Search - Nikolai Medtner; Sergei rachmaninoff, Saida Kafarova :: Works For Piano

Medtner and Rachmaninov: Two Friends Two different in personalities and values, Medtner and Rachmaninov were close friends throughout their lives. Medtner was a true poet of the piano, writing exclusively for his favorite instrument. He composed fourteen Sonatas for piano and over thirty "Fairy Tales." Believing that he was inspired by God, he possessed an incredible creativity which allowed him to write a multitude of beautiful themes and melodies without ever repeating himself. The texture of his works is mostly polyphonic, with layers and melodies in rich profusion. Rachmaninov, however, was interested in conducting, performing and composing for different instruments and genres. After leaving Russia, Rachmaninov exhausted his sources of melodic imagination and frequently based his compositions on a tune by another composer or on folk music. For the piano, he wrote Preludes, Musical Moments, and two Sonatas. Rachmaninov uses a more homophonic approach, so his themes---beautiful, singing and expansive---are much easier to comprehend and memorize than those of Medtner. This album put the pieces by these two dear friends together, so the listeners could enjoy such similar yet different approach to the piano writing.