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

$20.99
Label
Toccata
Release Date
October 6, 2023
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Melanie Bonis
    • PERFORMER
      Mengyiyi Chen
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 06, 2023
    • UPC
      5060113443618
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      TOCC0361
    • LABEL
      Toccata
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Piano
    Works ⌄

    1. Barcarolle in E-Flat Major, Op. 71

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    2. L'escarpolette, Op. 52

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    3. Mélisande

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    4. Ophélie

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    5. Salomé

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    6. Phoebe

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    7. Romance sans paroles in G-Flat Major, Op. 56

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    8. Mazurka, Op. 26

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    9. Il pleut, Op. 102

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    10. Méditation, Op. 33

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    11. 5 Petites pièces: No. 1. Une flûte soupire, Op. 117

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    12. 5 Petites pièces, Op. 118: No. 2. Berceuse triste

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    13. 5 Petites pièces, Op. 119: No. 3. Boston valse, ou Valse lente

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    14. 5 Petites pièces, Op. 120: No. 4. Agitato

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    15. 5 Petites pièces, Op. 121: No. 5. Cloches iointaines

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    16. Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2 (arr. M. Bonis for piano)

      Composer: Gabriel Fauré

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    17. No. 1. Aubade

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    18. No. 2. Joyeux réveil

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    19. No. 3. Cache-cache

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    20. No. 4. Valse lente

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    21. No. 5. Marche militaire

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    22. No. 6. Frère Jacques

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    23. No. 7. Bébé s'endort

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    24. No. 8. Carillon

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    25. Gai printemps: Impromptu, Op. 11

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    26. Romance sans Paroles, Op. 29

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    27. Menuet, Op. 14

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    28. Eglogue, Op. 12

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen

    29. Papillons, Op. 28

      Composer: Mélanie Bonis

      Performer: Mengyiyi Chen


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