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Bonis: Complete Music for Solo Piano, Vol. 1 / Mengyiyi Chen
Toccata

Bonis: Complete Music for Solo Piano, Vol. 1 / Mengyiyi Chen

$20.99

Details

Composer
Melanie Bonis
Artist
Mengyiyi Chen
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Toccata
Released
Oct 06, 2023
Catalog #
TOCC0361
UPC
5060113443618

About

Mélanie Bonis (1858–1937), a fine pianist herself, composed some 150 works for solo piano, publishing them with her first name shortened to ‘Mel’ to disguise the fact that she was a woman – while she lived among the French haute bourgeoisie as Mme Domange. They sometimes show the influence of Chabrier, and have points of contact with the music of Chausson, Debussy and Pierné, who had been fellow students at the Paris Conservatoire. But they also reveal an individual approach to rhythm, harmony and tone-color – and it’s clear that her conventional exterior hid a lively sense of fun, her many miniatures for children perhaps influenced by her own experience as a mother.

REVIEW:

The music on this CD is well crafted and engaging. Bonis was undoubtedly a talented composer, and these works for piano stand comparison with those of Chabrier and Chaminade, to name two. The ornate Barcarolle, for example, is, with its chromatic cascades and passionate heaving and swelling, more than just a placid little row across the pond. Even a small piece, such as the Berceuse triste from the Cinq petites pièces, reaches an emotional depth. The Scènes enfantines, on the other hand, are more modest.

Pianist Mengyiyi Chen, now in her young 30s and educated at the Manhattan School of Music (and elsewhere), makes a good case for this music. Compared to Marie-Catherine Girod, who also played “Ophélie” on the aforementioned Schloss vor Husum CD, she is at least as good, and rather more dramatic. The piano is a Steinway D, and it has been recorded well.

— Fanfare

Tracklist 29 tracks

  1. 1 Barcarolle in E-Flat Major, Op. 71 04:40
    Track
    1
    Title
    Barcarolle in E-Flat Major, Op. 71
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  2. 2 L'escarpolette, Op. 52 04:23
    Track
    2
    Title
    L'escarpolette, Op. 52
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  3. 3 Mélisande 02:40
    Track
    3
    Title
    Mélisande
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  4. 4 Ophélie 05:00
    Track
    4
    Title
    Ophélie
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  5. 5 Salomé 04:26
    Track
    5
    Title
    Salomé
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  6. 6 Phoebe 03:21
    Track
    6
    Title
    Phoebe
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  7. 7 Romance sans paroles in G-Flat Major, Op. 56 02:18
    Track
    7
    Title
    Romance sans paroles in G-Flat Major, Op. 56
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  8. 8 Mazurka, Op. 26 03:59
    Track
    8
    Title
    Mazurka, Op. 26
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  9. 9 Il pleut, Op. 102 02:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    Il pleut, Op. 102
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  10. 10 Méditation, Op. 33 03:08
    Track
    10
    Title
    Méditation, Op. 33
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  11. 11 5 Petites pièces: No. 1. Une flûte soupire, Op. 117 01:59
    Track
    11
    Title
    5 Petites pièces: No. 1. Une flûte soupire, Op. 117
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  12. 12 5 Petites pièces, Op. 118: No. 2. Berceuse triste 01:41
    Track
    12
    Title
    5 Petites pièces, Op. 118: No. 2. Berceuse triste
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  13. 13 5 Petites pièces, Op. 119: No. 3. Boston valse, ou Valse lente 01:17
    Track
    13
    Title
    5 Petites pièces, Op. 119: No. 3. Boston valse, ou Valse lente
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  14. 14 5 Petites pièces, Op. 120: No. 4. Agitato 01:33
    Track
    14
    Title
    5 Petites pièces, Op. 120: No. 4. Agitato
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  15. 15 5 Petites pièces, Op. 121: No. 5. Cloches iointaines 02:47
    Track
    15
    Title
    5 Petites pièces, Op. 121: No. 5. Cloches iointaines
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  16. 16 Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2 (arr. M. Bonis for piano) 03:12
    Track
    16
    Title
    Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2 (arr. M. Bonis for piano)
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Gabriel Fauré
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  17. 17 No. 1. Aubade 02:10
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 1. Aubade
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  18. 18 No. 2. Joyeux réveil 01:46
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 2. Joyeux réveil
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  19. 19 No. 3. Cache-cache 01:37
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 3. Cache-cache
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  20. 20 No. 4. Valse lente 01:19
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 4. Valse lente
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  21. 21 No. 5. Marche militaire 01:57
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 5. Marche militaire
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  22. 22 No. 6. Frère Jacques 02:08
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 6. Frère Jacques
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  23. 23 No. 7. Bébé s'endort 01:39
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 7. Bébé s'endort
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  24. 24 No. 8. Carillon 01:25
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 8. Carillon
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  25. 25 Gai printemps: Impromptu, Op. 11 02:52
    Track
    25
    Title
    Gai printemps: Impromptu, Op. 11
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  26. 26 Romance sans Paroles, Op. 29 03:16
    Track
    26
    Title
    Romance sans Paroles, Op. 29
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  27. 27 Menuet, Op. 14 03:46
    Track
    27
    Title
    Menuet, Op. 14
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  28. 28 Eglogue, Op. 12 03:08
    Track
    28
    Title
    Eglogue, Op. 12
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen
  29. 29 Papillons, Op. 28 01:41
    Track
    29
    Title
    Papillons, Op. 28
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Mélanie Bonis
    Performer
    Mengyiyi Chen