Jaques-Dalcroze: Piano Music, Vol. 2

Featuring

Paolo Munaò
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze

Did you know?

1/7

Composer Biography

Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, born in Vienna in 1865, studied piano and composition in Geneva and Vienna, including with Anton Bruckner.

Compositional Technique

Jaques-Dalcroze's piano music, particularly the 20 Caprices and Rhythmic Studies, features harmonies with 'impressionist' colors, melodic lines freed from bar-line constraints, and subtle rhythmic profiles.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Jaques-Dalcroze explicitly requested that his 20 Caprices and Rhythmic Studies be performed without rubato, emphasizing strict adherence to his precise indications.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Jaques-Dalcroze developed the 'Méthode Jaques-Dalcroze', also known as 'Eurhythmics', which emphasizes a physical and instinctive perception of rhythm in music education.

Historical Context

In 1911, Jaques-Dalcroze established an institute in Hellerau near Dresden dedicated to teaching rhythm, which attracted intellectuals from across Europe and influenced the performing arts.

Performer Biography

Paolo Munaò, the pianist on this recording, is a winner of the prestigious Premio Claudio Abbado (2015) and the UNESCO Aschberg Prize for Artists (2004).

Compositional Technique

The 20 Caprices and Rhythmic Studies by Jaques-Dalcroze show influences from Stravinsky and Les Six, as well as jazz, in their directness and rhythmic language.