Franz Reizenstein : Piano Music
Lyrita SRCD2342 (3 CDs)
Martin Jones
Release date: 13-10-2014
Copyright : (C) 2014 Wyastone Estate
Disc 1
- 1.-7. Suite Op.6 (1936) 15.40
- 1. I. Prelude 1:37
- 2. II. Aria 2:41
- 3. III. Burlesca 2:18
- 4. IV. Siciliana 2:22
- 5. V. Marcia Barbara 1:16
- 6. VI. Lullaby 2:58
- 7. VII. Tarantella 2:25
- 8. Impromptu Op.14 (1939) 6.11
- 9. Scherzo in A - Concert Piece for piano Op.20 (1947) 6.23
- 10. Intermezzo Op.17 (1941) 3.26
- 11.-13. Sonata No.1 in B Op.19 (1944) 31.05
- 11. 1st movement 11:58
- 12. 2nd movement 9:29
- 13. 3rd movement 9:35
- 14. Legend Op.24 (1949) 5.12
- 15. Scherzo Fantastique Op.26 (1950) 9.44
Disc 2
- 1.-12. Twelve Preludes & Fugues Op.32 (1953/54) 65.56
- 1. I. in C 4:46
- 2. II. In G 7:32
- 3. III. In F 4:02
- 4. IV. In A 3:25
- 5. V. in E 4:59
- 6. VI. In e-Flat 8:36
- 7. VII. In A-Flat 5:43
- 8. VIII. In D 2:40
- 9. IX. In B-Flat 6:02
- 10. X. in D-Flat 3:43
- 11. XI. In B 7:49
- 12. XII. In F-Sharp 6:32
- 13. Variations on ‘The Lambeth Walk’ (c.1958) 13.32
Disc 3
- 1.-12. Zodiac - piano suite Op.41 (1964) 23.20
- 1. I. Fanfare 1:16
- 2. II. Enharmonics 1:22
- 3. III. Intermezzo 1:18
- 4. IV. Imitations 1:22
- 5. V. Variations 3:41
- 6. VI. Interplay 1:14
- 7. VII. Burlesque 2:05
- 8. VIII. Fughetta 1:24
- 9. IX. Textures 3:00
- 10. X. Mysteries 2:35
- 11. XI. Scherzino 1:43
- 12. XII. Polonaise 2:16
- 13.-17. Five Modern Pieces for Piano (1960) 9.05
- 13. I. Secret Story 1:17
- 14. II. Little Fugue in 3 parts 1:34
- 15. III. Siciliana 2:02
- 16. IV. Victory 1:17
- 17. V. Toccatina 1:22
- 18.-20. Sonata No.2 in A-flat Op.40 (1964) 26.48
- 18. 1st movement 9:42
- 19. 2nd movement 9:12
- 20. 3rd movement 7:53
- 21.-28. Malcolm Arnold ‘English Dances’ arr. for piano duet (c.1958) with Adrian Farmer
- 21.-24. Set 1 Op.27 8.31
- 21. I. Andantino 2:28
- 22. II. Vivace 1:56
- 23. III. Mesto 2:34
- 24. IV. Allegro risoluto 1:32
- 25.-28. Set 2 Op.33 9.55
- 25. I. Allegro non troppo 3:17
- 26. II. Con brio 1:48
- 27. III. Grazioso 2:25
- 28. IV. Giubiloso 2:25
Franz Theodor Reizenstein was born in
Nuremberg on 7 June 1911 into an artistic and musical family who
nurtured the gifts as a pianist and as a composer which he displayed
from early childhood. In 1930 he went to the Berlin State Academy,
studying composition with Paul Hindemith and piano with Leonid
Kreutzer. Upon Hitler’s rise to power, he was forced to leave
Germany and in 1934 came as a refugee to London where he studied
composition with Ralph Vaughan Williams at the Royal College of
Music and later took private piano lessons with Solomon.
Following the war Reizenstein built a successful career as a concert
pianist, often giving recitals, appearing as a soloist in concertos,
and performing as a member of a piano trio, which he founded.
Though a well-respected teacher, Reizenstein was never offered a
position as a composition tutor in his adopted country and had to be
content instead with appointments as professor of piano at the Royal
Academy of Music in 1958 and at the Royal Manchester (now the Royal
Northern) College of Music in 1962, posts he held until his untimely
death in London at the age of 57 on 15 October 1968.