Erwin Schulhoff, a Prague-born composer, was arrested by the Nazis in 1941 and died in an internment camp in Bavaria, with his works previously banned as 'Degenerate Art'.
Composer Biography
Zdeněk Fibich, a pupil of Bedřich Smetana, was an immensely productive composer who spent most of his life in Prague as a conductor, opera director, choirmaster, and teacher.
Compositional Technique
Fibich's Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 28, for piano duet, combines vocally inspired Romantic melody with Classical form, featuring orchestral sounds and rustic horn motifs.
Composition History
Antonín Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, were commissioned by publisher Simrock on Brahms's recommendation and composed in just under two months in 1878.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms once commented on Antonín Dvořák's astonishing inventiveness, saying Dvořák had more ideas than everyone else combined.
Compositional Technique
Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, transform Bohemian dance forms and rhythms into concert pieces for piano duet, blending various dance forms of his native land.
Album & Artwork
This CD features original piano duets by Czech composers connected with Prague, showcasing the city's musical scene over about a hundred years.
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Holst: The Planets, Op. 32, H. 125 - Elgar: Introduction & Allegro, Op. 47 & Salut d'amour, Op. 12
Arensky: 12 Pieces for Piano 4 Hands, Op. 66
Sergei Bortkiewicz: Russian Tunes and Dances, Op. 31 (Arr. for Piano 4-Hands)
Respighi: Works for Piano 4-Hands
Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo
XIX – The Golden Duets
Tchaikovsky: Piano 4-Hands Transcriptions
Grieg: Works for Piano 4 Hands (Norwegian Dances, Op. 35; Valses-Caprices, Op. 37; Peer Gynt Suites, Op. 46 & 55)
Schmitt: Complete Original Works for Piano Duet & Duo, Vol. 4
Brahms: Four-Hand Piano Music, Vol. 16
Four Hands for France: Music for Piano Duet
Ligeti: Works for Piano, 2 Pianos, and Piano 4-Hands
