Tamara Stefanovich - Influences (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

On her first PENTATONE album, pianist Tamara Stefanovich presents a highly personal selection of solo works by Bach, Bartók, Ives and Messiaen. Influences shows how these extraordinarily original and idiosyncratic composers let themselves be inspired by the exterior world, thereby demonstrating how authenticity comes from looking outside as well as inside. The repertoire spans from Bach’s embrace of Italian musical elements in his Aria variata alla maniera italiana, Bartók’s incorporation of folk elements in his Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, and Messiaen’s use of Hindu rhythms in Cantéyodjayâ to the collage of marching bands, sounds of trains and machinery, church hymns, ragtime and blues in Ives’ first piano sonata. In all cases, the exterior influences lead to deeply original and personal sonic galaxies. In that respect, the pieces presented here underline how identity results from a constant dialogue with our surroundings, ever changing and enriching our perceptions of ourselves and the world.

Tracklist:
1. Piano Sonata No. 1: I. Adagio con moto 09:33
2. Piano Sonata No. 1: IIa. Allegro moderato 01:40
3. Piano Sonata No. 1: IIb. Allegro "In the Inn" 04:19
4. Piano Sonata No. 1: III. Largo - Allegro - Largo, come pima 07:27
5. Piano Sonata No. 1: IVa. — 01:26
6. Piano Sonata No. 1: IVb. Allegro - Presto 03:45
7. Piano Sonata No. 1: V. Andante maestoso13:21
8. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 1, Molto moderato 01:04
9. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 2, Molto capriccioso 00:53
10. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 3, Lento, rubato 02:09
11. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 4, Allegretto scherzando 00:48
12. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 5, Allegro molto 00:56
13. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 6, Allegro moderato, molto capriccioso 01:32
14. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 7, Sostenuto, rubato 02:00
15. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74: No. 8, Allegro 01:58
16. Cantéyodjayâ 12:02
17. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Aria 02:42
18. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 1. Largo 01:16
19. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 2, — 01:07
20. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 3. — 00:56
21. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 4. Allegro 01:00
22. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 5. Un poco allegro 01:00
23. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 6. Andante 01:38
24. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 7. Un poco allegro 00:53
25. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 8. Allegro 00:48
26. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 9, — 00:39
27. Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989: Var. 10, — 02:32

Personnel:
Tamara Stefanovich, piano