Martinu: Complete Piano Music Vol 1 / Giorgio Koukl

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Martinu: Complete Piano Music Vol 1 / Giorgio Koukl

Release Date: 11/21/2006
Label: Naxos Catalog #: 8557914 Spars Code: DDD
Composer: Bohuslav Martinu
Performer: Giorgio Koukl

Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 0 Hours 57 Mins.

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Notes & Reviews	Back to Top

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 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


Works on This Recording			Back to Top

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 de danses (5) for Piano by Bohuslav Martinu
	Performer: Giorgio Koukl (Piano) Period: 20th Century Written: 1932; Czech Republic	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 on to the garden 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				Back to Top

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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