Name: Berkeley, L. / Berkeley, M.: Piano Works par Margaret Fingerhut
Brand: Margaret Fingerhut
SKU: 095115124727
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (161 reviews)

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Lennox Berkeley isn't that well-known outside of Great Britain, and even when he is known, he is thought of a lightweight composer. As far as mid-twentieth century piano music goes, his is not as "challenging" as many other contemporary composers' works, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting. His works are more polytonal than atonal; his harmonies are similar to those of the Impressionists and the neo-Classicists; and his textures are generally translucent. What really infuses his music is a sense of character in his melodies, particularly in the shorter works like the Preludes, Op. 23, something Margaret Fingerhut brings out wonderfully. Fingerhut also brings out a sweetness in the slower works, such as the "Berceuse" of Three Pieces, Op. 2, and Paysage. The Mazurkas, an homage to Chopin, are very much like Chopin's, but without the ornamentation and with sunnier, or at least less doleful, moods. Fingerhut is extremely sympathetic to Berkeley's use of thematic material, always projecting the melody, but also finding countermelodies effortlessly. This use of themes and counter-themes is what makes the Sonata, the most complex piece here, notable. It also shows off his sense of significant contrast -- between moods, dynamics, rhythms -- both within a movement and between movements. And in many ways, Strange Meeting, by Berkeley's son Michael, which rounds out the disc, is similar to that Sonata. The second movement of Strange Meeting is so multi-dimensionally varied, it really gets your attention. It is then contrasted with a movement that is almost completely opposite: quiet, steady, stable. His music is a little more atonal than his father's, but otherwise, this piece fits quite well with the rest of the disc. Fingerhut has given us a nice introduction to the music of an overlooked composer.

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Berkeley, L. / Berkeley, M.: Piano Works

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1. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 1, Allegro

2. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 2, Andante

3. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 3, Allegro moderato

4. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 4, Allegretto

5. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 5, Allegro

6. 6 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 6, Andante

7. 3 Pieces, Op. 2: No. 1, Etude: Allegro moderato

8. 3 Pieces, Op. 2: No. 2, Berceuse. Allegretto

9. 3 Pieces, Op. 2: No. 3, Capriccio: Allegro

10. Paysage

11. Scherzo, Op. 32, No. 2

12. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 20: I. Moderato - Poco meno mosso - Lento

13. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 20: II. Presto

14. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 20: III. Adagio

15. Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 20: IV. Introduction - Allegro - Tempo del introduzione - Allegro

16. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 32, No. 1, "Hommage a Chopin": No. 1, Allegro

17. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 32, No. 1, "Hommage a Chopin": No. 2, Allegretto

18. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 32, No. 1, "Hommage a Chopin": No. 3, Allegro - Un poco meno vivo - Tempo I

19. Improvisation on a Theme of Manuel de Falla, Op. 55, No. 2

20. Concert Study, Op. 48, No. 2

21. Strange Meeting: I. Quarter note = 54 (fairly free) - Calmo

22. Strange Meeting: II. Quarter note = 84 - Maestoso - Animato - Un poco meno mosso - Presto —

23. Strange Meeting: III. Andante = quarter note = 56 - Adagio - Un poco più mosso

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