Wolf Harden - Busoni: Piano Music, Vol. 3 (2007)
Wolf Harden - Busoni: Piano Music, Vol. 3 (2007)
WEB FLAC (tracks+booklet) - 226 MB | Tracks: 16 | 69:38 min
Style: Classical | Label: Naxos
WEB FLAC (tracks+booklet) - 226 MB | Tracks: 16 | 69:38 min
Style: Classical | Label: Naxos
Congratulations to Naxos for foregrounding the music of Busoni, a composer often thought of as 'difficult' and hard to approach. This is the third volume - my colleague Christopher Howells has reviewed the second elsewhere . . . .
The Bach transcription is an easy inroad, it has to be said. While the arrangement is undeniably expert, with the Fugue invoking huge sonorities towards the end, it is not that interventionist. Harden plays extremely well, making the Adagio an identifiably first cousin to the slow movement of the famous Italian Concerto. The Fugue is rather peaceful but active.
Of the Three Morceaux, the Scherzo - the first piece - sounds rather slow, almost as if taken at half-speed. It leads to another Prelude and Fugue, the latter an extremely skilful example of its genre. Harden's light touch informs the First Ballet Scene, his light staccato adding an appealing cheekiness to the Second. The Fourth Concert Waltz is parenthesised, 'In the Form of a Concert Waltz' and is bitter-sweet; rather darker than anything so far - especially so towards its close. The Tanzwalzer is similarly half-lit, exploring its territory even more, veering on the hallucinatory at times.
The Indian Diary is one of Busoni's most famous pieces. If it appeals you might wish to explore the Indianische Fantasie on Chandos 10302 played by Nelson Goerner on a superbly recorded disc that also includes the Brautwahl Suite. Harden finds the quirky side of the first movement ('Corn Blossom'), the sweetness of the 'Bluebird Song' and makes the final 'Passamaquoddy Dance Song' remarkably broad-shouldered.
The recording (Potton Hall) is good, if perhaps a tad light. A fascinating disc, with a value-for-money playing time.
Tracklist:
01. Toccata (Preludio)
02. Adagio (Intermezzo)
03. Fugue
04. Scherzo, Op. 4
05. Prelude and Fugue, Op. 5: Prelude
06. Prelude and Fugue, Op. 5: Fugue
07. Ballet Scene No. 1, Op. 6
08. Ballet Scene No. 2 in F Major, Op. 20
09. No. 1. Waffentanz (Contrapuntal Dance Piece)
10. No. 2. Friedenstanz (Ballet Scene No. 3)
11. Ballet Scene No. 4 in the Form of a Concert Waltz, Op. 33a
12. Tanzwalzer, Op. 53 (arr. M. von Zadora for piano)
13. I. Corn Blossom: Allegretto
14. II. Song of Victory: Vivace
15. III. Bluebird Song : Corngrinding Song: Andante
16. IV. Passamaquoddy Dance Song, "The Broad Mississippisave": Maestoso ma andando
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