Piano Dance: A 20th-Century Portrait

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For sheer entertainment value, it's hard to find a classical CD that will beat this one. Gloria Cheng has chosen an astonishing variety of 20th-century piano music with nothing in common except brevity and dance origins. The disc is full of familiar pieces (Debussy, Scriabin, Ravel, Prokofiev) and entertaining novelties (Albright, Martinu, Poulenc, Ginastera). Donald R. Davis's exercise in creative plagiarism, "Illicit Felicity," rates a special mention for its ingenuity. But really, unless you're allergic to Philip Glass, there isn't a loser on the entire program. Cheng plays brilliantly, with appropriate special emphasis on the dance rhythms of the music, and Telarc's sound engineering is typically realistic. It ain't profound, but this is still a marvelous program. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Vitebsk, Study On A Jewish Theme
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: I. Allegro vivace
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: II. Lento
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: III. Finale
Piano Quartet: I. Adagio serio
Piano Quartet: II. Allegro giusto
Piano Quartet: III. Non troppo lento
Duo For Flute And Piano: I. Flowing
Duo For Flute And Piano: II. Poetic, Somewhat Mournful
Duo For Flute And Piano: III. Lively, With Bounce

Tracks:

Lincoln Portrait - CARL SANDBURG
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: I. Nature, The Greatest Mother
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: II. There Came A Wind Like A Bugle
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: III. Why Do They Shut Me Out Of Heaven?
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: The World Feels Dusty
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: V. Heart, We Will Forget Him
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VI. Dear March, Come In!
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VII. Sleep Is Supposed To Be
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VIII. When They Come Back
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: IX. I Felt A Funeral In My Brain
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: X. I've Heard An Organ Talk Sometimes
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XI. Going To Heaven!
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XII. The Chariot
Old American Songs (Set 1): The Boatmen's Dance (Minstrel Song, 1843)
Old American Songs (Set 1): The Dodger (Campaign Song)
Old American Songs (Set 1): Long Time Ago
Old American Songs (Set 1): Simple Gifts (Shaker Song)
Old American Songs (Set 1): I Bought Me A Cat
Old American Songs (Set 2): The Little Horses (Lullaby)
Old American Songs (Set 2): Zion's Walls (Revivalist Song)
Old American Songs (Set 2): The Golden Willow Tree
Old American Songs (Set 2): At The River (Hymn Tune)
Old American Songs (Set 2): Ching-A-Ring Chaw (Minstrel Song)
Billy The Kid: I. The Open Prairie - Oscar Levant
Billy The Kid: II. Street In A Frontier Town - Oscar Levant
Billy The Kid: V. Celebration Dance (After Billy's Capture) - Oscar Levant

Customer Reviews:

Terrific vocal talents for Copland's music.......2002-08-08

This second Copland collection focuses on unique talents of veteran performers.

William Warfield lends his voice and his interpretations of Copland's Old American Songs, and he sings them as they were meant to be, not as classical diletantes felt they should be. You have authenticity here.

Martha Lipton likewise contributes an older world charm and charisma to Copland's settings for Emily Dickenson's words.

Carl Sandberg's resonant reading of his own words is worth the full price of this set.

And then the inimitable Oscar Levant's piano treatment of the orchestral pieces...Levant had a wry touch to his interpretations that gave him a voice all his own.

There's much more here, quite a bit that's less than familiar and therefore increases one's familiarity with Copland.

finally sandburg's lincoln portrait.......2001-08-17

For all those like myself who have waited a decade for "A Lincoln Portrait" with Carl Sandburg's narration on CD, here it is finally! Sandburg's heartfelt reading of Lincoln's words is easily the most inspired and inspiring of the legions of others whose voices have been recorded. The orchestration by Kostelanetz also vastly surpasses others. Compare Henry Fonda's reading for example to see a poorly mixed tape where the narrator's voice is overwhelmed by the orchestra.

Wow! Pretty Good Deal.......2001-03-13

I was surprised to find two CDs of such quality being sold for the price of one. It also contained many hard to find Copland works.

