Burmeister, Ellen / Persichetti: Piano Sonatas 10 & 11
Album: Persichetti: Piano Sonatas 10 & 11   Collection:Classical
Artist:Burmeister, Ellen   Added:Dec 2010
Label:Starkland  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-03-27 Pull Date: 2011-05-29 Charts: Classical/Experimental
Week Ending: Apr 3
Airplays: 1

Recent Airplay
1. Aug 28, 2013: aug-28-2013
Tenth Piano Sonata: Iii. Andante, Tenth Piano Sonata: Ii. Presto, Serenade No. 7: Vi. Sleep, Serenade No. 7: V. Chase, Serenade No. 7: Iv. Sing, Serenade No. 7: Iii. Play, Serenade No. 7: Ii. Waltz, Serenade No. 7: I. Walk
2. Mar 31, 2011: orangeasm (gilt edition)
Eleventh Piano Sonata: I. Risoluto

Album Review
Larry Koran
Reviewed 2011-03-28
Burmeister, Ellen
Persichetti, Vincent, Two Piano Sonatas and a Serenade
Label: Starkland

Larry
Reviewed 2011-03-16

Burmeister, Ellen. Persichetti, Vincent, Two Piano Sonatas and a Serenade
Reviewed by Larry, 3/16/11
Persichetti (1915-1987) is a major figure in 20th century American music. He became head of the theory and composition departments at the Philadelphia Conservatory in 1941, and jointed the Julliard School of Music in 1963. He received commissions from major orchestras as well as composing music for piano.

Tenth Piano Sonata, Op. 67, 1955
Mildly dissonant, non-melodic motives, I find it of little interest.
1. Adagio 6:22 - Chords move through the pianos registers with varying rhythms and dynamics, with some sense of moods
2. Presto 3:53 - a bit like jazz
3. Andante 7:44 - conveys a country walk in intermittent mild rain
4. Vivace 4:32 - jazzy riffs again, but the rhythms are more interesting than the bright runs and dissonant chord progressions.
Serenade No. 7, Op. 55, 1952
(tracks 5-10, total length, 7:01)
Six brief pieces, 30 seconds to 2 minutes long, imitating children as they Walk, Waltz, Play, Sing, Chase, Sleep. Fragments of Debussy seen through a kaleidoscope.
Eleventh Piano Sonata, Op. 101, 1965
The composer writes: “This sonata has thick and thin sonorities, elusive and direct thematic material, objecting rhythms and gestures of approval and graciousness and grit.” The performer writes: “short, fragmentary phrase parts, fast tempos, slow tempos, massiveness countered by spritely counterpoint, severe intensity balanced by timid questioning.” Alas, no singing melodies, no classical harmony. An acquired taste.
11. Risoluto 5:08 12. Articolato 4:10
13. Sostenuto 2:36 14. Leggero 2:28
15. Conclusivo 3:10

Track Listing
1. Tenth Piano Sonata: I. Adagio   8. Serenade No. 7: Iv. Sing
2. Tenth Piano Sonata: Ii. Presto   9. Serenade No. 7: V. Chase
3. Tenth Piano Sonata: Iii. Andante   10. Serenade No. 7: Vi. Sleep
4. Tenth Piano Sonata: Iv. Vivace   11. Eleventh Piano Sonata: I. Risoluto
5. Serenade No. 7: I. Walk   12. Eleventh Piano Sonata: Ii. Articulato
6. Serenade No. 7: Ii. Waltz   13. Eleventh Piano Sonata: Iii. Sostenuto
7. Serenade No. 7: Iii. Play   14. Eleventh Piano Sonata: Iv. Leggero
  15. Eleventh Piano Sonata: V. Conclusivo