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GOTTSCHALK: Piano Music for 2 and 4 hands. Alan Marks and Nerine Barrett.  Nimbus NI7045/6 107m DDD.

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The music of Gottschalk is entertaining and can nonetheless be extremely rewarding as in this well selected collage of piano music for various hands combinations. Nimbus have sensibly split the discs with the two hands featuring on one and the four hands on the other. Of the latter (four hands), I was deeply enthused by the various picturesque impressions including a scintillating caprice  and brilliant and heady impressionism in 'La Jota Aragonesa'. Alan Marks and Nerrine Barrett are perfectly in unison in the latter piece and they make many grand rhetorical flushes out of the delightful 'Orfa' and 'La Gallina', both singular representations of Gottschalk's pianistic prowess. My only quibble with this first disc was the short timing of just over three quarters of an hour but this is a 'two-for-one' offering and with such quality playing the skimpy timing was more than acceptable!

Alan Marks has the second disc to himself, which contains some very beautiful music. Some are obviously 'Americanized' pieces such as the 'Union' paraphrase but the Spanish connection is also deeply present. Marks plays the delightful 'Souvenirs d'Andalousie' with consummate skill. He is also a very persuasive advocate of the deeply felt meditation, 'The Dying Poet' and the host of other pieces that complete the disc, especially the trendy 'Tournament galop'. There is nothing overtly cerebral in this music but the melodies and fine craftsmanship are very endearing. Completists may wish to collect Hyperion's ongoing Gottschalk series superbly played by Marc Andre Hamelin but bargain hunters and other piano enthusiasts should be well served by this excellent Nimbus 'twofer'.

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:


Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:


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