Vitebsk is exciting. Strings do much of the work here. The music is very unique to any other Copland works. Definitely here a sample of this.

The Sextet is very interesting. The combination of strings and piano is a prefect balance along with the clarinet doing much of the harmony. It is the same song though as Copland's 2nd symphony, the 'short' one.

Duo for Flute and Piano is fun and happy. The 1st movement fluctuates quite a bit in the feeling but is a very nice combination. The second movement is slightly morbid but the feeling of happy hi ho is not lost. The 3rd movement is light and bouncy and can be described as typical Copland.

Lincoln Portrait is powerful. Though I don't see how it fits on this CD has a rarity or a chamber work. It is the besy Lincoln P. I've ever heard though.

Old American Songs and Poems of Emily Dickinson are not that good though. It's a vocalist and a piano accompanyingthe vocalist. The vocalists are not that good and I felt needed to feel the music a little more. Thomas Hampson and Dawn Upshaw made a CD with these songs which is much better (the only problem is that that CD only has 8 of the 12 Emily Dickinson Songs).

Billy the Kid was a nice way to finish off. It's just a few excerpts played on solo piano. It was interesting hearing the piece performed this way.

Tracks:

Scherzo Humoristique: The Cat and the Mouse (1920)
Piano Variations (1930)
In Evening Air (1966)
Passacaglia (1922)
Piano Sonata (1939-1941): I. Molto moderato
Piano Sonata (1939-1941): II. Vivace
Piano Sonata (1939-1941): III. Andante sostenuto
Midday Thoughts (1944-1982)]
Proclamation (1973-1982)
Three Moods (1920-21): 1. embittered (November 14, 1920)
Three Moods (1920-21): 2. wistful (January 8, 1921)
Three Moods (1920-21): 3. jazzy (July 1921)

Tracks:

Petit Portrait (1921)
Sentimental Melody (1926)
Piano Fantasy (1926)
Four Piano Blues (1955-57): 1. Freely Poetic
Four Piano Blues (1955-57): 2. Soft and Languid
Four Piano Blues (1955-57): 3. Muted and Sensuous
Four Piano Blues (1955-57): 4. With Bounce
Midsummer Nocturne (1947)
The Young Pioneers (1935)]
Sunday Afternoon Music (1935)
Down a Country Lane (1962)
Night Thoughts (Hommage to Ives) (1972)

Amazon.com

Most of this set was recorded for LP in 1978, but Leo Smit returned to the studios in 1993 to add some recently discovered short pieces. Smit, a friend of Copland and a composer himself, plays all of Copland's piano music with great comprehension. He sustains the flow throughout the difficult half-hour Piano Fantasy, though he doesn't create as much excitement in the Piano Variations as the composer did in 1935 on 78s (now on Pearl GEMM CD 9279). Much of Copland's piano music is occasional works or pieces for students, but the major works in the set make it well worth hearing. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

American Piano Music.......2007-02-12

It was a pleasure to hear the complete piano music of Copland. Pianist Leo Smit brings pleasure and enlightment to the listeners ear. Who better than an American pianist to interpret the music of Copland.

Ellis L. Marsalis, Jr

Copland's Growing Musical Style.......2001-11-06

Leo Smit has done more than just give us a complete collection of the piano music of Aaron Copland. In doing so, he has also given us a sizeable record of Copland's growth as a composer stretching from the angry tones of the Passacaglia and the Piano Variations, to the majestic and sometimes poetic Piano Fantasy, and beyond. The two CD's also showcase Copland in his many moods, sometimes light hearted and fun as in the Scherzo Humoristique and the second movement of the Piano Sonata, or sometimes nostalgic as in Down a Country Lane or the third movement of the Piano Sonata. This is a must-have for all Copland fans.

great music.......2000-06-03

A great buy for anyone who loves Copland or American contemporary music. Absolutely beautiful.

