Murray McLachlan – Alto CD

Nikolai MYASKOVSKY (1881-1950) Piano Sonatas Nos. 4, 5, Sonatine, Prelude

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:41:29 +0000

“the playing – intelligent and competent as before……the Fourth Sonata is at least, by my reckoning, easily the finest of the six….capturing the idealistic fervour of the early Soviet era in an idiom coloured by Scriabin, Prokofiev…..this is precisely the kind of enterprise that young artists and small companies should be encouraged to pursue.” ((c) Gramophone) “middle of the Sonatine is dark and pessimistic, quite haunting. McLachlan writes of the “enormous tactile pleasure” for the performer…his playing is both authoratative and persuasive. Perhaps this is the record to try first as both the sonatas .. are of interest and substance” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Sonata No.4 in C minor Op.27 (revised version)

1. Allegro moderato 12:34
2. Andante non troppo quasi Sarabanda 8:16
3. Allegro con brio 7:23

Sonatine in E minor Op.57

4. Moderato 7:39
5. Narrante e lugubre 6:04
6. Molto vivo ed agitato 3:34

Sonata No.5 in B major Op.64 No.1 (revised version)

7. Allegretto 5:19
8. Largo espressivo 6:28
9. Vivo 3:00
10. Allegro energico 6:25
11. Prelude & Rondo-sonata, Op.58 “Song & Rhapsody” 7:01

Khachaturian: Piano Music

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:38:04 +0000

“Toccata is a frequent concert encore…. At 80 minutes, this CD offers all of (Khachaturian’s) piano music with (two minor) exceptions….Sonatina very touching as are the Ten Children’s Pieces….Murray McLachlan…is a persuasive guide” ((c) Penguin Guide)

[1] Toccata (1932) 4:44
[2] Poem (1927) 9:22

Two Pieces (1926) (3:33)

[3] I. Valse-caprice 2:09
[4] II. Dance 1:22

Sonatina (1959) (8:51)

[5] I. Allegro giacoso 1:44
[6] II. Andante con anima,
rubato 3:53
[7] III. Allegro mosso 3:10

Ten Children’s Pieces (1964)

[8] I. Skipping rope 0:31
[9] II. An Evening Tale 1:33
[10] III. Oriental Dance 1:08
[11] IV. Barsik on the Swings 1:04

Ten Children’s Pieces (cont.)

[12] V. Playing the Tambourine 1:32
[13] VI. Two Funny Aunties
Quarrelling

1:18

[14] VII. Funeral Procession 3:45
[15] VIII. Rhythmic Gymnastics 1:05
[16] IX. Toccata 2:13
[17] X. Fugue 2:07

Sonata (1961 original version)

[18] I. Allegro vivace 7:48
[19] II. Andante tranquillo 13:38
[20] III. Allegro assai 9:16
[21] Waltz from “Maskarade” 4:15

Dmitri Kabalevsky: 24 Preludes and Other Piano Works

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:36 +0000

“McLachlan makes a persuasive case for the 24 Preludes, Op.38. Each is based on a folk-tune, and in No.13 (f-sharp minor) we encounter the theme made famous by Stravinsky in the closing bars of Firebird. McLachlan does the set with great fluency and clarity of articulation… also giving us two of Kabalevsky’s best-known piano pieces, the Sonatina and the Piano Sonata No.3 with its Prokofievian middle movement.

Dmitri Kabalevsky was one of the Soviet Union’s greatest musical figures; a popular composer, whose music for children is partuicularly popular, and a prolific composer of piano music and chamber music, whose champions included no less a figure than Vladimir Horowitz. Pianist Murray McLachlan plays Kabalevsky’s brash, entertaining Preludes and two of his acclaimed major piano works in this much-requested recording from the Olympia catalogue, available again at a value price.

Dmitri Kabalevsky

24 Preludes, Op.38

1 – Prelude No.1 in C Major, Andantino
2 – Prelude No.2 in a minor, Scherzando
3 – Prelude No.3 in G Major, Vivace leggiero
4 – Prelude No.4 in e minor, Andantino
5 – Prelude No.5 in D Major, Andante sostenuto
6 – Prelude No.6 in b minor, Allegro molto
7 – Prelude No.7 in A Major, Moderato e tranqillo
8 – Prelude No.8 in f-sharp minor, Andante non troppo
9 – Prelude No.9 in E Major, Allegretto scherzando
10 – Prelude No.10 in c-sharp minor, Non troppo allegro ma agitato
11 – Prelude No.11 in B Major, Vivace scherzando
12 – Prelude No.12 in g-sharp minor, Adagio
13 – Prelude No.13 in fisharp minor, Allegro non troppo
14 – Prelude No.14 in E-flat minor, Prestissimo possibile
15 – Prelude No.15 in D-flat Major, Allegro marcato
16 – Prelude No.16 in B-flat minor, Allegro tenebroso
17 – Prelude No.17 in A-flat Major, Andante tranquillo
18 – Prelude No.18 in f minor, Largamente con gravita
19 – Prelude No.19 in E-flat Major, Allegretto
20 – Prelude No.20 in c minor, Andantino semplice
21 – Prelude No.21 in B flat Major, Festivamente non troppo allegro
22 – Prelude No.22 in g minor, Scherzando non troppo allegro
23 – Prelude No.23 in F Major, Andante sostenuto
24 – Prelude No.24 in d minor, Allegro feroce

Sonatina in C major, Op.13 No.1
Piano Sonata No.3, Op.46

Recorded at Holmbury St. Mary Church Hall
Producer: Keith Warren
Engineer: Keith Warren
Remastering: Paul Arden-Taylor
Originally released on Olympia