Raff: Piano Works, Vol. 3 (Album Lyrique, Op. 17 • Cinq Eglogues, Op. 105 • Impromptu-Valse, Op. 94 • Fantaisie-Polonaise, Op. 106) - Tra Nguyen

Joachim Raff, Liszt’s amanuensis and confidante in Weimar, was one of Germany’s leading composers, a reputation based largely on his symphonic works. But he was prolific in other forms as well, excelling in chamber and vocal music, and especially in numerous and varied compositions for the piano. The Album Lyrique, Op.17 contains a distillation of Raff’s gifts for writing richly varied character pieces for the piano. They are often slow and meditative, but become increasingly dramatic and sonorous as the music progresses. The Cinq Eglogues, Op.105 are poetic gems, the Impromptu-Valse, Op. 94 attained huge popularity, whilst the Fantaisie-Polonaise, Op.106 reveals Raff’s bravura side.

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

Tracklist
 
Album lyrique, Op. 17 (1849 version) (1845) (00:46:54 )
1
Volume 1: No. 1. Reverie: Larghetto rubato * (00:04:08)
2
Volume 1: No. 2. Reverie: Lento * (00:04:11)
3
Volume 1: No. 3. Reverie: Andante con moto, quasi allegretto * (00:04:09)
4
Volume 2: No. 4. Romance: Moderato * (00:04:33)
5
Volume 2: No. 5. Ballade: Allegro * (00:04:37)
6
Volume 3: No. 6. Nocturne: Lento * (00:05:59)
7
Volume 3: No. 7. Nocturne: Larghetto * (00:04:49)
8
Volume 4: No. 8. Scherzo: Allegro * (00:05:22)
9
Volume 5: No. 9. Introduction and Fugue: Allegro * (00:09:04)
 
5 Eglogues, Op. 105 (1861) (00:18:26 )
10
No. 1. Allegro molto * (00:04:20)
11
No. 2. Andante con moto * (00:04:22)
12
No. 3. Andante quasi larghetto * (00:03:57)
13
No. 4. Andante mosso * (00:02:39)
14
No. 5. Presto giojoso * (00:03:06)
15
Impromptu-valse, Op. 94 (1860) * (00:04:15)
16
Fantaisie-polonaise, Op. 106 (1861) * (00:07:02)