Howard Hanson: Piano Sonata Poemes Erotiques

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Best-known for his unashamedly romantic cycle of seven symphonies, Nebraska-born Howard Hanson (1896-1981) was a formidable pianist in his youth (he seriously considered a career as a concert virtuoso). All but two items here predate Hanson's three-year residency in Rome (where he studied under Respighi after winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1921). In the three Poèmes erotiques of 1917-18 (a fourth was lost), the ambitious Sonata in A minor (1918), and the Three Miniatures (1918-19), extravagant virtuosity goes hand-in-hand with a heart-on-sleeve emotional fervor. Both the Three Etudes (1920) and Two Yuletide Pieces (1919) are cleaner-cut; indeed, the latter diptych has all the potential for popular appeal. Other stand-out items include the winsome miniature Enchantment (1935), as well as Hanson's effective 1970 piano transcription of his own 1962 orchestral suite, For the First Time. Thomas Labé is a passionate, occasionally strident advocate of this rare repertoire. An enterprising anthology with excellent booklet notes and a decent recording, to boot--well worth snapping up at Naxos's absurdly low price. --Andrew Achenbach

Tracks:

Two Yuletide Pieces, Op.19: Impromptu
Two Yuletide Pieces, Op.19: March Carillon
Poemes Erotiques, Op.9: Peace
Poemes Erotiques, Op.9: Joy
Poemes Erotiques, Op.9: Desire
Son in a, Op.11: Andante Espressivo
Son in a, Op.11: Elegie Herbique
Son in a, Op.11: Triumphal Ode
Three Miniatures, Op.12: Reminiscence
Three Miniatures, Op.12: Lullaby
Three Miniatures, Op.12: Longing
Three Etudes, Op.18: Studio Ritmico
Three Etudes, Op.18: Studio Melodico
Three Etudes, Op.18: Poema Idillico
Enchantment
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Bells
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Tamara And Peter Bolshoi
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): The Deserted House
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): The Eccentric Clock
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Deep Forest
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Clowns
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Dance
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Serious Conversation
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Kikimora
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Mist
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Fireworks
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Dreams
For The First Time (Orchestral Score 1963; Pno Score 1970): Slumber Song

Amazon.com

Best-known for his unashamedly romantic cycle of seven symphonies, Nebraska-born Howard Hanson (1896-1981) was a formidable pianist in his youth (he seriously considered a career as a concert virtuoso). All but two items here predate Hanson's three-year residency in Rome (where he studied under Respighi after winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1921). In the three Poèmes erotiques of 1917-18 (a fourth was lost), the ambitious Sonata in A minor (1918), and the Three Miniatures (1918-19), extravagant virtuosity goes hand-in-hand with a heart-on-sleeve emotional fervor. Both the Three Etudes (1920) and Two Yuletide Pieces (1919) are cleaner-cut; indeed, the latter diptych has all the potential for popular appeal. Other stand-out items include the winsome miniature Enchantment (1935), as well as Hanson's effective 1970 piano transcription of his own 1962 orchestral suite, For the First Time. Thomas Labé is a passionate, occasionally strident advocate of this rare repertoire. An enterprising anthology with excellent booklet notes and a decent recording, to boot--well worth snapping up at Naxos's absurdly low price. --Andrew Achenbach

Customer Reviews:

Hanson could definitely write for the piano!.......2001-11-28

Howard Hanson was a romantic, no bars about it. And for the time he lived and composed in, was anachronistic. His piano music was a surprise and delight from the first time I put it in the player. Long flowing lines, beautiful figured melodies. The sound of Labe's playing is full and lush, perfectly fitted to Hanson's simple yet beautiful development of melodic ideas. If you like the Howard Hanson symphonies, you should dig his piano music. It is the genesis of his later work. This is good stuff from one of our greatest composers.

A "must buy" at any price..........2001-03-17

...Howard Hanson's piano music is chock-full of romantic melodies, yet there is a very contemporary feel that permeates the basic structure of the music. There isn't a bad cut in the bunch, but I'm particularly partial to the Sonata in A Minor, which is aclassic-in-waiting, needing only broader exposure for its proper recognition. The Poemes Erotiques each fetchingly convey their name demotions: peace, joy and desire. The Three Etudes and Three Miniatures are full of feeling and emotion, and For the First Time,originally scored for orchestra, sounds (to me, anyway) even morenatural in this piano setting. Much, much credit must go to Thomas Labe, who not only plays this music with passionate intensity and virtuosity, but who also completed the Sonata, based on Hanson's own hand-written, but incomplete score. His understanding and love of this music is apparent through out the CD. The sound quality is top notch as well. Out of my nearly 100 classical CD's, this one jumped to my top echelon very quickly and has stayed there. Go get it - this is great piano music, at a great price.

Hanson's Piano Music receives a Well-Deserved Recital.......2001-01-19

Thmas Labé is eminently qualified to bring Howard Hanson's works for piano into the current repertoire. He has embraced this task with the authority of a musicologist as well as the enthusiasm of one who enjoys the lush sounds of the piano. As a result we have a refreshing experience of hearing little-known works that deserve more public performances.

Labé is well-known for viruoso playing, beginning with his recording of "The Virtuoso Johann Strauss" in 1992 on the Dorian label. However, with this album and fresh material, he comes of age both as a performer capable of an enormous range of color and an original interpreter of American keyboard literature.

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