Godowsky: Java Suite

Editorial Reviews
Ricard de La Rosa, Producer - February 2, 2000
A World premiere 5D Mega Bit recording of the complete Java Suite

Album Description
The Bromo Volcano and the Sand Sea at Daybreak

Selected "Top 10 CDs for 2000" by the Philadephia Inquirer.
Esther Budiardjo, Piano
Godowsky: Jave Suite, Tansman: from "Novelettes" Leopld Godowsky: Javea Suite World Premier Recording Part I. Gamelan

Wayang - Purwa (Puppet Shadow Plays)
Hari Besaar (The Great Day)
Part II. Chattering Monkeys at the Sacred Lake of Wendit
Boro Budur in Moonlight
The Bromo Volcano and the Sand Sea at Daybreak
Part III. Three Dances
I. Moderato
II. L'istesso tempo
III. Doppio movimento
The Gardens of Guitenzorg*
In the Streets of Old Batavia
Part IV. In the Kraton
The Ruined Water Castle at Djokja
A Court Pageant in Solo

Alexandre Tansman:
from "Novellettes" World Premiere Recording
No.3 Exotique (Danse Javanaise)
from "Le tour de monde en miniature" World Premier Recording
No. 9 La flûte de bambou dans la forêt de Bandoeng (Java)
No. 10 Le Gamelang de Bali (Waïang - Théâtre d'Ombres

Tracks:

Gamelan
Wayang-Purwa: Puppet Shadow Play
Hari Besaar: The Great Day
Chattering Monkeys At The Sacred Lake Of Wendit
Boro Budur In Moonlight
The Bromo Volcano And The Sand Sea At Daybreak
Three Dances
The Gardens Of Buitenzorg
In The Streets Of Old Batavia
In The Kraton
In The Ruined Water Castle At Djokja
A Court Pageant In Solo
Symphonic Metamorphoses On Themes Of Johann Strauss II No. 3: Wine, Women And Song

Customer Reviews:

The Godowsky Renaissance Continues.......2007-05-12

For many years the piano compositions of Polish-American pianist/composer Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938) languished in obscurity, rarely played or recorded. There was always interest among cognoscenti and among pianists who loved exploring corners of the modern piano repertoire. But there it remained until an upsurge of recordings and performances began perhaps fifteen or twenty years ago. There are now three recordings of his Chopin etude recompositions (and that's what they are: recompositions), prime among which is that of Marc-André Hamelin. And his superb Passacaglia and the Sonata have also been recorded. Rather quietly Naxos's house virtuoso, Konstantin Scherbakov, has been recording what appears to be a complete traversal of the piano works; this CD is Volume 8. And it contains some of the most interesting music to date: the Java Suite (originally entitled 'Phonorama: Tonal Journey for the Pianoforte') and the delectable 'Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Johann Strauss II -- No. 3: Wine, Women and Song'. The latter has been recorded a number of times, the former has only been recorded once, as far as I know, by Esther Budiardjo on ProPiano, a recording I've not heard.

For me by far the most interesting thing here is the Java Suite, an almost 50 minute set of twelve short character pieces whose inspiration was that of the music of the Indonesian island, Java. Written in 1925, Godowsky's suite must have seemed exotic to early listeners. The first piece 'Gamelan' may very well have introduced that word and the sound of gamelan-style music to many westerners. (Of course, French composers in particular had been influenced by this sort of music back in 1889 when a Javanese gamelan played at the Paris World's Fair, and indeed it is notable that much of Godowsky's music necessarily sounds like similar works by Debussy.) Technically much of Godowsky's Java Suite makes use of both whole-tone and pentatonic scales. Thus, even to the untrained ear, the music sounds Eastern.

Among the more striking effects in the Java Suite are the heavily perfumed atmosphere of 'The Gardens of Buitenzorg' ('Buitenzorg' means 'Sans Souci'), the quick repeated-note fourths and fifths of 'Chattering Monkeys at the Sacred Lake of Wendit', the use of Debussyan chords of the ninth in 'Boro Budur in Moonlight' and the stylized gestures of 'A Court Pageant in Solo'. I found myself going back again and again to hear this suite.

Godowsky's delightfully lilting pianistic transformation of Johann Strauss II's 'Wine, Women and Song' is virtuosic in the extreme. Scherbakov tosses it off as if it weren't and stylishly at that. Lucky us.

