Composer: Louis Vierne, Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer: Giulio Mercati
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Dynamic
Catalogue: CDS7924
Release: 2022
Size: 1.34 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Saint-Saëns: 3 Morceaux, Op. 1
01. No. 1, Méditation
02. No. 2, Barcarolle
03. No. 3, Prière
Vierne: 24 Pièces en style libre, Op. 31, Livre 1
04. No. 1, Préambule
05. No. 2, Cortège
06. No. 3, Complainte
07. No. 4, Épitaphe
08. No. 5, Prélude
09. No. 6, Canon
10. No. 7, Méditation
11. No. 8, Idylle mélancolique
12. No. 9, Madrigal
13. No. 10, Rêverie
14. No. 11, Divertissement
15. No. 12, Canzona
CD 02
Vierne: 24 Pièces en style libre, Op. 31, Livre 2
01. No. 13, Légende
02. No. 14, Scherzetto
03. No. 15, Arabesque
04. No. 16, Choral
05. No. 17, Lied
06. No. 18, Marche Funèbre
07. No. 19, Berceuse
08. No. 20, Pastorale
09. No. 21, Carillon sur la sonnerie du carillon de la chapelle du Château de Longpont (Aisne)
10. No. 22, Élégie
11. No. 23, Épithalame
12. No. 24, Postlude
Camille Saint-Saëns was 17 years of age when he composed his first printed work, the Trois Morceaux, which blends charming melodic creativity with a spiritual character. Louis Vierne’s 24 Pièces en style libre are unquestionably some of this composer’s most successful and popular works. Divided into two collections, these pieces are impressive for their great expressive quality, being evocative of places and people known to Vierne, alluding to musical forms both antique and impressionistic, and ranging in mood from the fiery to the serene.
Born in Saronno, Italy, Giulio Mercati began studying music at the age of six under the tutelage of his grandfather, Maestro Lamberto Torrebruno, a representative of an important family of musicians: he then completed his musical studies in organ, composition, and harpsichord under such distinguished musicians as Luigi Toja, Jean Boyer, Olivier Latry, Massimo Berzolla, Bruno Bettinelli, Emilia Fadini and Danilo Costantini. A musician of great versatility, Giulio Mercati is extremely active as a concert performer in Italy and abroad, primarily as an organ and harpsichord soloist, and as a continuo player in many important ensembles.