Rota: Complete Solo Piano Works, Vol. 1 - Eleanor Hodgkinson

Nino Rota embraced neo-Classical, neo-Romantic and even neo-Baroque affiliations. His music prized melodic directness and communicative generosity and it is not therefore surprising that he should be best known for his epochal film scores—the music for The Godfather pre-eminently.

Nino Rota’s 15 Preludes utilise melodic and harmonic explorations to chart music that is agitated and melancholic, but also joyous and comedic. The Fantasia in G comprises seven themes—folkloric, droll and ultimately heroic. A late work, the 7 Pezzi difficili per bambini is generous in its emotional directness.

This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D

Tracklist
 
15 Preludes (1964) (00:21:00 )
1
No. 1. Allegro molto (00:01:43)
2
No. 2. Allegro, ma espressivo e delicato (00:01:41)
3
No. 3. Allegretto con spirito (00:01:26)
4
No. 4. Andante sostenuto ed espressivo (00:01:53)
5
No. 5. Con impeto (00:02:13)
6
No. 6. Andante (00:01:57)
7
No. 7. Allegro con spirito (00:01:30)
8
No. 8. Lento con accento (00:02:16)
9
No. 9. Allegretto quasi andantino (00:01:41)
10
No. 10. Allegro mosso e marcato (00:01:10)
11
No. 11. Andante senza lentezza (00:02:39)
12
No. 12. Allegro (00:01:56)
13
No. 13. Andante cantabile (00:02:23)
14
No. 14. Allegro non troppo e marcato (00:01:44)
15
No. 15. Allegro robusto (00:01:28)
16
Fantasia in G Major (1945) (00:16:32)
 
7 Pezzi Difficili per Bambini (7 Difficult Pieces for Children) (1971) (00:12:00 )
17
No. 1. Salti e giochi (Skips and Games) (00:01:00)
18
No. 2. Capriccio (Caprice) (00:01:12)
19
No. 3. Cantilena (Lullaby) (00:02:40)
20
No. 4. Le scalette (Little Scales) (00:01:50)
21
No. 5. Grillo notturno (Cricket in the Night) (00:01:33)
22
No. 6. Puccettino nella giungla (Puccettino in the Jungle) (00:02:09)
23
No. 7. L'acrobata (The Acrobat) (00:01:46)