Jonathan Plowright - Stojowski: Music for Piano

Title: Stojowski: Music for Piano Artist: Jonathan Plowright Label: Hyperion Duration: 77:28 Album Type(s): composer biography, performer(s) biography, composition (work) description UPC: 034571174372 Genre: Keyboard Music Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Pensées musicales (2), for piano, Op. 1
   - Mélodie
2. Pensées musicales (2), for piano, Op. 1
   - Prélude
3. Orientales (2), for piano, Op. 10
   - Romance: Sostenuto e con molto espressione
4. Orientales (2), for piano, Op. 10
   - Caprice: Allegro assai
5. Chant D'amour, for piano, Op. 26/3
6. Thème Cracovien Varié, for piano, Op. 26/4
7. Fantasie for piano, Op. 38
8. Aspirations, for piano, Op. 39
   - No. 1. L'aspiration vers l'azur (Prélude)
9. Aspirations, for piano, Op. 39
   - No. 3. L'aspiration vers le caprice (Intermède)
10. Aspirations, for piano, Op. 39
    - No. 4. L'aspiration vers l'amour (Romance)
11. Aspirations, for piano, Op. 39
    - No. 5. L'aspiration vers la joie (Rhapsodie)
12. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Theme: Andante con moto
13. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 1: Maestoso
14. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 2: Poco più mosso
15. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 3: Andante assai
16. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 4: Allegro agitato
17. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 5: Non troppo presto ma con fuoco
18. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 6: Vivace
19. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 7: Presto
20. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 8: Lento, ma non troppo, rubato
21. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 9: Andantino con moto
22. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Variation 10: Allegro moderato
23. Variations et Fugue sur un thème original, for piano, Op. 42
    - Fugue

The nineteenth century saw thousands of piano compositions published, but not everything that has fallen along the wayside is dross, proved by pianist Jonathan Plowright, who furthers his mission to spread the music of neglected romantic piano composers with this disc of solo works by Zygmunt Stojowski. Polish-born and raised, Stojowski received most of his musical training in France, which explains the French sound of his works, although you will occasionally hear things that bring to mind Russian music. The sensibilities of this music are of the height of the romantic era, but written much later: between 1888 and 1923. Stojowski shows the delicacy of Chopin in the Prélude, Op. 1, and the Chant d'amour, Op. 26, but breaks into the grandeur of Liszt or Alkan. The first Orientale isn't particularly eastern in sound, whereas the second one uses a more exotic scale, reminiscent of "Oriental" works by Russian composers. The Thème cracovien varié begins with the theme simply harmonized, but quickly moves onto skittering, virtuosic variations. Vers la joie has moments of early Debussy, but still is not as harmonically advanced as even Liszt's late works. All of this is not to say that Stojowski is completely imitative of other composers; just that his compositions are not as immediately striking as those of the romantic giants. The Variations and Fugue on an original theme, Op. 39, at the end of the disc demonstrate the breadth of his imagination and skills at pianistic composition, including the use of strange meters (such as the opening 7/4) and the sostenuto pedal. Plowright very adeptly, both technically and musically, performs these pieces, whether playing charmingly simple passages or virtuosic extravagances, making a convincing case for this neglected composer. ~ Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

Name Credits Anthony B. Faulkner Engineer Diane Shaw Photography Elke Hockings Liner Note Translation Isabelle Battioni Liner Note Translation Jeremy Hayes Producer Jonathan Plowright Piano Joseph A. Herter Liner Notes Jozef Mehoffer Cover Art Michael Spring Executive Producer Richard Howard Picture Research Simon Perry Executive Producer Terry Shannon Cover Design Tim Parry Booklet Editor