Hermann / Horvath- Complete Piano Music
This year sees the centenary of Estonian independence. One of the main figures in the 'national awakening' in the half-century that preceded independence was Karl August Hermann (1851-1909). Hermann was indefatigable: he was a linguist, journalist, choir-leader, song-writer, historian, literary philologist, encyclopaedist and more. As a composer he is known only for his choral songs, but French pianist Nicolas Horvath has discovered the scores of his 26 surviving piano pieces. This first recording reveals them to be charming salon miniatures, blending echoes of Chopin and Grieg with the essence of Estonian folksong. Nicolas Horvath began his music studies at the Academie de Musique Prince Rainier III de Monaco. Known for his untrammelled musical explorations, he is an enthusiastic promoter of contemporary music: he has commissioned numerous works and collaborated with a number of leading contemporary composers, among them Valentin Silvestrov. He is also a rediscoverer of forgotten or neglected composers.
Tracklist:
- Summer Evening At Twilight
- Emotional Dream
- The Combat Of Life
- Winter And Spring
- National Waltz Of The Estonians
- Out Of Breath!
- Varied And Modulated Estonian Tune
- The Solution To The Puzzle
- Estonian Folksong
- Song Of Summer
- Funny Hans' Wedding
- Estonian Waltz
- Humming, Horn And Bagpipe Song
- Thoughts Of Life
- Musical Thought
- Festival March
- Waltz Mood
- Andantino In A Major
- Album Leaf
- Allegretto In F Major
- Lost Glove
- Concert-Étude In C Major
- Sad And Happy
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 1, Per Aspera Ad Astra
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 2, In Hilaritate
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 3, Polca Futura
This year sees the centenary of Estonian independence. One of the main figures in the 'national awakening' in the half-century that preceded independence was Karl August Hermann (1851-1909). Hermann was indefatigable: he was a linguist, journalist, choir-leader, song-writer, historian, literary philologist, encyclopaedist and more. As a composer he is known only for his choral songs, but French pianist Nicolas Horvath has discovered the scores of his 26 surviving piano pieces. This first recording reveals them to be charming salon miniatures, blending echoes of Chopin and Grieg with the essence of Estonian folksong. Nicolas Horvath began his music studies at the Academie de Musique Prince Rainier III de Monaco. Known for his untrammelled musical explorations, he is an enthusiastic promoter of contemporary music: he has commissioned numerous works and collaborated with a number of leading contemporary composers, among them Valentin Silvestrov. He is also a rediscoverer of forgotten or neglected composers.
Tracklist:
- Summer Evening At Twilight
- Emotional Dream
- The Combat Of Life
- Winter And Spring
- National Waltz Of The Estonians
- Out Of Breath!
- Varied And Modulated Estonian Tune
- The Solution To The Puzzle
- Estonian Folksong
- Song Of Summer
- Funny Hans' Wedding
- Estonian Waltz
- Humming, Horn And Bagpipe Song
- Thoughts Of Life
- Musical Thought
- Festival March
- Waltz Mood
- Andantino In A Major
- Album Leaf
- Allegretto In F Major
- Lost Glove
- Concert-Étude In C Major
- Sad And Happy
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 1, Per Aspera Ad Astra
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 2, In Hilaritate
- 3 Characteristic Pieces: No. 3, Polca Futura