Gottschalk: Piano Music, Vol. 8

This eighth volume completes our survey of the surviving output for solo piano by Louis Moreau Gottschalk.

Once again prepare to be charmed by a motley collection of Polkas, popular tunes and everything in between, all glittering in a tinsel of scales, arpeggios, octaves and chords. Philip Martin’s playing of this repertoire now needs no introduction; suffice to say he still plays as well now as he did in the previous seven volumes.

All of the music on this album is also available as part of the specially priced box set Gottschalk: The Complete Solo Piano Music: ‘There are some fine Gottschalk albums out there, but Martin’s is the only complete survey of the composer’s works for solo piano. Not only that, he has a unique affinity for this music that shines through in every bar … Martin reminds us just how consistently assured and interesting Gottschalk’s keyboard writing really is. Indeed, that’s why I found it so easy to listen to all 109 tracks in a single day. Sensitively planned and lovingly played, this set contains some of the most varied and enchanting piano sounds imaginable … a must-buy for pianophiles and LMG fans alike’ (MusicWeb International).

CDA67536  77 minutes 12 seconds
EDITOR'S CHOICE (Gramophone Magazine)
‘Quite early in the 14-year period that covers these eight volumes the Dublin-born pianist matured into becoming the pre-eminent Gottschalk interpreter. He understands exactly his stylistic range, fro ...
‘These are sympathetic performances, glowingly recorded’ (BBC Music Magazine)
‘Another neglected area of the 19th-century repertoire has been thoroughly explored and superbly championed by Martin’ (The Guardian)