Several recent birthdays. Domenico Scarlatti was born on October 26, 1685, 225 years ago. He wrote 555 keyboard (for either the harpsichord or early fortepiano) sonatas, which these days are often performed on the piano. Here is Sonata in A major K.322 performed on a Roland Digital piano by Nuccio Trotta, and this is Sonata in c minor, K. 129 performed on pianoforte by David Schrader.
Niccolò Paganini was born on October 27, 1782. We’d like to present two versions of La Campanella, the theme from the final movement of his Violin Concerto No. 2, played here by the violinist Judy Kang, and here, in the famous Liszt’s arrangement, by Alexandre Dossin (piano).
And lastly, one performance that allows us to celebrate two composers at the same time. Johann Strauss Jr. was born on October 25, 1825. Carl Tausig, whose birthday falls on November 4, arranged his famous Nachtfalter Waltz from the cycle Nouvelles soirées De Vienne. Tausig, born in 1841, was probably the most talented pianist of all of Liszt’s pupils (at least according to Hans von Bülow and Eugen d'Albert, also pupils of Liszt). Tausig died at the age of 29 at the height of his brief career. Listen to the transcription, played here by the pianist Sandro Russo.
November 1, 2010
Several recent birthdays. Domenico Scarlatti was born on October 26, 1685, 225 years ago. He wrote 555 keyboard (for either the harpsichord or early fortepiano) sonatas, which these days are often performed on the piano. Here is Sonata in A major K.322 performed on a Roland Digital piano by Nuccio Trotta, and this is Sonata in c minor, K. 129 performed on pianoforte by David Schrader.
Niccolò Paganini was born on October 27, 1782. We’d like to present two versions of La Campanella, the theme from the final movement of his Violin Concerto No. 2, played here by the violinist Judy Kang, and here, in the famous Liszt’s arrangement, by Alexandre Dossin (piano).
And lastly, one performance that allows us to celebrate two composers at the same time. Johann Strauss Jr. was born on October 25, 1825. Carl Tausig, whose birthday falls on November 4, arranged his famous Nachtfalter Waltz from the cycle Nouvelles soirées De Vienne. Tausig, born in 1841, was probably the most talented pianist of all of Liszt’s pupils (at least according to Hans von Bülow and Eugen d'Albert, also pupils of Liszt). Tausig died at the age of 29 at the height of his brief career. Listen to the transcription, played here by the pianist Sandro Russo.