From the Tchaikovsky, Anna will perform No. 7: July from the Seasons (Op. 37) and No. 8: Dialogue from Op. 72. Of the Sibelius pieces, she will play No. 5 from the Six Impromptus, and Romance from the Ten Pieces (Op. 24).
i Allegro
ii Andante
iii Presto
In composing a solo concerto in Italian style, Bach set himself the twofold task of simulating the contrasting ensemble forces of concerto grosso or tutti (the full orchestra) and concertino (soloist or group of soloists) and supplying the form (fast-slow-fast) and exuberant spirit of the Italian concerto grosso models. Originally written for a harpsicord with two manuals, the pianist has a far greater challenge defining and colouring ‘solo’ and ‘orchestra’ parts but that’s all right; hard work is good for a pianist’s soul!
i Allegro maestoso, ii Andante cantabile con espressione, F major, iii Presto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310 / 300d, was written in 1778. The sonata is the first of only two Mozart piano sonatas in a minor key (the other being No. 14 in C minor, K. 457). It was composed in the summer of 1778 around the time of his mother’s death, one of the most tragic times of his life.
Born in Dallas, Texas, James grew up in a musical family. He is a composer, educator and clarinettist. His compositions have been premieres in Tring by Anna with Alison Eales on clarinet.
i January: At the Fireside, ii February: Carnival, iii March: Song of the Lark, iv April: Snowdrop, v May: Starlit Nights, vi June: Barcarolle, vii July: Song of the Reaper, viii August: Harvest, ix September: The Hunt, x October: Autumn Song, xi November: Troika, xii December: Christmas
In 1875, Nikolay Matveyevich Bernard, the editor of the St. Petersburg music magazine Nouvellist, commissioned Tchaikovsky to write 12 short piano pieces, one for each month of the year. Bernard suggested a subtitle for each month’s piece. Tchaikovsky accepted the commission and all of Bernard’s subtitles, and in the December 1875 edition of the magazine, readers were promised a new Tchaikovsky piece each month throughout 1876.
i Impromptu
ii Berceuse
iii Tendres reproches
iv Danse caractéristique
v Méditation
vi Mazurka pour danser
vii Polacca de concert
viii Dialogue
ix Un poco di Schumann
x Scherzo-fantaisie
xi Valse-bluette
xii L'espiègle
xiii Echo rustique
xiv Chant élégiaque
xv Un poco di Chopin
xvi Valse à cinq temps
xvii Passé lontain
xviii Scène dansante: Inviatation au trèpak
Eighteen pieces in Op. 72 were his last works for solo piano, completed in 1893 in Klin. It is dedicated to Yekaterina Laroche.
The nocturnes, along with the barcarolles, are generally regarded as the composer’s greatest piano works. Fauré greatly admired the music of Chopin, and was happy to compose in forms and patterns established by the earlier composer. Morrison notes that Fauré’s nocturnes follow Chopin’s model, contrasting serene outer sections with livelier or more turbulent central episodes. The composer’s son Philippe commented that the nocturnes “are not necessarily based on rêveries or on emotions inspired by the night. They are lyrical, generally impassioned pieces, sometimes anguished or wholly elegiac.”
Impromptu No. 1 in G minor
Impromptu No. 2 in G minor
Impromptu No. 3 in A minor
Impromptu No. 4 in E minor
Impromptu No. 5 in B minor
Impromptu No. 6 in E major
The Op. 5 set was published in 1893, about the time of his set of orchestral tone poems Kullervo and the Karelia Suite. Sibelius wrote his piano music at a time when a composer could earn extra money by writing salon pieces for piano. Sound recording was still in its infancy, so many people learned to play the piano for entertainment. Sibelius’ music for piano is well written, and very musical.
No. 1: Impromptu
No. 2: Romance (A major)
No. 3: Caprice
No. 4: Romance (D minor)
No. 5: Valse
No. 6: Idyll
No. 7: Andantino
No. 8: Nocturno
No. 9: Romance (D-flat major)
No. 10: Barcarola
The Ten Pieces, Op. 24, is a collection of compositions for piano written by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius around the turn of the twentieth century, variously from 1895 to 1903. The most famous piece of the set is by far No. 9, the Romance in D-flat major
Anna Le Hair - Piano
Anna Le Hair gained an honours degree in music at Edinburgh University, and her postgraduate studies were at the Royal College of Music, London. Anna has a busy and varied career as a performer, teacher, accompanist, ABRSM examiner, adjudicator and conductor. Engagements have included recitals, both solo and as chamber musician and accompanist, as well as soloist in several piano concertos, in many venues in London and around Britain and abroad. Anna currently teaches piano and accompanies at St Albans School, and she also has a thriving private teaching practice at her home in Tring. She is the founder of and runs the successful ‘Piano and more’ concert series at St Peter and St Paul church in Tring and is a founder member of the Icknield Ensemble. She completed her first international examining tour for ABRSM in summer 2019 to Malaysia.
Piano
7 September 2023
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