Charakterstücke / Characteristic Pieces, Op. 3

Wanderlied / Wayfarer's Song


  • Recorded: 3rd December 2008
  • Record Place: Domovina Studio
  • First Release: 2008
  • (P) 2008 SUPRAPHON a.s.
  • Genre: Chamber Music

Artists

  • music by: Bedřich Smetana
  • piano: Jitka Čechová

Album

Jitka Čechová

Smetana: Piano Works 4 (Three Drawing-Room Polkas, Album Leaves, Three Characteristic Pieces, Sketches)

Catalogue Number: SU 3844-2
Published: 13th March 2009
Genre: Chamber Music
Format: 1 CD
A Treasure of Melodies, Album Leaves, Opp. 2 and 3, Sketches Opp. 4 and 5, Three Salon Polkas, Op. 7, Three Poetic Polkas, Op. 8
Jitka Čechová piano

The dramaturgy of the fourth CD comprising Bedřich Smetana's piano works also reflects the pedagogic activity that fully occupied him in the late 1840s and early 1850s. It gave rise to a host of charming compositions and cycles, rather small in proportion yet rich as regards the scale of moods, impressions, compositional techniques and expressive possibilities the composer gave rein to on these modest areas. A significant group of compositions is formed by the generally popular Album Leaves, which at the time Smetana succeeded in publishing under different titles (Stammbuchblätter, Charakterstücke or Skizzen, dedicated to Clara Schumann). The other group is formed by Polkas which, after the fashion of Chopin's mazurkas, begin stylising and transforming into independent concertante formations of idealiseddance (Trois polkas de salon, Trois polkas poétiques).

In the form of an easy-on-the-ear collage, the energetic young pianist and member of the renowned Smetana Trio Jitka Čechová offers anotherchapter of Smetana's piano works in a gamut of colours and moods.
Bedřich Smetana
Trois Polkas de salon, op.7
1. Polka in F sharp major 05:19
2. Polka in F minor 04:29
3. Polka in E major 01:55
Bedřich Smetana
Stammbuchblätter / Album Leaves, Op. 2
4. Prélude. Allegro 00:59
5. Chanson. Moderato 01:37
6. Vivace 01:15
7. Allegro comodo, sempre marcato 02:33
8. Moderato con anima 01:44
9. Andante ma non troppo 02:46
Bedřich Smetana
Charakterstücke / Characteristic Pieces, Op. 3
10. An Robert Shumann / To Robert Schumann 03:26
11. Wanderlied / Wayfarer's Song 02:26
12. "Es siedet und brauset un sicht" / "It Boils and It Roars" 01:49
Bedřich Smetana
Skizzen / Sketches , Op. 4
13. Prelude 01:36
14. Idylle 01:47
15. Erinnerung / Memory 02:35
16. Beharrliches Streben / Unrelenting Endeavor 02:21
Bedřich Smetana
Skizzen / Sketches, Op. 5
17. Scherzo - Polka 02:52
18. Schwermut / Melancholy 02:11
19. Freundliche Landschaft / Friendly Landscape 01:59
20. Rhapsody 03:41
Bedřich Smetana
Trois Polkas poétiques, op. 8
21. Polka in E flat major 02:36
22. Polka in G minor 04:44
23. Polka in A flat major 02:59
Bedřich Smetana
Melodien Schatz / Treasury of Melodies
24. Preludium. Lento 02:12
25. Capriccio. Vivace 03:04
26. Finale. Allegro vivace 02:13