Carl Loewe, though little known today, was a highly respected composer and performer in his time, a friend of Schumann, Weber, and Mendelssohn.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carl Loewe disliked music written for mere show, believing it should always serve a higher purpose, and particularly disliked Chopin's Études.
Performer Biography
Linda Nicholson, the pianist on this album, won the first two international competitions held for the fortepiano, in Paris and Bruges.
Compositional Technique
Carl Loewe was likely the first and only composer to apply the term 'Tondichtung' ('tone poem') to a work for solo piano, as seen in his Frühling Sonata.
Instruments
The piano used for this recording is an Erard from Paris, circa 1839, featuring Sébastien Erard's patented 'double-escapement' mechanism for faster note repetition.
Composer Biography
Carl Loewe was proud to be christened 'the north German Schubert' during a concert tour to Vienna, reflecting his contemporary recognition.
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