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Sonata For Piano/24 Preludes
Samuel Barber, Richard Cumming, piano John Browning
Sonata For Piano/24 Preludes
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (2) - Disc #1

Barber's "Piano Sonata" (1949) makes use of twelve-tone serialism but contains Barber's signature lyricism. It is considered the most important composition of the second decade of Barber's career and is marked by an intens...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Samuel Barber, Richard Cumming, piano John Browning
Title: Sonata For Piano/24 Preludes
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Phoenix USA
Original Release Date: 1/1/1990
Re-Release Date: 5/27/1997
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Sonatas, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 094629301051

Synopsis

Album Description
Barber's "Piano Sonata" (1949) makes use of twelve-tone serialism but contains Barber's signature lyricism. It is considered the most important composition of the second decade of Barber's career and is marked by an intensity and a bigness of conception that stamp it as a mature work. It was composed on commission from the League of Composers and its first New York performance was on January 24, 1940 by Vladimir Horowitz. The Richard Cumming "Twenty-Four Preludes for Piano" was written for, and premiered by John Browning on December 17, 1969. Mr. Cumming recalls, "Mr. Browning's one request was "make them hard" and I have been led to believe that I have not totally failed him. I tried to explore a variety of pianistic techniques and musical styles ranging from the cafe to strict 12-tone and, to the best on my ability, express my own joy and respect for that lyric, noble and dynamic instrument I dearly love, the piano."

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CD Reviews

An historic performance
Robert L. Berkowitz | Natick, MA United States | 06/18/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Browning's performance of Barber's Piano Sonata inspired the composer to write his concerto for Browning. It is not hard to see why. Browning is a thoughtful interpreter of this music. He has no difficulty with the technical demands and plays this music convincingly. Browning re-recorded the sonata not too long ago on Music Masters label. I prefer this recording to his later one. The sound quality of the new recording is better, but I find this performance to be more attentive to the score, unmannered, thoughtful and exciting.The Preludes by Cumming are interesting listening but do not bring me back to this CD. I listen to this CD for the Barber Sonata."