Béla Bartók, a composer featured on this album, considered folk music to be his "musical mother tongue."
Composer Biography
Sigismund Toduță, a Romanian composer on this album, studied piano and composition at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome under Pizzetti and Casella.
Performer Biography
Pianist Florian Mitrea, who performs on this album, was appointed a Kawai Global Artist in 2016.
Historical Context
Sigismund Toduță, like Shostakovich in the USSR, had to balance complying with the communist regime while writing music with Christian subjects.
Composition History
Franz Schubert's Hungarian Melody D 817 may have been inspired by a kitchen-maid humming a tune he heard while on the Esterhàzy estate in Hungary.
Album & Artwork
The album's concept, "Following the river," is inspired by pianist Florian Mitrea's childhood memories of the Danube Delta and his fascination with the river's ability to connect people and their music.
Composer Biography
Paul Constantinescu, a Romanian composer, was the first teacher at the Bucharest Conservatoire to introduce the study of folk music harmony and Byzantine chant to his students.
You might also enjoy...
The Best of Martin Jones: Discover Jean Françaix
Lutosławski
Ronald Stevenson: Piano Works
The Best of Martin Jones: Discover Carlos Guastavino
