listeners of a speculative frame of mind. ~~AllMusic Review by James Manheim
Tracklist:
JEAN-PHILLIPPE RAMEAU 1683–1764
1 Gavotte et Six Doubles 9:33
MORTON FELDMAN 1926–1987
2 Piano Piece (1964) 4:01
PADRE ANTONIO SOLER 1729–1783
3 Sonata No.84 in D major 2:45
FRANÇOIS COUPERIN 1668–1733
4 Les Barricades mystérieuses 2:10
MATAN PORAT b.1982
5 Whaam! 7:54
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685–1759
Suite in D minor HWV 447
6 I. Allemande 1:36
7 II. Courante 1:49
8 III. Sarabande 2:36
9 IV. Gigue 0:58
JOHANN JACOB FROBERGER 1616–1667
10 Tombeau de Monsieur Blancrocher 5:57
NIMROD SAHAR b.1978
11 Aux murailles rougies 4:46
ORLANDO GIBBONS 1583–1625
12 Lord Salisbury’s Pavan and Galliard 6:28
GIROLAMO FRESCOBALDI 1583–1643
13 Toccata ottava di durezze e ligature (Il secondo Libro di Toccate) 3:16
HELMUT LACHENMANN b.1935
14 Wiegenmusik 4:15
JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK 1562–1621
15 Mein junges Leben hat ein End’ 6:16
Personnel:
David Greilsammer, piano
Download:
mqs.link_DavidGreilsammerBarqueCnversatins2012Qbuz2444.1.rar