For anyone even more than a little interested in Godowsky's music, this release is a must. And for those who enjoy exploring unfamiliar 20th-century piano music but who don't cotton to extreme modernism, this release is self-recommending. It should be noted that the formerly full-price Marco Polo label is now selling its new releases at budget price.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Good, not great.
Incredible!
overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano

The Piano Album

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Stephen Hough's New Piano Album
Stephen Hough Piano Collection
York Bowen: Piano Music
Karl Czerny: The Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740
Stephen Hough's English Piano Album

ASIN: B00000C2KC
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Hexentanz
Chant Polonais No. 1 In G 'Maiden's Wish'
The Crimson Petal
The Fuchsia tree
Capriccio In F Minor, Op. 28 No. 6
Minuet In G, Op. 14 No. 4
Nocturne, In B Flat, Op. 16 No. 4
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 2
Melodie In E
Caprice-Burlesque
My Favorite Things
Kashmiri Song
Music Box
The Swan
Papillons
The Gardens Of Buitenzorg- (From 'Java Suite', Book 3)
Waltz In A, Op. 2
En route, Op. 9
Sicilliano, Op. 42 No. 2
Caprice espagnol, Op. 37

Tracks:

Variations Brillantes Op. 14
The Enchanted Nymph
Der Kontrebandiste
Melody In F
Gargoyles, Op. 29: I. Presto
Gargoyles, Op. 29: II. Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
Gargoyles, Op. 29: III. Allegro moderato
Gargoyles, Op. 29: IV. Presto feroce
The Musical Snuffbox
The Musical Snuffbox
Etude de style, Op. 40 No. 1 'Agilite'
Till I Wake
Weep You No More
March Of The Siamese Children
Valse mignone
Serenata, Op. 15 No. 1
Bourree (From Violin Sonata No. 2)
Erinnerungen (Triakontameron No. 25)
Adagietto (From 'L'Arlesienne')
Ungarishe Zigeunerweisen

Customer Reviews:

Good, not great........2002-05-22

I got this double cd, since a fellow reviewer of Hamelin's Kaleidoscope said he couldn't fully endorse that disc, since this cd would be so much better. Wrong again, sewer boy!

Thanks to Arthur Schnabel complete recordings of Sonatas, Concertos and Variation Works have become the mainstay of the recorded piano repertoire. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine that this has not always been the case. Yet, just have a look at the complete Rachmaninov recordings on RCA to see that even this giant mostly recorded little trifles, since the record buyers of his time prefered snacks over meals.

This generous and economic double cd contains a compilation of mostly romantic smaller scale works, that Rachmaninov's clientele would have enjoyed. Some are obscure, others e.g. Ljadov's snuff box and Taussig's Gypsy tunes are pretty well known.

Hough-a man from the splendid 1961 vintage, just like Hamelin and your's truly- is a highly accomplished pianist. His playing is good, yet not up to the Hamelin standards. The repertoire, however, started to bore the hell out of me after a while. I admit, that there are true exceptions like the Liebermann Gargoyles, but for me this set was simply too much of a good thing.

The interpretations vary from decent to good. I used to own an lp of the French virtuoso Setrak, that contained both the Ljadov and Taussig mentioned above and believe you me those interpretations dwarfed what we get here.

In conclusion, a generous compilation of smaller scale pianoworks. Good clean piano playing and more than adequate recordings.

Incredible!.......2001-01-12

I am a pianophile and longtime record collector, and this is one of the most awe-inspiring recordings I have ever heard. Stephen Hough's pianism - and I don't mean to be hyperbolic - simply exhausts all adjectives one might try to use to describe it. This is the kind of album to listen to not so much for the music (though these are charming and now-rarely heard pieces) but for the artistry of the performer. For stunning virtuosity, listen to the final measures of the Moszowski piece or to the MacDowell; for rich tone and melting legato listen to Hough's own transcriptions of the two Roger Quilter songs. Out of hundreds of CDs I have heard, this is one of my absolute favorites - and a steal at the price. Stephen Hough is the modern day Cortot, Gieseking, Rachmaninoff, and Joseph Levine, for he has it all - drama, precision, color, intellect, raw strength, and yes - delicacy. I rarely make recommendations like this, but you absolutely must hear this recording.

overly rich nostalgic pieces and particles of the piano.......2001-01-06

This is music that seems to have lapsed into a forgotten time warp, like when you open that old wood truck in the attic to find odd bits and particles,objects,dolls and photographs that immediately transports you into another fantasia place. That's what this music does. Hough has selected for the most part fast filigreed,rapid cascades and ribbons of pieces. Each however has its own narrative,its own special tale to reveal, a special musical texture,an endearing melody. Needless to say most of the composers here are those you've never heard before,like Ignaz Friedman, whose "Music Box" is not what you think, yes it has that timbre of forever moving tickly tones,for a ballerina popping out of a ceramic box. But there is a large pallette of sophistication here as well with the unique timbre of the piano. Every piece does this admirably. The Hexentanz of MacDowell (arr.Liszt) is a helter-skelter piece never stopping,scaling the upper regions of the keyboard,and this would be an encore work. It keeps you on the edge of your upholstered chair.Leoplold Godowsky is not an unfamiliar name,he is a specialist in the art of the arragement trying to capture a timbre, and here in Camille Saint-Saens forever memorable "Swan"the final days of post-romantic Louis Napoleon the Third era is handled with just a few more ripples in the pond than before almost imperceptible.

