A Couple of Men From 1810: Piano Music of Robert Schumann and Fréderic Chopin
Findlay Cockrell (piano)
This 2-CD set presents music for piano by two of the most loved and prolific composers for that instrument who have ever lived, and who just happen to have been born the same year -- 1810. Schumann's contribution contains two of his most popular sets of character pieces, three other independent works, and the mighty Sonata in G minor, while Chopin's selections comprise one example of every single-piece genre in which he worked, including many of his greatest compositions. Pianist Findlay Cockrell, trained at Harvard and Juilliard, was on the faculty at the State University of New York at Albany for 40 years and enjoyed an active performance career as well. He shares some of his favorite repertoire with these recordings.
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Kinderscenen, Op. 15 | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Quasi variazioni (from Op. 14) | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Romanze no. 2 (from Op. 28) | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Chopin (from Carnaval, Op. 9) | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Sonata no. 2, Op. 22 | Robert Schumann | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Grande Valse in A-flat major, Op. 42 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Berceuse, Op. 57 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Barcarolle, Op. 60 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Scherzo no. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Prélude in C-sharp minor, Op. 45 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Impromptu in F-sharp major, Op. 36 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Nocturne in G major, Op. 37, no. 2 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Fantaisie, Op. 49 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Ballade no. 2 in F major, Op. 38 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Étude in A minor, Op. 10, no. 2 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
| Mazurka in F minor, Op. 68, no. 4 | Frédéric Chopin | Findlay Cockrell, piano |
Reviews
- “
"we are drawn to the recording by an artist, now over 80. Findlay, hardly known to most of us, boasts of a 40 year teaching stint at the University of Albany, studies at Juilliard and Harvard, and performances with many orchestras. While his recordings are few, they have garnered good reviews. With good sound and distinguished notes supplied by the pianist, this is a most interesting collection. If it occasionally fails to reach absolute perfection, it does reach that goal more often than not. I was impressed."
- “
"Schumann's Fantasistücke gets a terrific performance, perfectly weighted. Paramount in Cockrell's playing is his faultless cantabile, so vital to both these composers. The performance of Schumann's Second Sonata is magnificent, a worthy adjunct to Argerich's DG account. Excellent recording quality."
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