[.ca] Pno Wks

DEFINITELY WORTH A LISTEN:
This single disc assortment of short piano works by Cecile Chaminade (1857-1944) is long on beauty and originality. Academes may scoff at her talent; record companies may be reticent to release her music; most devotees of the piano will probably recognize her name, if only as a footnote or in passing. However, with pieces such as the Serenade, Op. 29 and Air de Ballet, Op. 30, alone, Chaminade can hold her own with distinction. And these are only a smattering of the jewels found on this enchanting CD. Eric Parkin, champion of "lost" composers, should be lauded for his genuine empathy with this music. He brings to it a breadth and depth, warmth and life that is most comforting. The recording, as well, burnishes the playing wonderfully. These are not 19th century salon miniatures for convenient upper-class tea parties. Most of these can stand easily beside Grieg's Lyric Pieces or Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, although I shudder at comparison at all. Because, really, Chaminade has her own voice. And it's a darned strong voice, too. She is an elegant composer.

• Pierrette, Op. 41: Allegretto
• Contes bleus No. 2, Op. 122: Andante sostenuto
• Minuetto, Op. 23: Allegro
• Danse creaole, Op. 94: Allegretto
• Serenade, Op. 29: Moderato
• Air de ballet, Op. 30: Allegro
• Six Romances sans paroles, Op. 76: No. 1: Souvenance - Andantino
• Six Romances sans paroles, Op. 76: No. 3: Idylle - Allegro moderato
• Six Romances sans paroles, Op. 76: No. 6: Meditation - Lento
• No. 4 from Six Pieces Humoristiques, Op. 87: Autrefois: Andante - Allegro vivo - Tempo 1
• Guitare, Op. 32: Allegretto
• Sous le masque, Op. 116: Allegro capriccioso
• Pas des sylphes: Intermezzo: Andante - Piu mosso, Quasi
• No. 2 From Six Etudes de concert, Op. 35: Automne: Lento - Con fuoco - Tempo 1
• La Lisonjera, Op. 50: Moderato molto capriccioso
• Air a danser, Op. 164: Ben tranquillo
• Pas des 'echarpes, Op. 37: Mouvement modere de valse - Andantino - A Tempo 1 - Allegro
• Toccata, Op. 39: Presto
• No. 4 From Feuillets d' Album, Op. 98: Valse arabesque: Allegro vivo capriccioso ben cantando
• Lolita (Caprice espagnol), Op. 54: Allegro vivo