Composer: Earl Wild
Performer: Xiayin Wang
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Catalogue: CHAN10626
Release: 2010
Size: 232 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Grand Fantasy on Porgy and Bess
01. Introduction
02. I. Jasbo Brown Blues
03. II. Summertime
04. III. Oh, I can’t sit down
05. IV. My man’s gone now
06. V. I got plenty o’ nuttin’
07. VI. Buzzard Song
08. VII. It ain’t necessarily so
09. VIII. Bess, you is my woman now
10. IX. I loves you, Porgy – Bess, you is my woman now
11. X. There’s a boat dat’s leavin’ soon for New York
12. XI. Oh Lawd, I’m on my way
Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin
13. III. Liza
14. V. Somebody loves me
15. VII. The man I love
16. IV. Embraceable you
17. II. Oh, lady, be good!
18. I. I got rhythm
19. VI. Fascinating rhythm
Improvisation on Someone to Watch Over Me
20. Theme
21. Variation I. Barcarolle
22. Variation II. Brazilian Dance
23. Variation III. Tango
Piano Sonata
24. I. March. Allegro
25. II. Adagio
26. III. Toccata (à la Ricky Martin)
Earl Wild, the legendary piano virtuoso, who died on 23 January 2010 aged ninety-four, was fondly known as the Peter Pan of pianists on account of his perennial youthfulness and stamina when tackling the great romantic blockbuster concertos that formed the centrepiece of his repertoire. Throughout his life, Wild composed a large quantity of music, from television scores to ballet music, but mainly piano transcriptions of other composers’ works, which he imbued with his own distinct voice. Famous for a unique style that encompassed many influences, both classical and popular, he will be remembered as one of the great interpreters of Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and, perhaps most significantly, George Gershwin.
This CD comprises Earl Wild’s arrangements of well-known Gershwin tunes, as well as the Piano Sonata, an original composition from 2000, which carries strong imprints of jazz, blues, rag, and American folk music, while still remaining firmly rooted in the classical form. Wild’s Grand Fantasy on ‘Porgy and Bess’ explores well-known songs presented in a free-flowing way that ultimately produces the feel of a single work. Simply to list the songs as they are heard would be misleading, as they drift in and out, receiving different treatments. For example, phrases from ‘Summertime’ are used throughout the piece in transitions from one section to another, and ‘I got plenty o’ nuttin’’ is presented as a complex and lively march while ‘There’s a boat dat’s leavin’ soon for New York’ brings the work to a flashing conclusion.
In contrast to the Grand Fantasy, which uses several of Gershwin’s melodies within one single span, the Seven Virtuoso Études does exactly the opposite. Here seven Gershwin songs are treated separately, each showcasing challenging piano techniques and thus placing great virtuosic demands on the performer. ‘The man I love’ makes extensive use of difficult polyrhythm, and demanding scales and arpeggios govern ‘Embraceable you’ while ‘Somebody loves me’ uses legato to evoke a colourful but dreamy mood.
The works on this disc are performed by the young American pianist Xiayin Wang who with her consummate technical brilliance and fine musicianship has already achieved a high level of recognition for her commanding performances in such venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Very active on the concert platform, she was the featured performer at the conference of the League of American Orchestras in June. She has been championed by one of New York’s great musical patrons, Bill Schwartz.