Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
Find out more: ABOUT PIANODAO REVIEWS
The composer Bohuslav Martinů’s name will be known to many readers, but perhaps fewer will be familiar with his piano music, other than the gorgeous miniature Colombine Dances, which was such a popular choice when it was set for ABRSM Grade 6 a few years ago.
Born in 1890, Martinů is rightly regarded as one of the great Czech composers of the early 20th century. He was impressively prolific, leaving 15 operas, 14 ballet scores, 6 Symphonies, and a very large body of instrumental and choral music. His musical influences were eclectic – embracing modernism, neo-classicism, jazz and Latin American dance music.
All of which are evident in a new collection of previously unknown piano works, brought to us by Bärenreiter.
