Composer: Joseph Achron
Performer: Hagai Shaham, Arnon Erez
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue: CDA67841
Release: 2012
Size: 6997 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. Hebrew Melody, Op. 33
Hebrew Pieces, Op. 35
02. I. Hebrew Dance
03. II. Hebrew Lullaby
04. Eli Zion
05. Prelude, Op. 13
06. Souvenir de Varsovie, Op. 14
07. Coquetterie, Op. 15
08. Serenade, Op. 17
09. Les sylphides, Op. 18
10. Berceuse, Op. 20
11. Dance Improvisation, Op. 37
12. Scher, Op. 42
13. Marchen, Op. 46
14. Liebeswidmung, Op. 51
15. Canzonetta , Op. 52 No. 2
Stimmungen, Op. 32
16. I. D minor
17. II. B minor
Stimmungen, Op. 36
18. I. G minor
19. II. B major
Pastels, Op. 44
20. I. A minor
21. II. E minor
Stempenyu Suite
22. I. Stempenyu plays
23. II. Scher
24. III. Freilachs
CD 02
Suite No. 1 ‘en style ancien’, Op. 21
01. I. Prélude: Tempo giusto
02. II. Gavotte: Allegro moderato
03. III. Sicilienne: Andantino
04. IV. Fughetta: Non troppo allegro
05. V. Gigue: Allegro comodo
Suite No. 2, Op. 22
06. I. En passant: Vivo e scorrendo
07. II. Menuet: Allegretto aperto – Trio: Un poco meno mosso
08. III. Moulin: Vivace e gajamente assai
09. IV. Intermezzo: Cantabile e molto dramatico
10. V. Marionettes: Allegro molto e scherzando
Tableaux fantastiques ‘Suite No. 3’, Op. 23
11. I. Andantino espressivo
12. II. Allegretto con grazia ma un pochino malinconico
13. III. Largo e fantastico
14. IV. Allegro con agilità
Suite bizarre ‘Cycles des rythmes, Suite No. 4’, Op. 41
15. I. Étincelles: Allegro molto
16. II. Quasi valse: Allegro
17. III. Grâce: Allegretto
18. IV. Terrasses du palais: Calmato
19. V. Grimaces: Moderato
20. VI. Galanterie: Andantino
21. VII. Pastorale: Allegro vivo
22. VIII. Moment dramatique: Adagio e molto espressivo
23. IX. Marche grotesque: Allegro giocoso
Children’s Suite, Op. 57
24. I. Jumping with tongue out: Allegro grazioso (after Op 57 No 2)
25. II. Sleep, my puppy: Andantino (after Op 57 No 11)
26. III. Birdies: Moderato (after Op 57 No 12)
27. IV. March of Toys: Marciale (after Op 57 No 10)
28. V. Mamma, tell a fairy tale: Allegretto (after Op 57 No 4)
29. VI. The Top: Allegro (after Op 57 No 8)
30. VII. The Caravan: Lento (after Op 57 No 18)
31. VIII. Parade with presents: Alla marcia (after Op 57 No 20)
32. Pensée de Leopold Auer
33. La romanesca
Admired by Schoenberg (who described him as ‘one of the most underestimated of modern composers’), Joseph Achron was a boundary defying violinist-composer of extraordinary gifts. He drew on his Jewish faith to profound effect, from the early influence of his cantor father to his enthusiastic championing of the Society for Jewish Folk Music (which did for Jewish music what Bartók did for Eastern European folk culture). It’s hardly surprising that much of Achron’s music is for violin—he was a consummate player himself and a prolific recitalist. But what’s striking is how varied and exploratory his output is, delighting in experimentation, as the wonderfully named Suite bizarre demonstrates, just as much as the direct emotionalism of his transcriptions of Hebraic melodies. Who better to present this music than two artists steeped in similar traditions to Achron: Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez.