This album features world premiere recordings of Richard Danielpour's works, made in close collaboration between the composer and pianist Stefano Greco.
Compositional Technique
The harmonic ordering of Richard Danielpour's Twelve Études is built around the circle of fifths, with the first ending in C major and the last in F major.
Compositional Technique
Two of Richard Danielpour's Études are primarily for the left hand, with Étude No. 2 featuring the right hand plucking strings inside the piano with a guitar pick.
Composition History
Richard Danielpour's Twelve Études for Piano were commissioned by Vanderbilt University for a 2013 performance by three pianists from the Blair School of Music.
Performer Biography
Stefano Greco, the pianist on this recording, is a versatile artist who studied with Aldo Ciccolini and has performed in prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Richard Danielpour composed his Twelve Études to be concert pieces with self-contained narratives, not just technical exercises, each focusing on a particular pianistic skill.
Composer Biography
Richard Danielpour is a professor of music at UCLA and a faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music, and has received numerous awards including two from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.
