Notes and Editorial Reviews
Most of the short cycles featured on the first volume in Naxos' complete Martinu piano music survey represent the composer's early style, where French effervescence, the Czech speech patterns of Janácek, and American jazz idioms delightfully collide. They're also pianistically effective and deserve more serious attention among young pianists looking to build interesting programs. Like his one-time teacher Rudolf Firkusny, pianist Giorgio Koukl always channels his considerable technique toward putting Martinu's message first. For example, a greenhorn virtuoso might easily be tempted to make the churning textures and motoric drive characterizing the Allegro vivo third movement of the Esquisses de Danses into a flashy toccata. However, Koukl's
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steady moderation allows the melodies to truly sing--and even dance. His supple and debonair performances of the eight jazz-inspired Preludes favorably compare to Emil Leichner's relatively drier, leaner ones on Supraphon. Perhaps Leichner imbues Window on the Garden's more lyrical moments with a little more breathing room and tender inflection, but there's much to be said for Koukl's warmer, more colorful sonority, with upgraded sonics to match. Needless to say, I look forward to further volumes.--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Le noël, H 167 by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1927; Paris, France
Length: 5 Minutes 30 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
2.
Esquisses (5) de danses for Piano, H 220 by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932
Length: 10 Minutes 26 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
3.
Preludes (8) for Piano by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1929; France
Length: 17 Minutes 37 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
4.
Window onto the Garden, H 270 by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1938; Paris, France
Length: 8 Minutes 3 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
5.
Fables, H 138 by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1924; Paris, France
Length: 7 Minutes 12 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
6.
Sketches (3) on modern dances for Piano by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1927; France
Length: 5 Minutes 42 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
7.
Foxtrot, H 126 by Bohuslav Martinu
Performer:
Giorgio Koukl (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1920; Bohemia
Length: 2 Minutes 40 Secs.
Notes: RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (04/19/2004); RSI Studios, Lugano, Switzerland (08/15/2004)
Sound Samples
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 1. Blues
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 2. Scherzo
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 3. Andante
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 4. Danse
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 5. Capriccio
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 6. Largo
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 7. Etude
8 Preludes, H. 181: No. 8. Foxtrot
Fenetre sur le jardin, H. 270: I. Poco andante
Fenetre sur le jardin, H. 270: II. Allegro moderato
Fenetre sur le jardin, H. 270: III. Moderato
Fenetre sur le jardin, H. 270: IV. Allegretto
Bajky (Fables), H. 138: No. 1. Na farme (On the Farm)
Bajky (Fables), H. 138: No. 2. Chudak kralicek (The Poor Rabbit)
Bajky (Fables), H. 138: No. 3. Opicky (The Monkeys)
Bajky (Fables), H. 138: No. 4. Kuratko (The Chicken)
Bajky (Fables), H. 138: No. 5. Zly medved (The Angry Bear)
3 Esquisses de danses modernes, H. 160: No. 1. Tempo di Blues
3 Esquisses de danses modernes, H. 160: No. 2. Tempo di Tango
3 Esquisses de danses modernes, H. 160: No. 3. Tempo di Charleston
Le noel, H. 167: No. 1. Le traineau (The Sledge)
Le noel, H. 167: No. 2. Berceuse enfantine (Child's Lullaby)
Le noel, H. 167: No. 3. Chant de Noel (Christmas Carol)
5 Esquisses de danses, H. 220: No. 1. Allegro moderato
5 Esquisses de danses, H. 220: No. 2. Poco andantino
5 Esquisses de danses, H. 220: No. 3. Allegro vivo
5 Esquisses de danses, H. 220: No. 4. Tempo di valse
5 Esquisses de danses, H. 220: No. 5. Allegro
Foxtrot, H. 126bis: Foxtrot, H. 126
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