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A CANADIAN PIANO ALBUM
- Label: Signal Hill Music Works SHMW-CD-001
- Released: February, 2001
- Total Time: 67:50
This CD will be of particular interest to Piano Teachers and
advanced students
who may be interested in teaching or learning works by Canadian
Composers.
EIGHTEEN of the CD's twenty-three tracks are listed in the Toronto
Conservatory
Syllabus, and TWENTY of the CD's twenty-three tracks are listed in the
Conservatory Canada Syllabus. The recording contains the following
works:
- Hommage Maurice Dela
- "V": Valse Chromatique
S. C. Eckhardt-Gramatte
- Music For Piano Alexina
Louie
- Trois Pieces Pour la Legende Doree Clermont
Pepin
- Deuxieme Suite Rhene Jaque
- Six
Preludes Violet Archer
- Deux Etudes de Sonorite
Francois Morel
- Strangeness of Heart Harry Somers
- Ballerina Robert Fleming
- Scherzo Oskar
Morawetz
A Canadian Piano Album was nominated for a PRAIRIE MUSIC
AWARD - 2001
- in the category of Outstanding Classical Recording.
REVIEWS:
(From The Winnipeg Free Press -June 30,
2001 - James Manishen, reviewer)
"Canadian piano alive, well on
Reiser album"
"This feels like a stimulating album even before you put it
on: A thoughtfully
chosen program, intelligent notes and lovely booklet art. Then Allen
Reiser
starts his work and the expectation is nicely fulfilled."
"Reiser is a young Calgary pianist with a head, heart and
facility of honest
and high accomplishment. Under his command, the 10 pieces on display
would well
convince any outsider that Canadian piano music is fertile ground for
discovery."
(From The Canadian Music Teacher - Winter Edition,
2001
- Susan deBurgh, reviewer)
"A Canadian Piano Album - Allen
Reiser, pianist"
"Allen Reiser's recent CD release "A Canadian Piano Album" is
a welcome
addition to the resources that performers and teachers can draw upon
for
inspiration and guidance."
"Reiser's glittering rendition of "V": Valse Chromatique...is
delivered with
charm and panache."
"Reiser ably projects the driving rhythmical outer movements
of the Pepin
(Trois Pieces Pour la Legende Doree) but he also creates subtle
shadings in the
middle movement which many pianists would miss."
"The Jaque (Deuxieme Suite) gives Reiser a chance to display a
kaleidoscope of
tone colours and remarkably adept pedal effects."
"Veteran piano teachers will be grateful for a convincing
performance of
"Strangeness of Heart" by Harry Somers and after hearing the delightful
"Ballerina" by Robert Fleming, will be making plans to teach this
neglected
intermediate level gem."
"Reiser's thorough preparation extends to the unusually
interesting program
notes: They include biographies of the composers, background
information on the
selections, and illuminating quotes from the composers themselves....
The
integrity of Allen Reiser's playing shines throughout each performance
on this
CD. Bravo!
(From APTA News & Views - Fall, 2002 - Dale
Wheeler, reviewer)
"CD Corner"
"A Canadian piano Album
provides a welcome addition to the piano teacher's library...a
cornucopia of
works by some of Canada's most renowned composers... If for no other
reason, the
album is worth owning just for the copious liner notes which Mr. Reiser
provides."
"Canadian content and pedagogical considerations aside, this
album is worthy
of recommendation simply because it contains superb piano playing.
Allen brings
to each interpretation a conviction and clarity that only comes from
the
experience of teaching and performing the works. Comparing various
recordings of
these pieces....I had listened to every other version (of the Morel
Études),
including recordings by André Laplante and Mario Bernardi, and
found that it was
Allen Reiser's traversal which, for me, captures the essence of the
work."
"Many otherwise fine recordings are marred by poor sonics.
Such is not the
case here. The engineer did an excellent job of capturing the Steinway
in Mount
Royal College's Wright Theatre. The ambience of the hall is nicely
balanced with
the richness and immediacy of the piano's tone."
This CD
may be ordered directly from the artist by clicking on ORDER FORM.
It is also available from Rideau Music (Calgary), any Canadian
Music
Centre or www.amazon.com
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