The completion of William Bolcom's Twelve New Etudes was prompted by performances from contemporary pianists John Musto and Marc-André Hamelin, leading to a dedication to all three pianists.
Critical Reception
William Bolcom's complete set of Twelve New Etudes won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and is considered a significant collection in the piano repertoire.
Composition History
William Bolcom's Twelve New Etudes were initially abandoned after the death of their original dedicatee, pianist Paul Jacobs, and remained unfinished for years.
Interpretation
Pianist Ran Dank chose to end the recording with Chopin's Mazurka Op. 68 No. 4 in F minor, noting its profound beauty and haunting quality, as it was written while Chopin was on his deathbed.
Album & Artwork
The album juxtaposes the works of Frédéric Chopin, a renowned Polish composer, and William Bolcom, a contemporary American composer, highlighting their shared understanding of the piano.
Performer Biography
Ran Dank, the pianist on this album, is a strong advocate for contemporary music and has performed several world premieres, including works by Frederic Rzewski, Alexander Goehr, and Marc-André Hamelin.
Composer Biography
Frédéric Chopin, the Polish composer, left his homeland in 1830 at the age of twenty and lived the rest of his life in exile, an anguish that served as an artistic catalyst.
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