Average customer rating:

Fun to listen to!
An interesting concept not quite realized

Piano Dance: A 20th-Century Portrait

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Tangos | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Piano Music of John Adams & Terry Riley

ASIN: B00004UEKB
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Red Ribbon Dance
Sleepwalker's Shuffle
Golliwog's Cakewalk
Like A Tarantelle
Shimmy
Polka
Hungarian Rock
Rumanian Dance
Tango
Hesitation-Tango
A Tortoise's Tango
Waltz
Mazurka
Valse-Improvisation Sur Le Nom De Bach
Waltz IV
Percussion Dance
Modern Love Waltz
Lilt of the Reel
Rigaudon
Cancion Y Danza
Danzas Criollas
Illicit Felicity
Conga

Amazon.com

For sheer entertainment value, it's hard to find a classical CD that will beat this one. Gloria Cheng has chosen an astonishing variety of 20th-century piano music with nothing in common except brevity and dance origins. The disc is full of familiar pieces (Debussy, Scriabin, Ravel, Prokofiev) and entertaining novelties (Albright, Martinu, Poulenc, Ginastera). Donald R. Davis's exercise in creative plagiarism, "Illicit Felicity," rates a special mention for its ingenuity. But really, unless you're allergic to Philip Glass, there isn't a loser on the entire program. Cheng plays brilliantly, with appropriate special emphasis on the dance rhythms of the music, and Telarc's sound engineering is typically realistic. It ain't profound, but this is still a marvelous program. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Fun to listen to!.......2000-09-18

Listening to this CD is fun. The CD has a diverse selection of contemporary dances for solo piano, ranging from familiar favorites, such as Gollywog's Cakewalk by Debussy, to lesser known and unconventional but charming works, such as del Aguila's Conga. The dances are varied and well-interpreted by Ms. Cheng, who brings poignancy to each one while maintaining throughout the CD a fun and energetic mood.

Ms. Cheng's playing is phenomenal, and I also enjoy her earlier CD of works by John Adams and Terry Riley. Both CD's show off her rich tone and appealing style, but the dance collection is the most entertaining. If you buy this CD, you'll probably find yourself listening to it frequently.

An interesting concept not quite realized.......2000-07-25

A very good concept. Take a noted pianist, in this case Gloria Cheng, and work with her on a program of 23 short works or short sections of larger works, all of which are one form or another of Dance--and you might come up with something good or possibly just a mixed bag. The Telarc release (CD-80549) is such a program. The playing is wonderful, the results what you might expect, alas: a mixed bag.

A very definite positive about this program is that almost every selection was new to me. After all, how many of us are familiar with works like Miguel del Aguila's "Conga," Philip Glass's "Modern Love Reel," or Paul Hindemith's "Shimmy"? I mean, really! So there is much Joy of Discovery afforded by this CD; but with all but one piece running under 5 minutes (and that one at 9:26), a certain cloying factor creeps in after a while, and perhaps I should recommend this be played in small sections.

Tracks:

Italian Con, BWV 971: I. Allegro - Columbia Conc Orch/Howard Barlow
Pno Con No.20 in d, K 466: I. Allegro - Columbia Conc Orch/Howard Barlow
Pno Con No.20 in d, K 466: II. Romanze - Columbia Conc Orch/Howard Barlow
Pno Con No.20 in d, K 466: III. Allegro Assai - Columbia Conc Orch/Howard Barlow
Hungarian Rhap No.13 - New York Phil/Efrem Kurtz
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: II. Adagio Sostenuto - New York Phil/Efrem Kurtz
Pno Son: I. Allegro Con Moto - Teresa Sterne
Pno Son: II. Adagietto - Teresa Sterne
Pno Son: III. Allegro Vivo - Teresa Sterne
Pno Son: IV. Allegro - Teresa Sterne

Tracks:

