Distinguished Hungarian composer Sándor Balassa’s philosophy on his music is that it ‘has to be whole, beautiful, interesting and appealing; as natural as if it were this way since the beginning of time, and so that anyone can pick it up with a feeling of joy.’ Balassa’s uniquely sophisticated textures, timbres and lyrical style can be heard here in pieces for young pianists, remarkable works originally written for cimbalom, and in the Baroque references and sweeping momentum of the Szonatina No. 1.
This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D
Tracklist
5 Testvér (5 Brothers), Op. 5 (1960) (00:09:00 )
1
No. 1. Moderato, poco espressivo (00:01:40)
2
No. 2. Allegretto movimento (00:00:43)
3
No. 3. Sostenuto, pesante (00:00:53)
4
No. 4. Allegro ma non troppo (00:01:26)
5
No. 5. Andante cantabile (00:03:45)
Levelek a rezervátumból (Letters from the Reservation), Op. 87 (version for piano) (2004) (00:12:00 )
6
No. 1. Moderato (00:00:44)
7
No. 2. Allegretto (00:01:26)
8
No. 3. Vivo (00:01:31)
9
No. 4. Andante (00:02:20)
10
No. 5. Movimento con moto (00:01:03)
11
No. 6. Cantabile tranquillo (00:02:46)
12
No. 7. Presto (00:02:13)
2 Zongoradarab (2 Piano Pieces), Op. 137 (2014) (00:07:00 )
13
No. 1. Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio (00:03:53)
14
No. 2. Allegro ma non troppo (00:02:46)
Ládafia, Vol. 1 (From an Old Chest, Vol. 1), Op. 113 (2009) (00:14:00 )
15
No. 1. Pasztorál (Pastorale) (00:00:48)
16
No. 2. Allegretto (00:00:34)
17
No. 3. Üzenet (Message) (00:00:50)
18
No. 4. Etűd (Etude) (00:00:41)
19
No. 5. Horizont (Horizon) (00:01:03)
20
No. 6. Dallam (Melody) (00:00:52)
21
No. 7. Legato (00:02:01)
22
No. 8. Kürtök és trombiták (Horns and Trumpets) (00:01:08)
23
No. 9. Különös arc (A Peculiar Face) (00:00:55)
24
No. 10. Nyári könnyu szello (Light Summer Breeze) (00:00:32)
25
No. 11. Allegro (00:01:12)
26
No. 12. Szelíden és vadul (Gently and Fiercely) (00:01:40)
27
No. 13. Egyszerű ének (Simple Song) (00:01:03)
28
No. 14. Fürge játék (Fast Game) (00:01:14)
Ládafia, Vol. 2 (From an Old Chest, Vol. 2), Op. 120 (2010) (00:21:00 )
29
No. 1. Prelúdium (Prelude) (00:01:49)
30
No. 2. Kicsi (Little) (00:00:32)
31
No. 3. Dombról jövet (Coming Down the Hill) (00:02:07)
32
No. 4. Capriccio (00:01:07)
33
No. 5. Borsószem (A Pea) (00:01:08)
34
No. 6. Elutasított kérés (Request Denied) (00:02:01)
35
No. 7. Csőlátó (Tunnel Vision) (00:00:59)
36
No. 8. Barlangban (In a Cave) (00:01:30)
37
No. 9. Ugróiskola (Hopscotch) (00:01:06)
38
No. 10. Kápolna (Chapel) (00:01:04)
39
No. 11. Tánczene (Dance Music) (00:01:37)
40
No. 12. Furcsa pár (Strange Couple) (00:00:46)
41
No. 13. Titkos kert (Secret Garden) (00:02:47)
42
No. 14. Posztludium (Postlude) (00:01:51)
Piano Sonatina No. 1, Op. 23, No. 5 (1961) (00:10:00 )
43
I. Andantino (00:02:14)
44
II. Marciale, con movimento (00:01:37)
45
III. Tranquillo cantabile (00:01:57)
46
IV. Veloce (00:03:27)
