Allen Shawn: Five Piano Sonatas
Allen Shawn (composer, piano)
Over the past few years, Albany Records' progressive releases of the piano music of Allen Shawn have made it clear that this is one of the most substantial and memorable bodies of work for the instrument of any living American composer. Because Shawn is one of the major American composer-pianists, someone who can take on fearsome technical demands and deliver real interpretive value as he surmounts them, these performances are especially important as documents not only of the music but also of the interpretation and performance of the works. In addition to his five piano sonatas, Shawn performs his Etudes and Five Piano Pieces. On the faculty of Bennington College, Shawn grew up in New York City. In addition to his piano music, his works include a Symphony; concertos for piano, cello, violin, and oboe and a double concerto for clarinet and cello as well as numerous chamber works for varied ensembles. This is the sixth recording on Albany Records devoted exclusively to his music.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Piano Sonata No. 1 | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Piano Sonata No. 2 | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Piano Sonata No. 3 | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Piano Sonata No. 4 | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Piano Sonata No. 5 | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Etudes | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
| Five Piano Pieces | Allen Shawn | Allen Shawn (piano) |
Reviews
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"This release collects all five of Shawn's piano sonatas. We reviewed his performances of 1-4 previously. In his review of Sonatas 1 and 4, Mr. Sullivan called Shawn's work "music of high intelligence and of no discernible "school"or fashion."I agree; the harmonic idiom is often thorny, but the music is well made, coherent but serious, clearly hailing from an older, more traditional, and frankly more enduring conception of classical music composition. As a pianist, he certainly has an enviable command of the instrument and makes a case for the works that should inspire any pianist specializing in contemporary music. "
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.