Complex, surprising pieces by a brilliant, underrated Russian 20th-century Romantic whose music, though similar to that of his friend Rachmaninoff, is more cerebral and harmonically adventurous.
These 34 "fairy tales" for piano highlight the composer's gift for musical storytelling, with their intense polyrhythms, intricate textures, and complex harmonic development.
Reprint of authoritative editions.
Foreword (Hamish Milne)
Introduction (Marc-André Hamelin)
Translator's Note (Stanley Appelbaum)
Editorial Credits
"Two Tales, op. 8"
1. Andantino (C minor)
2. Recitativo-Allegro (C minor)
"Three Tales, op. 9"
1. Allegro inquieto (F minor)
2. "Allegro alla serenata, con alcuna licenza (C major)"
3. "Allgretto vivo, odoroso (G major)"
"Two Tales, op. 14"
1. Ophelia's Song: Andantino con moto (F minor)
2. March of the Paladin: Allegro marciale (E minor)
"Two Tales, op. 20"
1. Allegro con espressione (B-flat minor)
2. "Campanella": Pesante. Minaccioso (B minor)"
"Four Tales, op. 26"
1. Allegro frescamente (E-flat major)
2. Molto vivace (E-flate major)
3. Narrante* a piacere (F minor)
4. Sostenuto (F-sharp minor)
"Tale" from Three Pieces, op. 31"
3. "Allgretto capriccioso, con molto tenerezza (G-sharp minor)"
Tale (without opus number)
Allegretto abbandonamente (D minor)
"Four Tales, op. 34"
1. "The Magic Violin: Tempo cangiando, abbandonament (B minor)"
2. Allegro cantabile e leggiero (E minor)
3. Allegretto tenebroso (A minor)
4. Molto sostenuto e semplice (D minor)
"Three Tales, op. 42"
1. Russian Folktale: Allegro sostenuto (F minor)
2. Phrygian Mode: Con moto disinvolto e grazioso (C phrygian)
3. "Moderato, narrante (G-sharp minor)"
"Two Tales, op. 48"
1. Dance Tale: Allegro risoluto (C major)
2. Tale of the Elves: Con moto flessibile (G minor)
"Six Tales, op. 51"
1. Allegro molto vivace...e sempre leggierissimo (D minor)
2. "Cantabile, tranquillo (A dorian)"
3. Allegretto tranquillo e grazioso (A major)
4. Allegretto con moto flessibile (F-sharp minor)
5. Presto (F-sharp minor)
6. Allegro vivace...(G major)
"Tales" from Romantic Sketches for the Young, op. 54"
Bird's Tale: Allegretto con moto capriccioso e sempre leggiero (C minor)
Tale-Scherzo: Allegro vivace...(E minor)
Tale-The Organ Grinder: Allegro assai (D minor)
Tale-The Beggar: Narrante (E minor)
