Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann
Performer: Tessa Uys, Ben Schoeman, Ben Schoeman
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Somm
Catalogue: SOMMCD0637
Release: 2021
Size: 974 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’ (Arr. F.X. Scharwenka for Piano 4 Hands)
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
03. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
04. IV. Finale. Allegro molto
Schumann: Studies in Canonic Form, Op. 56 (Arr. C. Debussy for 2 Pianos)
05. No. 1 in C Major, Nicht zu schnell
06. No. 2 in A Minor, Mit innigem Ausdruck
07. No. 3 in E Major, Andantino
08. No. 4 in A-Flat Major, Innig
09. No. 5 in B Minor, Nicht zu schnell
10. No. 6 in B Major, Adagio
Formed in 2010, the Duo began their in-concert exploration of Scharwenka’s four-hand Beethoven transcriptions in 2015 and now bring that experience to recording for the first time. Volume 1 includes the premiere recording of Scharwenka’s piano duet transcription of Symphony No. 3, the ever-popular “Eroica”, and Debussy’s two-piano arrangement of Robert Schumann’s Six Studies in Canonic Form.
As Robert Matthew-Walker’s booklet notes reveal, Scharwenka had a direct line to Beethoven, having been taught by Franz Kullak, who was tutored by Carl Czerny whose own teacher, in turn, had been Beethoven himself. A composer of no mean stature in his own right, Scharwenka’s transcriptions were once widely admired, making masterpiece symphonies available to every home with a piano. Possessing, says Matthew-Walker, “significant qualities which are often overlooked today”, his “Eroica” transcription receives ardent, eloquently persuasive championing by Schoeman and Uys.
Scharwenka wasn’t alone in exploiting new developments in piano technology. Robert Schumann’s Six Studies in Canonic Form made use of the then novel “pedal-piano” (a standard piano with an additional bass pedal-board) even as he was looking back stylistically towards his idol, Bach. Debussy’s arrangement for two pianos adroitly accommodates Schumann’s original to “rescue this fine music from the obscurity of the pedal-piano repertoire”.
Born in Cape Town and a Royal Academy of Music Associate, Tessa Uys has an impressive reputation as a concert and broadcasting performer, appearing at major venues throughout the world. Her multi-prize-winning South African compatriot Ben Schoeman also has a busy international profile and is currently a senior lecturer in piano and musicology at the University of Pretoria.