La colombe 'Petite polka', RO60 Op 49 (Gottschalk) - from CDA67118 - Hyperion Records

Reviews

‘Immaculately delivered, recorded and presented in every way … every track is a delight. A joy to listen to’ (Gramophone)

‘Gottschalk's elegant sensuality has surely had its most gracious advocate in Philip Martin … this is Gottschalk playing at its most refined’ (International Record Review)

‘Played with refinement and elegance’ (Classic CD)

‘The shining brilliance of Gottschalk is superbly captured by Martin’s wonderful pianism. This musician’s personality, intelligent, technically transparent, and subtly colored, matches those traits in Gottschalk with unerring sympathy. I can only join the chorus of critical praise for previous instalments in this series’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Maintains the high standards of playing and recording that we have come to expect’ (Hi-Fi News)

Gottschalk astonished audiences with the exotic, syncopated rhythms of the Caribbean which he incorporated into such pieces as Les yeux créoles (Ojos criollos) (recorded on CD 1), Manchega (recorded on CD 2) and Bamboula (recorded on CD 3). As early as the Civil War, Americans were given a foretaste of the popular music that was to develop two generations hence. But whatever the rhythm, their craving for lively, vibrant music was insatiable and Gottschalk duly obliged. La Colombe is a sparkling salon polka reminiscent of his Polka in A flat (RO275) and, thematically, his own celebrated Ojos criollos.

Gottschalk stupéfia les auditoires en introduisant les exotiques rythmes syncopés des Caraïbes dans des pièces comme Les yeux créoles (Ojos criollos), Manchega et Bamboula. Dès la guerre de Sécession, les Américains eurent donc un avant-goût de la musique populaire qui allait se développer deux générations plus tard. Mais quel que fût le rythme, leur soif d’une musique vibrante, pleine d’entrain était inextinguible et Gottschalk, bien sûr, l’apaisa. La Colombe, étincelante polka de salon, rappelle sa Polka en la bémol (R0275) et, thématiquement, ses célèbres Ojos criollos.

extrait des notes rédigées par Jeremy Nicholas © 2000
Français: Hypérion

Gottschalk erstaunte sein Publikum mit den exotischen synkopierten Rhythmen der Karibik, die er in Stücke wie Les yeux créoles (Ojos criollos) (siehe Einspielung auf CD 1), Manchega (siehe CD 2) und Bamboula (siehe CD 3) aufnahm. Schon im Sezessionskrieg erhielten die Amerikaner dadurch einen Vorgeschmack auf die Richtung, welche die populäre Musik zwei Generationen später nehmen würde. Ungeachtet des spezifischen Rhythmus’ war ihre Lust auf beschwingte, lebhafte Musik jedenfalls unersättlich, und Gottschalk war ihnen gefällig. La Colombe ist eine funkelnde Salonpolka, die an seine Polka in As-Dur (RO275) erinnert und vom Thema her mit seinen berühmten Ojos criollos verwandt ist.

aus dem Begleittext von Jeremy Nicholas © 2000
Deutsch: Anne Steeb/Bernd Müller

Other albums featuring this work

Gottschalk: The Complete Solo Piano Music

Philip Martin (piano)

CDS44451/88CDs Boxed set (at a special price) — Download only

With his idiomatic and graceful style, pianist Philip Martin has established himself as the foremost exponent of Gottschalk. The composer had a unique spontaneity and individuality which Martin’s performances bring vividly to the fore. The complet ...» More

Recording details: May 1999
All Saints' Church, East Finchley, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Martin Compton
Engineered by Antony Howell & Julian Millard
Release date: February 2000
Total duration: 4 minutes 2 seconds

Cover artwork: Exotic Landscape (1910). Henri Rousseau (1844-1910)