Raff worked as Franz Liszt's assistant at Weimar's Court of the Muses after receiving early encouragement from Felix Mendelssohn.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at Stricker Studios in Hilden, Germany, between November 5-8, 2024, and features a Steinway D-274 piano.
Composition History
Raff wrote seven piano suites, which represent his most substantial contribution to piano literature, preferring this form over the sonata.
Composer Biography
Raff was the founding director of the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt am Main, where Clara Schumann was among his teaching staff.
Critical Reception
In 1875, the British Monthly Musical Record ranked Raff among the top three living German composers, alongside Wagner and Brahms.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Musically, Raff aimed for a 'neutral territory' between the traditionalists (Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms) and the 'New German School' (Liszt, Wagner).
Composer Biography
Joachim Raff, the composer, was largely self-taught, learning to play piano and compose on his own.
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