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About this Release

Catalogue No.: GP659

Release Date: September 2014

Barcode: 747313965922

Composer(s): Alexander Tcherepnin

Artist(s): Giorgio Koukl

Link(s):

TCHEREPNIN, ALEXANDER (1899–1977)

Complete Piano Music • 8

Giorgio Koukl, piano

This eighth and final volume of the complete Tcherepnin piano music series is devoted to music for children. It ranges from the optimistic Sunny Day from 1915, which the composer found and copied out on the day he died, and the vibrant Episodes, which he brought with him to Paris when exiled from Russia, to the devotional beauties of Histoire de la Petite Thérèse. Alternating the wistful with the highly energetic, the three Suites, Op. 51 explore the possibilities offered by Chinese musical tradition.

This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D

Tracklist

Pour Petits et Grands, Op. 65 (1940) (00:13:17 )

I. La Diligente * (00:01:06)

II. Le Farceur * (00:00:39)

III. La Mélodieuse * (00:00:39)

IV. Les Contrastes * (00:00:49)

V. Les Cloches Tristes * (00:01:44)

VI. La Babillarde * (00:00:34)

VII. L'Affligée * (00:01:39)

VIII. L'Ibérienne * (00:00:45)

IX. La Perseverante * (00:01:10)

X. La Dévouée * (00:01:30)

XI. Les Plaisirs du Toutou * (00:01:10)

XII. La Belle au Bois Dormant * (00:01:32)

Histoire de la Petite Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jesus, Op. 36b (1925) (00:09:35 )

I. Naissance * (00:00:30)

II. Baptême * (00:00:27)

III. Sourire de la Sainte Vierge * (00:00:37)

IV. Première Communion * (00:00:44)

V. Confirmation * (00:00:42)

VI. Conversion * (00:00:49)

VII. Audience de Léon XII * (00:00:43)

VIII. Entrée au Carmel * (00:00:52)

IX. Notre Grande Richesse * (00:00:51)

X. Prise d'Habit * (00:01:11)

XI. Profession * (00:00:50)

XII. Prise de Voile * (00:00:23)

XIII. Offrande de Moi-même * (00:00:56)

Episodes (Priskaski) (1920) (00:10:26 )

I. Chanson * (00:00:41)

II. Moment Musical * (00:00:43)

III. Humoresque * (00:00:37)

IV. Feuillet d'Album * (00:00:45)

V. Scherzando * (00:00:54)

VI. Berceuse Georgienne * (00:00:44)

VII. Danse lente Arménienne * (00:01:11)

VIII. Papillon * (00:00:43)

IX. Jeux * (00:01:09)

X. Petite Gavotte * (00:01:31)

XI. Fantoche * (00:00:24)

XII. Capriccio * (00:01:05)

Etude du Piano sur la Gamme Pentatonique: Suite No. 1, Op. 51, No. 1 (1934) (00:02:23 )

I. Melodie * (00:00:20)

II. Valse * (00:00:17)

III. Chanson des Marins * (00:00:13)

IV. Fox-trot * (00:00:22)

V. Chanson sans Paroles * (00:00:18)

VI. Procession des Moines * (00:00:32)

VII. Kermesse Villageoise * (00:00:21)

Etude du Piano sur la Gamme Pentatonique: Suite No. 2, Op. 51, No. 2 (1934) (00:04:06 )

I. Vivace * (00:01:13)

II. Moderato * (00:00:24)

III. Allegro molto * (00:00:24)

IV. Andantino * (00:00:23)

V. Allegretto * (00:00:33)

VI. Presto * (00:00:29)

VII. Maestoso * (00:00:40)

Etude du Piano sur la Gamme Pentatonique: Bagatelles Chinoises, Op. 51, No. 3 (1935) (00:09:42 )

I. Allegro * (00:00:49)

II. Allegro moderato * (00:00:49)

III. Allegro marciale * (00:00:36)

IV. Allegro non troppo * (00:00:33)

V. Animato * (00:00:25)

VI. Lento * (00:01:33)

VII. Allegretto * (00:00:40)

VIII. Andantino * (00:01:12)

IX. Moderato * (00:00:42)

X. Vivace * (00:00:46)

XI. Allegro * (00:00:31)

XII. Moderato * (00:01:16)

17 Piano Pieces for Beginners (1957) (00:08:54 )

No. 1. March * (00:00:21)

No. 2. Joy and Tears * (00:00:24)

No. 3. Relays * (00:00:16)

No. 4. Melody * (00:00:19)

No. 5. To and Fro * (00:00:23)

No. 6. Chimes * (00:00:30)

No. 7. Prelude * (00:00:38)

No. 8. The Clock * (00:00:22)

No. 9. Hide and Seek * (00:00:17)

No. 10. Valse * (00:00:45)

No. 11. Merry-go-round * (00:00:41)

No. 12. Old Tale * (00:00:52)

No. 13. Escapade * (00:00:27)

No. 14. Frolics * (00:00:24)

No. 15. Ivan's Accordion * (00:00:55)

No. 16. Happy Stowaway * (00:00:36)

No. 17. Mic and Mac * (00:00:45)

Celebration (1976) * (00:00:24)

Indian Trail (1976) * (00:00:26)

Sunny Day, "Forgotten Bagatelle" (1915) (00:01:05)

* World Première Recording

Total Time: 01:00:30

The Artist(s)

Giorgio Koukl is a Czech pianist/harpsichordist and composer. He studied at both the Conservatories of Zürich and Milan, where he took part in the masterclasses of Nikita Magaloff, Jacques Février and Stanislas Neuhaus, and with Rudolf Firkušný, friend and advocate of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů. It was through Firkušný that Koukl first encountered Martinů’s music, prompting him to search out his compatriot’s solo piano works. Since then he has developed these into an important part of his concert repertoire and is now considered one of the world’s leading interpreters of Martinů’s piano music. As a logical continuation of this work, Koukl has recorded the complete solo piano works of Paul Le Flem, Alexander Tcherepnin, Arthur Lourié, Vítězslava Kaprálová, Witold Lutosławski, and more recently, Alexandre Tansman, Vittorio Rieti and Tibor Harsányi.

The Composer(s)

Alexander began playing piano and composing at an early age. By his late teens he had composed several hundred pieces, thirteen piano sonatas among them. For a more extensive biography of Alexander Tcherepnin, and information about his works and compositional techniques, visit the Tcherepnin Society website at www.tcherepnin.com.

Reviews

“Taking us through this musical journey Giorgio Koukl has demonstrated his prowess as a pianist from the most demanding pieces to the most delicately tiny fragment.” – MusicWeb International

Also Available

“Koukl proves himself a most sympathetic advocate for Tcherepnin’s music, whether on a small or large scale.” — International Piano

“Koukl proves himself a most sympathetic advocate for Tcherepnin’s music, whether on a small or large scale.” — International Piano

“Koukl captures the darkness, and the light, of these movements expertly.” — International Piano

“I look forward to completing this marvelous series and couldn’t ask for a more qualified pianist than Koukl.” — American Record Guide

“If anyone who doesn’t know Tcherepnin’s music hears this disc they will find themselves completely captivated and will want to own the entire set.” — MusicWeb International

“From delightful childlike pieces to full blown turbulence to pieces that display nostalgia and regret, it has been one of the most satisfying musical journeys I’ve ever been on.” — MusicWeb International