Tracks:

Hexentanz
Maiden's Wish, Op. 74, No. 1
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal
Fuchsia Tree, Op. 25, No. 2
Capriccio in F Minor
Minuet in G
Nocturne
Etude in a Flat Major
Melodie in E
Caprice-Burlesque
My Favorite Things
Kahmiri Song
Musical Box
Swan
Papillons
Gardens of Buitenzorg
Waltz
En Route, Op.9
Siciliano
Caprice Espagnol

Customer Reviews:

Stephen Hough is a genius.......2003-09-01

Spectacular pianist. Stephen Hough takes technique to a new level. Crisp, clear notation with beautiful phrasing and unbelievable dexterity. At times, it seems as though these pieces were composed for four-hand piano. This the album which first captivated my ear for Hough.

Just Some Info About This Recording.......1999-05-11

I think the reason this recording is out of stock is that the content is duplicated by the Stephen Hough's CD entitled "The Piano Album". Perhaps it was simply reissued under a different name.

light little pieces, fun but not too serious.......1998-10-17

Hough is definitely good to listen to, and this album is a collection of light little pieces that he can have some fun with. There are quite a few short pieces that are hard to find in other "all time favorite" collections.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Performace
A very welcome CD

Godowsky: Java Suite

Manufacturer: Pro-Piano Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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The Godowsky Edition, Vol. II
Godowsky: Piano Music, Vol. 3
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Kaikhosru Sorabji: 100 Transcendental Studies, Nos. 1-25
Marc-Andre Hamelin: It's All About the Music

ASIN: B00004I9SH
Release Date: 2000-05-26

Tracks:

Java Ste, Part I: 1. Gamelan
Java Ste, Part I: 2. Wayang - Purwa (Puppet Shadow Plays)
Java Ste, Part I: 3. Hari Besaar (The Great Day)
Java Ste, Part II: 4. Chattering Monkeys At The Sacred Lake Of Wendit
Java Ste, Part II: 5. Boro Budur In Moonlight
Java Ste, Part II: 6. The Bromo Volcano And The Sand Sea At Daybreak
Java Ste, Part III: 7. Three Dances: I. Moderato
Java Ste, Part III: 7. Three Dances: II. L'istesso Tempo
Java Ste, Part III: 7. Three Dances: III. Doppio Movt
Java Ste, Part III: 8. The Gardens Of Buitenzorg
Java Ste, Part III: 9. In The Streets Of Old Batavia
Java Ste, Part IV: 10. In The Kraton
Java Ste, Part IV: 11. The Ruined Water Castle At Djokja
Java Ste, Part IV: 12. A Court Pageant In Solo
Novelettes: No.3 Exotique (Danse Javanaise)
Le Tour De Monde En Miniature: No.9 La Fl De Bambou Dans La Foret De Bandoeng (Java)
Le Tour De Monde En Miniature: No.10 Le Gamelang De Bali (Waiang - Threatre D'Ombres)

Album Description

The Bromo Volcano and the Sand Sea at Daybreak

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Performace.......2005-11-05

This album is a real find! The performer has almost everything needed to express this virtuosic yet impressionistic work; A brilliant technique, tonal clarity, sense of structure, and nuance. There is no unnecessary use of rubato.
Along with Ms. Luiza Borac and Jenny Lin, another promising young pianists, Ms. Budiardjo is the one we have to be concerned.

A very welcome CD.......2001-10-20

This CD contains the complete Jave Suite. A nice rendition, and a very welcome CD to funs of Godowsky. I hope it will encourage other music lovers to discover Godowsky's piano music, beyond his celebrated studies on the Chopin Etudes.

Average customer rating:

Godowsky: The Pianists' Pianist

Manufacturer: Appian ( Apr )
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Caprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009J03
Release Date: 1995-12-01

David Saperton Plays Chopin and Godowsky

Average customer rating:

AMAZING RECORDINGS
Excellent, although old recording!