Ov To An English Opr, Hob 1A-3 - The Little Orch Of London/Leslie Jones
Nun Freut Euch, Lieben Christen - Paul Jacobs
Herzlich Thut Mich Verlangen - Paul Jacobs
Etude, Book II - Paul Jacobs
Five Pno Pieces, Op.23: II Sehr Rasch - Paul Jacobs
Ionisation - The New Jersey Perc Ens/Raymond DesRoches
The Ragtime Dance - Joshua Rifkin
Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair - Jan DeGaetani/Gilbert Kalish
Blondel Zu Marien, D 626 - Jan DeGaetani/Gilbert Kalish
Double Con: Intro - Paul Jacobs/Gilbert Kalish
Pno Son No.2, 'Concord, Mass': III. The Alcotts - Gilbert Kalish
Wait 'Till The Sun Shines, Nellie - Joan Morris/William Bolcom
Graceful Ghost - William Bolcom
Ancient Voices Of Children: III. De Donde Vienes, Amor, Mi Nino?/IV. Todas Las Tardes En Granada... - Jan DeGaetani/Michael Dash
Nyamamusango (Meat In The Forest) - Hakurotwi Mude/Cosmas Magaya/Ephat Mujuri
Vetar Vee - Vasilka Andonova/Kremena Stancheva
Ta Shto Mi E Miloj, Mamo - Nadezhda Georgieva Klicherova/Gena Ivanova Bodenova/Nadezhda Georgieva Paleastova
Ketjak Dance - Teresa Sterne
I Big You Goodnight - Edith Pinder/Geneva Pinder/Raymond Pinder/Joseph Spence
Oyun Havasi - Teresa Sterne
Ketawang Puspawarna - Teresa Sterne

Amazon.com

The life of Teresa Sterne is as noteworthy as the label she once presided over (Nonesuch). As a child prodigy, she successfully filled world-class auditoriums in the 1940s with audiences eager to hear her piano playing. Then, inexplicably, Sterne abandoned her concert career only to resurface as the leader behind Nonesuch Records in the late 1960s, turning the budget classical label into one of the more adventurous and consistently rewarding labels around (and generally keeping quiet about her earlier fame). Half of this double-CD tribute collects recordings of a teenage Sterne at the keyboard; the second disc is devoted to some of the finest recordings from her Nonesuch tenure (1965-1979)--both are engrossing.

Tracks:

In Alium - Eileen Hulse
To A Child Dancing In The Wind - Heidi Grant Murphy
The Lamb - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge
The Tyger - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge
Movement 1: Fos I, Doxa - The Sixteen
Movement 2: Piu Intensita - The Sixteen
Mandelion For Organ (Extract) - Kevin Bowyer
Chant For Guitar (Extract) - Jonathan Richards
Ikon Of Saint Cuthbert Of Lindisfatne - Ian Shaw
The Protecting Veil For Cello And Orchestra - Maria Kliegel
Mary Of Egypt - Stephen Varcoe
Akhmatova Songs For Soprano And String Quartet - Patricia Rozario
Solemn - The Vanbrugh Quartet
[Rehearsal Letter I] - The Vanbrugh Quartet
Song For Athene - Choir Of St John's College, Cambridge

Tracks:

Zodiacs For Piano - Thalia Myers
Prayer Of The Heart - Brodsky Quartet
Movement 2: Eros - Jorja Fleezanis
Mother And Child - Nigel Short
'My Earliest Musical Memories...' - John Tavener
'I Saw In The Russian Orthodox Churck...' - John Tavener
'I Think The Protecting Veil...' - John Tavener
'The Icelandic Pop Singer Bjork...' - John Tavener
'The Fact That I've Been Given...' - John Tavener
'When My Publishers Ring...' - John Tavener
'The Only Goal...' - John Tavener

Average customer rating:

