Highly respected in his day as a scholar, composer and pianist, Walter Niemann fell out of favour after the Second World War. His prolific output for piano, which includes several full-scale sonatas, is mainly romantic and reflective in style, yet with an underlying passion. The Sonata No. 1 is notable for its contrast between impassioned writing and wistful expressiveness, while the heartfelt Sonata No. 2 ‘Nordic’, which features an exquisite and plangent slow movement, is testament to Niemann’s Scandinavian sympathies.
Niemann, Walter Rudolph
Piano Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 60, "Romantic"
1 I. Allegro moderato (Im romantischen Balladenton) 09:00
2 II. Poco adagio 09:12
3 III. Non troppo allegro e poco giocoso 06:40
3 Compositions for Piano, Op. 7
4 No. 1. Intrata: Allegro non troppo, ma sempre con molto espressione 02:39
5 No. 2. Erinnerung: Andante mesto 02:28
6 No. 3. Arabeske: Vivace e leggiero 01:41
Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 75, "Nordische"
7 I. Un poco sostenuto 08:16
8 II. Adagio mesto 08:18
9 III. Poco allegro agitato 07:52
Fantasie-Mazurka, Op. 53
10 Fantasie-Mazurka, Op. 53 04:08
