This CD is the debut recording by Paul Chamberlain and features a collection of original works and transcriptions from the concert accordionist's repertoire.
Beginning with a transcription of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Minor(BWV 554) from his collection of eight short preludes and fugues for organ, the baroque theme is carried through to a delicate harpsichord work L'Egyptienne, by Jean-Phillipe Rameau. On this CD we also find 'Romance' - one of the most well known contemporary works by Franck Angelis. Sonata No 1, by Alexander Nagayev is a majestic sonata, and one of the pillars of the Russian accordion repertoire. The opening sequence demonstrates the power of the instrument, and with it's sometimes menacing war-like theme interlaced with moments of melancholy reflection, the piece explodes into a series of rich chords which recapitulate an earlier theme, before coming full circle to return to the opening motif albeit in a sense of despair.
The CD concludes with transcriptions of two piano works -. Khachaturian's Toccata, written in 1932 as the first movement of a three-movement suite for piano. Containing driving rhythms, derived from Armenian folk melodies with a ccontrasting and colourful mid section (transcription by Friedrich Lips) and Moszkowski's Spanish Caprice. |