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Joachim Raff, Liszt’s amanuensis and confidante in Weimar, was one of Germany’s leading composers, a reputation based largely on his symphonic works. But he was prolific in other forms as well, excelling in chamber and vocal music, and especially in numerous and varied compositions for the piano.
The three works on this second volume of Raff’s piano works come from the very pinnacle of his career. The 1871 Fantasie Sonata is a fascinating and richly imaginative hybrid, whilst the Variations on an Original Theme is marked by fertility of invention. The Four Piano Pieces exemplifies Raff’s gift for lyricism and characterisation.
Joachim Raff: Fantasie-Sonate, Op. 168
I. Allegro patetico
II. Largo
III. Allegro molto
Joachim Raff: Variationen uber ein Originalthema, Op. 179
Andante
Thema
Variation 1: L'istesso tempo
Variation 2: L'istesso tempo
Variation 3: Allegro assai
Variation 4: L'istesso tempo
Variation 5: Meno mosso
Variation 6: L'istesso tempo
Variation 7: L'istesso tempo
Variation 8: Tranquillo
Variation 9: L'istesso tempo
Variation 10: Veloce leggiero
Variation 11: L'istesso tempo
Variation 12: Piu mosso
Variation 13: Moderato
Variation 14: Moderato
Variation 15: Allegro molto
Variation 16: L'istesso tempo
Variation 17: L'istesso tempo
Variation 18: Adagio
Variation 19: Doppio movimento
Variation 20: Doppio movimento
Finale: Moderato maestoso
Joachim Raff: 4 Pieces, Op. 196
No. 1. Im Schilf
No. 2. Berceuse
No. 3. Novelette
No. 4. Impromptu
October 2012
“Tra Nguyen makes the best possible case for all these works and has been well recorded on a splendidly voiced Steinway at Wyastone.”
I. Allegro patetico