David Saperton Plays Chopin and Godowsky

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003LJ9
Release Date: 1995-11-06

Tracks:

Etudes, Op. 10: No. 1, C Major
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 2, A Minor (Chromatic)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 3, E Major (Grief)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4, C Sharp Minor (Torrent)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 5, G Flat Major (Black Key)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 6, E Flat Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 7, C Major (Toccata)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 8, F Major
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 9, F Minor
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 10, A Flat Major
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 11, E Flat Major (Arpeggio)
Etudes, Op. 10: No. 12, C Minor (Revoutionary)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 1, A Flat Major (Aeolian Harp)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 2, F Minor (Balm)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 3, F Major
Etudes Op. 25: No. 4, A Minor
Etudes Op. 25: No.5, E Minor
Etudes Op. 25: No. 6, G Sharp Minor (Thirds)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 7, C Sarp Minor (Cello)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 8, D Flat Mafor (Sixths)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 9, G Flat Major (Butterfly)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 10, B Monor (Octaves)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 11, A Minor (Winter Wind)
Etudes Op. 25: No. 12, C Minor (Ocean)
Trois nouvelles etudes: No. 1, F Minor
Trois nouvelles etudes: No. 2, A Flat Major
Trois nouvelles etudes: No. 3, D Flat Major

Tracks:

Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 4, A Minor (Ignis Fatuus), On Op. 10 No. 2
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 13, E Flat Minor, On Op. 10 No. 6
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 14, C Major, On Op.10 No. 7
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: zNo. 15, G Flat Major , On Op. 10 No. 7
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 25, A Flat Major, On Op. 25 No. 1
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 25, F Minor , On Op. 25 No.5
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No.33, E Minor, On Op. 25 No. 2
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 36, G Sharp Minor, On Op. 25 No.6
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 47, G Flat Major, (Badinage), On Op.10 No.5 And Op. 25 No. 9
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 48, F Major, On Op. 10 No. 11 And O. 25 No. 3
Studies On The Chopin Etudes: No. 45, E Majodr, On Trois Nouvelles No.2
Trikontameron, Thirty Moods And Scenes In Triple Measure: No. 8, A Watteau Paysage
Trikontameron, Thirty Moods And Scenes In Triple Measure: No. 11, Alt Wien
Trikontameron, Thirty Moods And Scenes In Triple Measure: No. 14, Whitecaps
Trikontameron, Thirty Moods And Scenes In Triple Measure: No. 15, The Temptress
Trikontameron, Thirty Moods And Scenes In Triple Measure: No. 21, Salon
Java Suite. Phonoramas, Tonal Journeys For The Pianoforte: No. 1, Gamelan
Java Suite. Phonoramas, Tonal Journeys For The Pianoforte: No. 4, Chattering Monkeys At The Sacred Lake Of Wendit
Java Suite. Phonoramas, Tonal Journeys For The Pianoforte: No. 9, In The Streets Of Old Batavia
Transcriptions And Paraphrases: Albeniz - Godowsky: Triana, From 'Iberia'
Transcriptions And Paraphrases: Strauss - Godowsky: Symphonic Metamorphosis On Themes From Die Fledermaus
Transcriptions And Paraphrases: Strauss - Godowsky: Symphonic Metamorphosis On The Waltz Artist' Life

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING RECORDINGS.......2003-07-25

There are few recordings of Chopin's Etudes that are really good: NOVAES, POLLINI, ARRAU and WILD are on the top. Unfortunatelly, there are not the complete set with Rubinstein... David SAPERTON plays the Etudes Op 10 & 25 like a Master. The second one from Opus 10 is unbelievable. The other recordings are great too, specially Godowsky's transcriptions. SAPERTON was a legendary pianist, as Godowsky, Horowitz, Rachmaninoff and Hofmann. It is a CD set to any good collection. It is a pleasure to listen to these amazing recordings.

Excellent, although old recording!.......1998-11-30

Played by David Saperton, son-in-law of Leopold Godowsky, these recordings give an insight into the masterpieces of Godowsky as few have done even now. Especially good to hear is the Symphonic Metamorphoses of the Strauss waltzes. The quality of play on these pieces is better than both Earl Wild and Rian de Waal. The album is worth buying for both its historical value (Saperton was a teacher of Abbey Simon and Jorge Bolet), as well as the excellent performance of the Godowsky works.

Average customer rating:

Arthur Loesser in Recital

Manufacturer: Marston
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006368W
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

Arthur Loesser (1894-1969) was better known as a teacher and writer (of Men, Women and Pianos) than as a pianist. But, as these live performances demonstrate, that is an injustice. The first CD comes from a concert of obscure piano music at Town Hall, New York, in 1967. Most of it was issued on LP, but the CD adds works by Clementi and Hummel, played on a fortepiano--quite a rarity at the time. This is a collection of fascinating byways in the history of piano music, played with Loesser's typical elegant command (and with a few amusing remarks). The remainder of the set contains more familiar music (Bach, Haydn, Prokofiev, Chopin), but still includes a few surprises, like obscure sets of variations by Chopin and Beethoven. Loesser's refinement and choice of repertoire mark him as a pianist for connoisseurs, although the joyous outburst at the end of the Bach Fugue in F and the power of Prokofiev's Fifth Sonata make it clear that Loesser had all the pianistic resources he needed for any task. The recordings (mono on the first CD, stereo on the second) sound fine. Not for beginners, perhaps, but pianophiles who buy this set will love it. --Leslie Gerber

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