Lowenthal, Jerome (With Lowenthal, Carmel) / Franz Liszt, Annees De Pelerinage (Complete), Christmas Tree Suite, Books 2 &3

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-07-17 Pull Date: 2011-09-18 Charts: Classical/Experimental
Week Ending: Aug 14 Jul 31 Jul 24
Airplays: 1 1 2

Recent Airplay
1. Aug 08, 2011: Mixed Up Class
Les cloches de G***** (from Album d'un voyageur)
3. Jul 20, 2011: consummate classical
Iii. Tarantella (9:17), Vi. Vallee D'oberman (11.32)
2. Jul 27, 2011: consummate classical
Disc C. Track 1. Annees De Pelerinage: Troisieme Annee. I. Angelus! (7:25), Disc A. Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee: Suisse. Les Cloches (10:27)
4. Jul 20, 2011: Grace
Iv. Les Jeux D'eaux A La Villa D'este (6:59)

Album Review
Larry Koran
Reviewed 2011-07-08
Liszt, Franz / Année de pèlerinage (complete); Les Cloches de G*****; Venezia e Napoli; Christmas Album, Books 2 & 3. (Jerome Lowenthal piano)
Label: Bridge

Larry K.
Reviewed 2011-07-09

The 3 volumes of music by Liszt (1811-1886) related to his 10 years’ experience after eloping with the Comtesse d’Agoult, and the epilogue of these years. The CD insert contains some of his love letters to the Comtesse. It also describes in detail what particular place, work of art, or idea Liszt sought to reflect in each piece, as well as the musical or pianistic techniques he utilized and the biographical meaning of the piece. The Christmas Tree Suite was composed for his granddaughter, and outlines the celebration of Christmas eve.

Disc A. Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee: Suisse.
1. Les Cloches de G(eneva)) (10:27). Bells, then a haunting theme
2. I. Chapelle De Guillaum Tell (4:53). Heroic, with chapel echoes
3. Ii. Au Lac De Wallenstadt (2:32), melancholy, waves sigh, oars dip.
4. Iii. Pastorale (1:30). Alpine folk music.
5. Iv. Au Bord D'une Source (3:23). Gurgling spring and human pleasure.
6. V. Orage (4:40). Storm, with thunder, rain, wind.
7. Vi. Vallee D'oberman (11.32). questions, chorale, storm, nature shines
8. Vii. Eglogue (3:26). Church bells and moonlight
9. Viii. Le Mal Du Pays (4:56). Homesickness, nuances of unhappiness
10. Ix. Les Cloches De Geneve: Nocturne (6:13). Bells, elegiac nocturne.

Disc B. Annees De Pelerinage: Deuxieme Annee: Italie.
1. I. Sposalizio (6:09). Rafael’s Marriage of the Virgin. Harmonious.
2. Ii. Il Penseroso (3:49). Dark melody over shifting harmonies.
3. Iii. Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa (2:38). A simple march.
4. Iv. Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca (4:39). Tender and warm, without passion
5. V. Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca (5:47). Dynamic contrasts, virtuosity
6. Vi. Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca (5:35). Yearning melody and harmonies.
7. Vii. Apres une lecture de Dante (14:50). Devil, passion, then celestial.
8. Venezia E Napoli. I. Gondoliera (5:21). A gondolier’s song
9. Ii. Canzone (3:04). Grief, taken from Rossini’s Otello.
10. Iii. Tarantella (9:17). Pianistic ingenuity, brilliance and joy.

Disc C. Annees De Pelerinage: Troisieme Annee. [Religious service, death rites]
1. I. Angelus! Priere Aux Anges gardiens (7:25). Positive faith.
2. Ii. Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este I: Threnodie (4:47). Despair. Cypress = death.
3. Iii. Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este II: Threnodie (7:58). More despair.
4. Iv. Les Jeux D'eaux A La Villa D'este (6:59). Fountains in ecstasy.
5. V. Sunt Lacrymae Rerum (En Mode Hongrois) (4:38). Sad.
6. Vi. Marche Funebre (5:06). Funeral march.
7. Vii. Sursum Corda ((3:07). Positive expression of faith.
8. Christmas Tree Books 2 & 3. V. Scherzoso (2:31). Merrymaking
9. Vi. Carillon (2:20). Chimes.
10. Vii. Schlummerlied (2:50). Cradle song, endearment
11. Viii. Altes Provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (1:32). A carol, transcribed.
12. Ix. Abendglocken (4:30). Evening bells.
13. X. Ehemals (3:07). Old times, passion subsides
14. Xi. Ungarisch (2:06). The composer as a warrior.
15. Xii. Polnisch (4:05). A musical portrait of Polish companions.

Track Listing
1. Disc A. Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee: Suisse. Les Cloches (10:27)   19. Ii. Canzone (3:04)
2. I. Chapelle De Guillaum Tell (4:53)   20. Iii. Tarantella (9:17)
3. Ii. Au Lac De Wallenstadt (2:32)   21. Disc C. Track 1. Annees De Pelerinage: Troisieme Annee. I. Angelus! (7:25)
4. Iii. Pastorale (1:30)   22. Ii. Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este I: Threnodie (4:47)
5. Iv. Au Bord D'une Source (3:23)   23. Iii. Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este Ii: Threnodie (7:58)
6. V. Orage (4:40)   24. Iv. Les Jeux D'eaux A La Villa D'este (6:59)
7. Vi. Vallee D'oberman (11.32)   25. V. Sunt Lacrymae Rerum (En Mode Hongrois) (4:38)
8. Vii. Eglogue (3:26)   26. Vi. Marche Funebre (5:06)
9. Viii. Le Mal Du Pays (4:56)   27. Vii. Sursum Corda ((3:07)
10. Ix. Les Cloches De Geneve: Nocturne (6:13)   28. Track 8. Christmas Tree Books 2 & 3. V. Scherzoso (2:31)
11. Disc B. Annees De Pelerinage: Deuxieme Annee: Italie. I. Sposalizio (6:09)   29. Vi. Carillon (2:20)
12. Ii. Il Penseroso (3:49)   30. Vii. Schlummerlied (2:50)
13. Iii. Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa (2:38)   31. Viii. Altes Provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (1:32)
14. Iv. Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca (4:39)   32. Ix. Abendglocken (4:30)
15. V. Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca (5:47)   33. X. Ehemals (3:07)
16. Vi. Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca (5:35)   34. Xi. Ungarisch (2:06)
17. Vii. Apres Une Lecture De Dante (14:50)   35. Xii. Polnisch (4:05)
18. Track 8. Venezia E Napoli. I. Gondoliera (5:21)   .