CD 1
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in C major "Spring", Op. 54, c. 1 00:08:37
1. Allegro molto moderato (The Nightingale Darted Skyward and Rejoices) 00:03:12
2. Andante (The Forestś Greetings) 00:02:36
3. Allegro giocoso (Merry Company) 00:02:41
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in A minor "From Childrenś Lives", Op. 54, c. 2 00:11:16
4. Allegro agitato (Ailing Child) 00:03:30
5. Andante con tenerezza (Lullaby) 00:03:52
6. Alla marcia (First Adventure) 00:03:44
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in F major "Holiday Time", Op. 54, c. 3 00:09:54
7. Vivace (Early in the Morning) 00:03:30
8. Andante cantabile (A Well in the Wood) 00:03:08
9. Allegro moderato (Amongst Children) 00:03:10
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in E minor "Fairy-Tale", Op. 54, c. 4 00:10:49
10. Andante triste (Princess in Distress) 00:03:44
11. Grave (Dragon) 00:02:39
12. Allegretto energico (Rescue by Prince Charming) 00:04:20
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in D minor "Brigand", Op. 54, c. 5 00:12:25
13. Con moto, deciso (Janosik ) 00:04:22
14. Cantabile (Starlit Night) 00:04:25
15. Feroce (Brigands Revelry) 00:03:31
Vitězslav Novák - Sonatina for Piano in G major "Christmas", Op. 54, c. 6 00:10:08
16. Quasi allegretto (Pastorale) 00:04:53
17. Andante (Advent Matins chant from the Time of Hus) 00:05:11
CD 2
Vitězslav Novák - Sonata eroica, Op. 24 00:22:14
1. Allegro patetico 00:12:00
2. Andante mesto - Allegro energico 00:11:24
Vitězslav Novák - Pan. A Poem in Tones, Op. 43 00:53:59
3. Prolog /att./ 00:07:38
4. The Mountains 00:07:57
5. The Sea 00:09:20
6. The Forest 00:11:37
7. Woman 00:17:06
CD 3
Vitězslav Novák - Bagatelles, Op. 5 00:07:02
1. Reminiscence (Andante con sentimento) 00:02:11
2. Scherzino (Vivace) 00:01:48
3. Ditty (Allegretto comodo) 00:01:23
4. Serenata (Allegretto capriccioso) 00:01:30
Vitězslav Novák - My May. Four Piano Pieces, Op. 20 00:10:03
5. Andante semplice 00:01:56
6. Molto tranquillo 00:02:28
7. Andante spianato 00:03:30
8. Allegro vigoroso (In Slovacko Style) 00:01:55
Vitězslav Novák - Songs on Winter Nights, Op. 30 00:17:15
9. Song on Moonlit Night. Andante amoroso 00:04:50
10. Song on Stormy Night. Allegro tempestoso 00:02:13
11. Song on Christmas Night. Andante misterioso 00:06:19
12. Song on Carnival Night. Allegro burlesco, rubato 00:03:41
Vitězslav Novák - Youth., Op. 55 00:22:38
13. Children's Tune. Allegretto semplice 00:00:52
14. In Good Humour. Andante quasi allegretto 00:00:37
15. Great Woe. Andante piangendo 00:01:18
16. Longing. Lento con sentimento 00:02:33
17. March. Con moto moderato, ben ritmico 00:01:38
18. Lullaby. Lento con sentimo 00:01:57
19. Moonlit Night. Andante cantando 00:02:28
20. Little Shepherd-Boy. Allegretto pastorale 00:01:47
21. A Game. Vivace 00:01:31
22. Two Czech Dances: 1. Neighbourś Dance. Tempo comodo 00:02:20
23. Two Czech Dances: 2. Furiant. Con fuoco 00:02:01
24. Devil's Polka. Andante con motto, grottesco 00:03:08
Frantisek Rauch piano
The Czech composer Vitezslav Novak (1870 - 1949) first became aware of his artistic talent relatively late, while a student at the gymnasium in Jindrichuv Hradec, and from then on embarked on a systematic and active cultivation of his musical gift, initially under the tutelage of local orchestra conductor Pojman. Still then he earned a repute as a brilliant pianist, giving proof of enviable performing skills which he subsequently still refined during conservatory lessons with Josef Jiranek. As a student of Antonin Dvorak's class, moreover, he saw the development of his compositional talent as well. The outcome of these compound early educative influences were several outstanding piano cycles which - for all their unbridled youthful temperament which sets them within a category in its own right, standing apart from the crux of Novak's oeuvre - by and large do aspire to a relevant niche in the gallery of Czech piano music. They encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from delightful romantic genre pictures (as in Sonatinas or Youth), to works conveying a serious philosophical message (such as the nearly hour-long, five-movement monumental composition, Pan). Novak's work requires an interpreter whose art combines the utmost technical sovereignty with creative and human maturity. In either respect, one could hardly imagine a better choice than was Frantisek Rauch (1910 - 1996), a loving champion and erudite propagator of Czech piano literature, and moreover Novak's personal pupil.
Novak on the wings of youthful zest and deep in meditation.
(Supraphon 2003)
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