Composer: Ronald Center
Performer: Tamás Fejes, Balázs Renczés, Christopher Guild
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Toccata Classics
Catalogue: TOCC0723
Release: 2024
Size: 1.21 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Sonata for Violin and Piano
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante con espressione
03. III. Allegro feroce
04. Little Canon
05. Duet
Giglot and Toccata
06. Rumba (Giglot)
07. Toccata
From Childhood
08. The Merry-go-round
09. The Bogey-man
10. Doll’s Waltz
11. March
12. Burlesca
Suite for Piano
13. I. Allegro molto
14. II. Andante (Children at Play)
15. III. Allegro vivace
16. Phantasy
17. Melodie
Seven Preludes
18. No. 1, Allegro
19. No. 2, Poco adagio
20. No. 3, Vivace
21. No. 4, Andante
22. No. 5, Allegro
23. No. 6, Lento
24. No. 7, Molto allegro (energico)
Prelude and Fugue in E
25. Prelude. Allegretto
26. Fugue. Allegro moderato
Prelude and Fugue in G sharp
27. Prelude
28. Fugue
Prelude and Fugue in A
29. Prelude. Allegro molto
30. Fugue. Allegro ma non troppo
Prelude, Aria and Finale
31. Prelude. Allegro
32. Aria. Adagio
33. Finale. Poco adagio – Allegro
Ronald Center (1913–73) is sometimes described as ‘the Scottish Bartók’, and his music does indeed capture some of the wild energy of the Scottish landscape in a style of Bartókian asperity. It also shows affinities with the music of Busoni, Debussy, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams, absorbed into an individual style that is audibly Scots. Center was essentially a miniaturist, his meticulous craftsmanship allowing him to encompass a range of emotions – heart-felt sorrow, grim humour, relaxed lyricism, dark despair – in a crisp and succinct manner, animated by sharp wit and irony. Many of the works recorded here also show off his skill as a contrapuntist and one, surprisingly, is a rumba.