| Josef Christof & Steffen Schleiermacher, Benjamin Kobler, Irmela Roelcke/James Avery Stefan Wolpe grew up in Berlin, performed in new music compositions of his own and his fellow composers, as well as playing for silent movies and in cabaret. He was part of 'an army of artists' against fascism, writing dozens of songs and marches for rallies and troupes. He studied with Busoni, Webern and Hermann Scherchen, was influenced by Schrecker, Scriabin, Hindemith, Satie and Paul Whiteman and influenced such composers as Carter, Feldman, Tudor and Cage. He was much afflicted by Parkinson's Disease in his last years. He lacked any gift for self-promotion and his music is frighteningly difficult, but his is, nonetheless, some of the most eloquent and compelling music of the last century. One his earliest pieces is March and Variations for two pianos, which opens this engaging disc. It is dedicated to pianist Irma Schoenberg, Wolpe's future wife, who helped him escape Germany and emigrate to Israel. Enactments is a challenging work in seven parts and this is its first appearance on CD. |
TRACKS
1 March and Variations for Two Pianos (1933) premiere recording 18:45 performed by Josef Christof & Steffen Schleiermacher2 The Good Spirit of a Right Cause (1942) 3:29 performed by Steffen Schleiermacher Enactments for Three Pianos (1953) first CD recording 3 Chant 5:44 4 In a State of Flight 8:13 5 Held In 3:16 6 Inception 3:07 7 Fugal Motions 12:07 performed by Josef Christof, Benjamin Kobler & Irmela Roelcke; conducted by James Avery |