From 1940 until 1954, the two-piano team of Virginia Morley and Livingston Gearhart enjoyed wide popularity with concert, radio, and nightclub audiences. Both were scholarship students of Robert Casadesus and Nadia Boulanger when they met in Paris in 1937. A professional and personal relationship ensued, ending in 1954 with the couple's divorce. Their programs encompassed repertoire from duo-piano classics to Gearhart's own two-piano arrangements of popular and concert music fare. Gearhart's concert music transcriptions generally remain faithful to the original source, although there are plenty of elaborations and added intricacies that will surely tickle even the most jaded ears. Having the advantage of two more hands, Gearhart recastsRead more Chopin's Minute Waltz in breathtaking thirds and adds all sorts of buzzing insects to Rimsky K's fabled bumblebee flight. On the other hand, Gearhart opts for a shorter tour through Strauss' Rosenkavalier Waltzes than Otto Singer provides in his better-known arrangement.
Purists might regret that Gershwin's An American in Paris and the Finale of his F major Concerto are pruned to half their sizes, yet the cuts, though unecessary, do make musical sense. So do the discreet truncations within the Blue Danube Waltz and Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody. Popular tunes like All the Things You Are, Limehouse Blues, April in Paris, Russian Lullaby, Stormy Weather, Body and Soul, and Goodnight Ladies (among others) are jam-packed with slippery harmonic twists and turns that resemble two Art Tatums breaking bread with Poulenc and Milhaud, and perhaps imbibing a wee bit in the process. "Straight" classical pieces like the Arensky Waltz, eight Brahms Waltzes, and Tailleferre's gorgeous La Tirelitentaine are served up with incandescent flair and absolutely seamless ensemble values. All I can say is that some extraordinary piano duo wizardry awaits you on this fascinating and truly fun release.
--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Girl Crazy: I got rhythmby George Gershwin Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1930; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
2.
Very Warm for May: All the Things You Areby Jerome Kern Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1939; United States Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
3.
Russian Lullabyby Irving Berlin Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1927; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
4.
Spring is Here: With a song in my heartby Richard Rodgers Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1929; United States Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
5.
Stormy weatherby Harold Arlen Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1933; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
6.
Kitten on the Keysby Zez Confrey Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1921; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
7.
Pièce en forme de Habañeraby Maurice Ravel Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1907; France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
8.
Nocturnes (3) for Orchestra: no 2, Fêtesby Claude Debussy Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1897-1899; France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
9.
El amor brujo: Dance of Terrorby Manuel de Falla Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1914-1915; Spain Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
10.
Preludes (10) for Piano, Op. 23: no 5 in G minor, Alla marciaby Sergei Rachmaninov Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1901; Russia Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
Three blind miceby Traditional Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Written: USA Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
13.
An American in Parisby George Gershwin Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1928; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
14.
Concerto for Piano in F major: 3rd movement, Allegro Agitatoby George Gershwin Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1925; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
15.
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59: Waltz(es)by Richard Strauss Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1909-1910; Germany Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
16.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 6 in C sharp majorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 4, 10, 16, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
17.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 3 in G sharp minorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 6, 5, 4, 10, 16, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
18.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 5 in E majorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 6, 4, 10, 16, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
19.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 4 in E minorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 6, 10, 16, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
20.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 10 in G majorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 4, 6, 16, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
21.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 16 in C sharp minorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 4, 10, 6, 8 and 7, all from Op 39.
22.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 8 in B flat majorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 4, 10, 16, 6 and 7, all from Op 39.
23.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39: no 7 in C sharp minorby Johannes Brahms Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1865; Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: This selection shares a track and timing with Brahms's Waltzes nos 3, 5, 4, 10, 16, 8 and 6, all from Op 39.
24.
Mouvements perpétuels (3)by Francis Poulenc Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1918; France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
Frenesiby Alberto Dominguez Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1940 Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
27.
Shylock Suite, Op. 57: no 3, Nocturneby Gabriel Fauré Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1889; France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
28.
April in Parisby Vernon Duke Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1932; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
29.
Stardustby Hoagy Carmichael Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1927; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
30.
An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314by Johann Strauss Jr. Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1867; Vienna, Austria Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
31.
The Red Poppy, Op. 70: Russian Sailors' Danceby Reinhold Gliere Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1926-1927; USSR Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
32.
Mountain Tuneby Wendell Keeney Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: by 1936; USA Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
33.
Limehouse Bluesby Philip Braham Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1922; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
34.
Jeux de plein air: La Tirelitentaineby Germaine Tailleferre Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1918; France Date of Recording: 1947-54
Gaîté Parisienne: Can-can from "Orphée aux enfers"by Jacques Offenbach Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart 'Gaîté Parisienne' is a pastiche of various works by Jacques Offenbach, selected and arranged as a ballet score by Manuel Rosenthal.
37.
Tale of Tsar Saltan: Suite, Op. 57 - Flight of the bumblebeeby Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: 1903; Russia Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
38.
No, No, Nanette: Tea for Twoby Vincent Youmans Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1925; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
Nolaby Felix Arndt Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1916; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
41.
Baby Boogieby Livingston Gearhart Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1948; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54
42.
El amor brujo: Danza rituel del fuego "Ritual Fire Dance"by Manuel de Falla Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1914-1915; Spain Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
43.
Musical snuffbox, Op. 32by Anatole Liadov Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: Romantic Written: by 1893; Russia Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
44.
Parlez-moi d'amourby Jean Neuburger Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart This work was written under the pseudonym Jean Lenoir.
Love for Three Oranges: March, Op. 33b no 1by Sergei Prokofiev Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1922; Paris, France Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
47.
Háry János, Op. 15: Suite - no 2, Viennese Musical Clockby Zoltán Kodály Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1927; Hungary Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
48.
Orgelbüchlein: In dir ist Freude, BWV 615by Johann Sebastian Bach Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: Baroque Written: circa 1713-1717; Weimar, Germany Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
49.
Body and Soulby John Waldo Green Performer:
Livingston Gearhart (Piano),
Virginia Morley (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart
50.
Goodnight Ladiesby Egbert Anson Van Alstyne Performer:
Virginia Morley (Piano),
Livingston Gearhart (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1911; USA Date of Recording: 1947-54 Notes: Arranged: Livingston Gearhart