A Classical Portrait

Manufacturer: Music Masters Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Bach: Prld No.1 in C - Vladimir Feltsman
Bach: Contrapunctus No.12 - Vladimir Feltsman
Bach: con in D, BWV 1054-III - Vladimir Feltsman
Vivaldi: Lute con in D-II - Eliot Fisk
Paganini: Capriccio No.5 in a - Eliot Fisk
Segovia: Catalana: Andante - Eliot Fisk
Stravinsky: Greeting Prld - Robert Craft
Stravinsky: Russian Dance - Robert Craft
Stravinsky: Scene II - Robert Craft
Mozart: Qt in B flat, K.159-III - American String Quartet
Mozart: Qt in F, K.168-IV - American String Quartet
Vivaldi: con in G, f.I No.173-I - Shlomo Mintz
Vivaldi: con in C, F.I No.3-I - Shlomo Mintz
Scarlatti: Son in C, K.327 - John Browning
Barber: Excursions, Op.20 - John Browning
Brahms: Op.40-III, Scherzo - John Browning
Mozart: Piano con in A, K.488-II - Julius Rudel
Mozart: Sym No.35 in D-IV - Julius Rudel
Handel: Duet 'Caro! Piu Amabile Belta' (exc) - Julius Rudel
Weill: Lost In The Stars - Julius Rudel
Copland: Appalachian Spring (exc) - Dennis Russell Davies
Harrison: Sym No.2-II - Dennis Russell Davies
Hovhaness: Sym No.2-II - Dennis Russell Davies
Villa-Lobos: From 12 Etudes-No.1: Anime - Fabio Zanon
Albentz: Songs Of Spain - The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo
Chopin: From Etudes, Op.10-No.5 in G flat - Cecile Licad
Ravel: From Le Tombeau De Couperin-IV - Cecile Licad

Average customer rating:

Saxomania

Manufacturer: White Line
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000030Z4
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Portrait Of A Flirt
Sophisticated Lady
Liza
Holberg Suite
I'll Remember April
12th Street Rag
Candlelights
Holiday For Strings
String Of Pearls
Saxophobia
Westminster Waltz
I'm Old Fashioned
Four Brothers
Promenade
Czardas
Perfidia
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture
Lover Man
The Continental
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
Turkey In The Straw
Shepherd's Hey
Nola
Yankee Doodle

Average customer rating:

Harrison: A Portrait

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000042HA
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Elegy, To The Memory Of Calvin Simmons
Solstice (exerpts): Garden of the Sun
Solstice (exerpts): (IIa) Entrance of the Moon Bull
Solstice (exerpts): Earth's Invitation
Solstice (exerpts): Vernal Dance
Solstice (exerpts): Turning of the Wheel
Solstice (exerpts): Finale: Blaze of the Day
Concerto In Slendro: Allegro vivo
Concerto In Slendro: Molto adagio
Concerto In Slendro: Allegro, molto vigoroso
Symphony No.4 (Last Symphony): Largo-Tempo II Almost Double Tempo
Symphony No.4 (Last Symphony): Stampede-poco presto
Symphony No.4 (Last Symphony): Largo
Symphony No.4 (Last Symphony): Three Coyote Stories
Double Music

Average customer rating:

Portrait of Michael Tilson Thomas

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000DSBC
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Nutcracker, Ballet: Overture - Michael Tilson Thomas
Nutcracker, Ballet: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Michael Tilson Thomas
Nutcracker, Ballet: Trepak - Michael Tilson Thomas
Nutcracker, Ballet: Dance of the Reed Flutes - Michael Tilson Thomas
Nutcracker, Ballet: Waltz of the Flowers - Michael Tilson Thomas
Love from Three Oranges: III Marche - Michael Tilson Thomas
Lieutenant Kijuite, Op. 60: III, The Wedding of Kij Michael Tilson Thomas
Lieutenant Kijuite, Op. 60: IV, Troika - Michael Tilson Thomas
Nocturnes (3) II, Fs - Claude Debussy
Bundeslied, Op. 122 - Ludwig van Beethoven
Scherzo a la Russe - Igor Stravinsky
Girl Crazy, Musical Play: Overture - George Gershwin
Preludes for Piano: No. 1, In B Flat Major - George Gershwin
Preludes for Piano: No. 2, In C Sharp Minor - George Gershwin
Preludes for Piano: No. 3, In E Flat Minor - George Gershwin
Of Thee I Sing, Musical Play: Overture - George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin
Little Threepenny Opera, Musical Play: Overture - Kurt Weill
Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), Opera: The Ballad of Mack - Kurt Weill