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Joseph Achron: Complete Suites for Violin & Piano

Hagai Shaham (violin) & Arnon Erez (piano)

Joseph Achron: Complete Suites for Violin & Piano
Shaham and Erez deliver outstandingly committed performances, revelling in the music's virtuosity, fantasy and heightened intensity of expression.

Joseph Achron: Complete Suites for Violin & Piano

Hagai Shaham (violin) & Arnon Erez (piano)

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This release includes a digital booklet

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Shaham and Erez deliver outstandingly committed performances, revelling in the music's virtuosity, fantasy and heightened intensity of expression.

About

Admired by Schoenberg (who described him as ‘one of the most underestimated of modern composers’), Joseph Achron was a boundary defying violinist-composer of extraordinary gifts. He drew on his Jewish faith to profound effect, from the early influence of his cantor father to his enthusiastic championing of the Society for Jewish Folk Music (which did for Jewish music what Bartók did for Eastern European folk culture). It’s hardly surprising that much of Achron’s music is for violin—he was a consummate player himself and a prolific recitalist. But what’s striking is how varied and exploratory his output is, delighting in experimentation, as the wonderfully named Suite bizarre demonstrates, just as much as the direct emotionalism of his transcriptions of Hebraic melodies. Who better to present this music than two artists steeped in similar traditions to Achron: Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez.

Contents and tracklist

I. Hebrew Dance
Track length6:07
II. Hebrew Lullaby
Track length3:02
I. D minor
Track length2:03
II. B minor
Track length3:45
I. G minor
Track length3:37
II. B major
Track length1:46
I. A minor
Track length3:58
II. E minor
Track length2:37
I. Stempenyu plays
Track length2:06
II. Scher
Track length1:41
III. Freilachs
Track length2:48
I. Prélude: Tempo giusto
Track length2:44
II. Gavotte: Allegro moderato
Track length3:18
III. Sicilienne: Andantino
Track length3:17
IV. Fughetta: Non troppo allegro
Track length1:21
V. Gigue: Allegro comodo
Track length2:46
I. En passant: Vivo e scorrendo
Track length1:48
II. Menuet: Allegretto aperto – Trio: Un poco meno mosso
Track length4:12
III. Moulin: Vivace e gajamente assai
Track length1:24
IV. Intermezzo: Cantabile e molto dramatico
Track length4:44
V. Marionettes: Allegro molto e scherzando
Track length3:19
I. Andantino espressivo
Track length1:39
II. Allegretto con grazia ma un pochino malinconico
Track length3:34
III. Largo e fantastico
Track length4:14
IV. Allegro con agilità
Track length6:03
I. Étincelles: Allegro molto
Track length1:07
II. Quasi valse: Allegro
Track length2:32
III. Grâce: Allegretto
Track length1:45
IV. Terrasses du palais: Calmato
Track length2:58
V. Grimaces: Moderato
Track length1:44
VI. Galanterie: Andantino
Track length1:51
VII. Pastorale: Allegro vivo
Track length1:27
VIII. Moment dramatique: Adagio e molto espressivo
Track length3:08
IX. Marche grotesque: Allegro giocoso
Track length2:02
I. Jumping with tongue out: Allegro grazioso (after Op 57 No 2)
Track length1:17
II. Sleep, my puppy: Andantino (after Op 57 No 11)
Track length0:53
III. Birdies: Moderato (after Op 57 No 12)
Track length1:43
IV. March of Toys: Marciale (after Op 57 No 10)
Track length1:19
V. Mamma, tell a fairy tale: Allegretto (after Op 57 No 4)
Track length1:26
VI. The Top: Allegro (after Op 57 No 8)
Track length1:01
VII. The Caravan: Lento (after Op 57 No 18)
Track length1:14
VIII. Parade with presents: Alla marcia (after Op 57 No 20)
Track length1:40

Awards and reviews

April 2012

Shaham and Erez deliver outstandingly committed performances, revelling in the music's virtuosity, fantasy and heightened intensity of expression.

May 2012

Arnon Erez's highly expressive, colourful playing brings out all their harmonic and textural subtleties. I'm sure this experienced team's sensitive collaboration would have delighted the composer. If you know Achron's music, you'll want to acquire this set; if he's new to you, I can assure you he's well worth investigating.
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