FOERSTER J.B. (1859-1951) COMPLETE SOLO PIANO MUSIC / P.Goodson piano (4CD)

Josef Bohuslav Foerster (1859-1951) - Complete Piano Music

CDI

Dreaming Snení Op.47 [1898] MU

1. I. Sostenuto molto 5:36

2. II. Tempo di valse 3:25

3. III. Andante con moto 3:15

4. IV. Allegretto grazioso 1:56

5. V. Allegro 3:47

Roses of Remembrance Ruze Vzpomínky Op.49 [1902] MU

6. I. Allegro moderato 4:36

7. II. Moderato ma appassionato 1:47

8. III. Tempo di valse lente 3:16

9. IV. Andante ma non troppo 3:48

10. V. Tranquillo 3:07

11. VI. Andante comodo 4:19

Evening Music Hudba Vecera Op.79 [1904] UE

12. I. Andante con moto 3:57

13. II. Andante ma con molto passione 4:14

Charcoal Sketches Crty úhel Op.136 [1927] MU

14. I. Moderato 2:04

15. II. Allegro grazioso 2:38

16. III. Appassionato 2:01

17. IV. Allegro giusto 3:50

Impressions Imprese Op.73 [1908-09] UE

18. I. Andante comodo ma non troppo lento 2:51

19. II. Allegro ma non troppo 3:40

20. III. Allegretto scherzando 2:27

21. IV. Con moto 2:30

22. V. Allegro con brio 4:06

Total time 73:41

CDII

1. The Masks of Eros Erotovy masky Op.98 [1912] UE 18:17

Osenice Suite Osenická suita Op.129 [1926] FS

2. I. Allegro moderato ma appassionato 4:44

3. II. Tranquillo e moderato ma non troppo lento 5:07

4. III. Allegro impetuoso 3:37

5. IV. Andante solenne 6:23

Jicín Suite Jicínská Suita Op.124 [1923] FAU

6. I. Allegro moderato, ma con spirito 7:26

7. II. Allegretto grazioso 5:03

8. III. Allegro giusto 4:30

9. IV. Largo e lugubre 5:04

Total time 60:28

CDIII

And the apple trees blossomed A jablone kvetly Op.52 [1905] BOS

1. I. Dream / Sen 2:29

2. II. Love Song / Písen lásky 4:10

3. III. Parting / Loucění 6:18

4. IV. Halcyon Day / Blažený den 2:32

The Day - Three pieces for young pianists Den, tri klavírní skladby pro mladé pianisty Op.153b [1939] FS

5. I. Morning / Jítro 2:15

6. II. Noon / Poledne 2:18

7. III. Evening / Vecěr 2:13

Miniatures for piano Miniatury pro klavír Op.17 [1885] BK

8. I. Allegretto grazioso 1:43

9. II. Andante 1:49

10. III. Andantino 2:00

11. IV. Allegro con brio 0:54

12. V. Allegretto 1:19

Pages from my Diary Listy z mého deníku Op.18b [1890] HB

13. I. Allegro grazioso 2:44

14. II. Allegro appassionato 1:37

15. III. Andante sostenuto 3:26

16. IV. Allegretto 2:05

17. V. Molto moderato et espressivo 1:42

18. Greetings to President T.G. Masaryk on his 80th birthday Pozdrav panu presidentu T.G. Masarykovi k 80tim narozeninám [1930] CS 0'58

19. Bagattella SN 1:15

20. Melodie [1892] JV 2:45

21. Lullaby Ukolébavka [1942] FAU 2:01

Two pieces for the left hand Dve skladby pro klavír levou rukou Op.142 [1930] FS

22. I. Notturno 4:25

23. II. Fantastico 4:32

Total time 58'17

CDIV

Esquisses de danse Op.48 [1906] BOS

1. I. Danse des Enfants / Dance of the Children 2:27

2. II. Danse des Amoureux / Dance of the Lovers 2:59

3. III. Danse des Mariés / Dance of the Married Couples 2:32

4. IV. Danse des Vieux / Dance of the Elders 3:29

Music for my young son Skladby pro mého synácka Op.72 [1908-09] FS

5. I. Andante 3:38

6. II. Moderato 2:47

7. III. Allegro ma non troppo 1:33

8. IV. Molto moderato 3:12

9. V. Andante 2:24

10. Memories of Youth Vzpomínka z mládí [1942] FAU 2:35

11. Petites esquisses [1908] FAU 2:20

12. Moment musicale [1892] JV 2:08

13. Allegretto capriccioso [1892] FAU 4:04

Spring Moods Jarní Nálady Op.4 [1887] FAU

14. I. Tempo di valse 2:20

15. II. Allegro ma non troppo 1:46

16. III. Allegretto grazioso 2:52

Allegro and Scherzo Op.5 [1885] FAU

17. I. Allegro 4:51

18. II. Scherzo 3:09

19. March for the National Youth Front Pochod Mladé národní jednoty [1939] FS 3:47

20. Wiegenlied [unpublished] 1:02

21. Zuckerpuppe tanzt [unpublished] 1:15

Total time 58:02

Patricia Goodson piano

"Josef Bohuslav Foerster was born in this house on 30 December 1859 in order, through his music, to raise us to the heights of beauty."

Although little known today in the wider musical world and even in his own country, Czech composer Josef Bohuslav Foerster was highly revered among his contemporaries. Foerster was active during the Czech National Revival, when the Czech art and culture was undergoing a true renaissance. This collection comprises the composer's complete solo piano music, which is characterised by fluid, lyrical melodic lines and unusual harmony. Each of these pieces was written as a dedication, gift or personal commission, showing the importance with which Foerester treated his family and friends. Many of the works contain a certain imagery or derive from a particular back story; one of these is the 1908 work Music for my young son - containing references to the infant Albert's favourite folk tune - which almost seems to foretell the young boy's tragic death, aged 16, in 1921. Among the other works in the collection is Dreaming; perhaps the composer's most popular piano work. The pieces are performed by renowned American pianist Patricia Goodson. Having lived in Prague since 1991, Goodson regularly wins praise all over the world for her interpretation of the Czech piano repertoire.