SÁNDOR BALASSA (b. 1935)

COMPLETE PIANO MUSIC • 2

ISTVÁN KASSAI

‘For the second album in my survey of Sándor Balassa's complete works for piano, the programme focuses on his sonatinas. The composer describes the primary quality of the works on this particular album as balancing "between form and the diversity of instrumental characteristics." The Sonatina for Harp, the Four Performance Pieces for Cimbalom and Artist Lane 11/a, written for modern harpsichord, are not only effective when played on the original instruments, but have also proven to be excellent performance pieces on the piano as well. The recording is framed by two virtuosic concert pieces, and has resulted in a delightful programme.’ – István Kassai

Listen to an excerpt from 11/A Artist Lane
BALASSA, S.: Piano Music (Complete), Vol. 2
GP804
Sándor Balassa

About this Recording

Sándor Balassa’s (b. 1935) distinguished reputation in his native Hungary and beyond rests in numerous operas and orchestral works. But here, the sheer diversity of his piano music equally provides ‘a feeling of richness, inspires a sense of adventure, and touches our hearts’. His sophisticated, lyrical style is heard in educational Sonatinas, adaptations of works both virtuoso and visionary originally for harp, cimbalom and harpsichord, and even include a Gallop in 3/4 time, justified by the composer as being about a three-legged horse.

MŰVÉSZ UTCA 11/A. TÉTELEK CSEMBALÓRA (‘11/A ARTIST LANE. MOVEMENTS FOR HARPSICHORD’), OP. 101 (version for piano) (2007) (11:56)
1
No. 1. Bekopogó (‘Knocking on the Door’). Andante
2
No. 2. Kettős történet (‘A Twofold Story’). Allegretto
3
No. 3. Közjáték (‘Interlude’). ♩ = 56
4
No. 4. Toccata. Con moto
5
No. 5. Búcsúzó (‘Farewell’). Andante tranquillo
ALBUMLAPOK SAYAKÁNAK ZONGORÁRA – SAYAKA NI OKURU ALBUM NO PAGE PIANO KYOKUSHU (‘PAGES FROM AN ALBUM FOR SAYAKA FOR PIANO’), OP. 140 (2013) (08:42)
6
No. 1. A ‘h’ története – ‘h’ no monogatari
(‘The Story of “B”’). Moderato
7
No. 2. Az utánzó – Mane (‘The Mimic’).
Vivace
8
No. 3. Itt állt a ház – Koko ni ie ga tatte ita
(‘The House Was Here’).
Andante largamente
9
No. 4. Pásztorok – Hitsujikai (‘Shepherds’). Allegretto
10
No. 5. Mi történt? – Nani ga okita?
(‘What Has Happened?’). ♩ = 88
11
No. 6. Ringató – Yuttari yurete (‘Gently Rocking’). Andante tranquillo
12
No. 7. Jóbarát – Honto no tomodachi
(‘Good Friend’). ♩ = 60
13
No. 8. Szeszélyes – Kimagure (‘Capricious’). Allegro ben ritmico
BAGATELLEK ÉS SZEKVENCIÁK
(‘BAGATELLES AND SEQUENCES’), OP. 17
(c. 1953/c. 1970) (04:40)
14
Bagatelle No. 1. Vivace
15
Bagatelle No. 2. Andante
16
Bagatelle No. 3. Andante rubato
17
Bagatelle No. 4. Allegro
18
Sequence No. 1. Allegro giusto
19
Sequence No. 2. Lento
HÁROM SZONATINA ZONGORÁRA A.B.C. (‘THREE SONATINAS FOR PIANO A.B.C.’),
OP. 131 (2009) (08:35)
SZONATINA A
20
I. Allegretto grazioso
21
II. Andante cantabile
22
III. Allegro moderato
SZONATINA B
23
I. ♩ = 66
24
II. Vivace
SZONATINA C
25
I. Tranquillo
26
II. Allegro
27
III. Andante cantabile
SZONATINA ZONGORÁRA (‘SONATINA FOR PIANO’), OP. 136 (2014) (04:36)
28
I. = 56
29
II. Allegretto
30
III. ♩ = 104
HÁRFASZONATINA (‘SONATINA FOR HARP’), OP. 47 (version for piano) (1993) (05:10)
31
I. Allegretto
32
II. Andante
33
III. Allegro giusto
NÉGY ELŐADÁSI DARAB CIMBALOMRA (‘FOUR CONCERT PIECES FOR CIMBALOM’), OP. 98 (version for piano) (2006) (07:18)
34
I. Kétszólamú gyakorlat (‘Two-voice Study’). Allegretto
35
II. Szeszélyes játék (‘Skittish Game’). Allegro ma non troppo
36
III. Rubato és Giusto (‘Rubato and Giusto’). Rubato cantabile – Allegro moderato giusto – Tempo I
37
IV. Kis rondo (‘Little Rondo’). Allegro
SZONATINA NO. 2 (’SONATINA NO. 2’), OP. 83 (2006) (13:43)
38
I. Allegretto
39
II. Allegro scherzando
40
III. Adagio
41
IV. Allegro molto
WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING

TOTAL TIME: 65:04

ISTVÁN KASSAI

ISTVÁN KASSAI

István Kassai graduated as a pianist from the Budapest Academy of Music in 1982 studying in the class of Pál Kadosa. He pursued his second diploma at the Conservatoire Européen de Musique under professor Yvonne Lefébure. He also undertook several master courses, including one led by György Cziffra, who had a great impact on Kassai’s artistic development. During his career, Kassai has won several first prizes in competitions such as the International Piano Competition for Young Artists in Czechoslovakia, and the Paris International Debussy Piano Competition. He has been a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Art since 2013.

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