Orientale
In their fifth CD for Divine Art, Britain’s leading piano duo explore the east from Israel to Siberia, from Persia to Bali. The influences are diverse. McPhee spent much time in Bali, while John Mayer was in effect one of the founders of the “world music” genre. Anthony Goldstone has newly arranged Achron’s “Hebrew Melody” for piano duo and prepared a performing edition of Holst’s wonderful “Beni Mora” suite from the transcription made by Holst’s pupil Nora Day.
Most of these splendid pieces are recorded here for the first time.
Track Listing
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Adam Gorb:
- Yiddish Dances − no. 1 Khosidi (2:56)
- Yiddish Dances − no. 2 Terkishe (2:11)
- Yiddish Dances − no. 3 Doina (1:53)
- Yiddish Dances − no. 4 Hora (3:35)
- Yiddish Dances − no. 5 Freylachs (4:18) Camille Saint-Saëns:
- Caprice Arabe, op. 96 (7:03) Alexander Borodin:
- In the Steppes of Central Asia (6:25) Gustav Holst:
- Beni Mora, Op. 29 No. 1 - I. First Dance (5:40)
- Beni Mora, Op. 29 No. 1 - II. Second Dance (3:55)
- Beni Mora, Op. 29 No. 1 - III. In the Street of the Ouled Nails (5:57) Reinhold Glière:
- Orientale, op. 38 no. 17 (2:02) Colin McPhee:
- Balinese Ceremonial Music − I. Pemoengkah (2:41)
- Balinese Ceremonial Music − II. Gambangan (1:56)
- Balinese Ceremonial Music − III. Taboeh Teloe (4:50) John Mayer:
- Sangit Alamkara Suite − I. Alaap (3:23)
- Sangit Alamkara Suite − II. Gamakas (2:06)
- Sangit Alamkara Suite − III. Jawab-Sawal (2:41)
- Sangit Alamkara Suite − IV. Raga-Samcara (3:29)
- Sangit Alamkara Suite − V. Gaud Mallar Taan (5:01) Joseph Achron:
- Hebrew Melody (5:26)
Reviews
“Ear-tweaking combination of East and West… It’s fun, this – a neat idea, very well executed … startlingly effective. I really enjoyed this.
” —Andrew McGregor
“This fine husband-and-wife piano duo plays this colourful programme with a sensitivity to atmosphere that consistently beguiles the senses.
” —Julian Haylock
“Their trawling of two-piano music has brought to the surface masterworks that are both entertaining and informative. Seldom have they produced such a fascinating collection as in this, their latest disc, which brings together a set of eight pieces inspired by the east.
” —Michael Tumelty
“Evocative and delightful… a thoroughly enjoyable disc. That it’s also musically elevated, in performances of sweep and sensitivity, and splendidly recorded, is no surprise
” —Jonathan Woolf
“Divine Art cannot be faulted on generosity or originality.. The artistry of this piano duo is never in doubt… A generous, colourful and provocative collection of pieces with an Oriental theme all very well documented by Anthony Goldstone
” —Rob Barnett
“Ravishing sensitivity to mood and atmosphere… beguilingly sensuous
” —Julian Haylock
