Clare Hammond - Reflections - The Solo Piano Works of Andrzej and Roxana Panufnik - Import SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Clare Hammond

Description:

Promising Young British Artist Gives a Masterful Performance of Piano Works by Panufnik and His Daughter SACD hybrid disc. Andrzej Panufnik (1914–1991), whose 100th birthday is being celebrated this year, is a giant of 20th-century Polish music history, standing alongside Lutosławski and Szerocki. He defected to the United Kingdom in 1954 and pursued his musical career there, yet he never severed his ties to his homeland and its culture throughout his life. In recent years, he has also become known as the father of the talented composer Roxanna Panufnik. This debut piano album by Panufnik has been warmly received. As a pianist, Panufnik even co-premiered Lutosławski’s “Variations on a Theme by Paganini” for two pianos with the composer himself; however, his own piano works are surprisingly few in number, consisting of only the “12 Little Etudes” from 1947, “Reflections” from 1968, and the 1984 “Penta-Sonata”—only three works in total. All are technically demanding and dynamic. This album also features piano pieces arranged from her father’s works or composed by his beloved daughter, Roxanna, in the spirit of her father. Of particular interest are the piano solo arrangements of three of the five movements from “Ode to Chopin”—an early work by Panufnik from 1949, originally written for female vocalise and piano and later arranged for flute and string orchestra. Based on Polish folk songs, the fourth piece—a lively mazurka—is particularly captivating as a piano piece. “Prayer” is a piano piece that Roksana completed based on a song Panufnik left unfinished. Panufnik’s longing for his homeland and his pure emotions, expressed as he faced death, are deeply moving. Even more intriguing is “Second Homeland,” Roksana’s first piano piece, composed in 2003 and revised in 2006. The title, of course, refers to Poland, and the piece is a set of variations based on the Polish folk song “O Violet of the Forest.” The performance is by Claire Hammond, a young British pianist. Although Britain has a unique tradition of pianism, young pianists rarely emerge, making her a truly rare find. She delivers a fresh performance that makes full use of her advanced technique. She is undoubtedly a talent to watch. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Twelve Miniature Studies: 1. Sempre fortissimo e molto veloce
2.Twelve Miniature Studies: 2. Sempre pianissimo e molto legato
3.Twelve Miniature Studies: 3. Sempre fortissimo e molto marcato
4.Twelve Miniature Studies: 4. Sempre pianissimo e molto tranquillo
5.Twelve Miniature Studies: 5. Sempre fortissimo e molto agitato
6.Twelve Miniature Studies: 6. Sempre pianissimo e molto cantabile
7.Twelve Miniature Studies: 7. Sempre fortissimo, senza pedale e molto secco
8.Twelve Miniature Studies: 8. Sempre pianissimo, con pedale e molto espressivo
9.Twelve Miniature Studies: 9. Sempre fortissimo e molto appassionato
10.Twelve Miniature Studies: 10. Sempre pianissimo e molto dolce
11.Twelve Miniature Studies: 11. Sempre fortissimo e molto veloce
12.Twelve Miniature Studies: 12. Pianissimo e crescendo poco a poco il fortissimo
13.Hommage a Chopin: 1. Andante
14.Hommage a Chopin: 4. Vivo
15.Hommage a Chopin: 5. Andante
16.Pentasonata
17.Modlitwa (Prayer)
18.Second Home
19.Glo
20.Reflections