These two pieces from the
Six Morceaux of Catoire’s Op 6 make a contrasting pair. The first opens as a gently flowing theme in 6/8, which is in a constant state of development; a cadenza bar, ad libitum, prefaces the restoration of the theme, espressivo, grazioso. The Scherzo, marked ‘Allegro con spirito’, is more adventurous in style—among its notable features are: the irregular bar-groupings (it is in 3/8, and the opening theme is of seven bars); the exceptional notation wherein some passages are marked with 3/8 bars for the right hand against 2/8 bars for the left (almost anticipating Bartók); the sudden eruptions of pure virtuosity, and the restrained ending.
from notes by Robert Matthew-Walker © 1999
