SÁNDOR BALASSA (b. 1935)

COMPLETE PIANO MUSIC • 3

ISTVÁN KASSAI

‘This third and final volume of my survey of Sandor Balassa’s complete piano works highlights the composer's sheer creativity and diversity. Apart from the piano works, the programme includes his solo piece for harp, Északi ajándék (‘A Gift from the North’), which I liked so much that it became the first piece by the composer that I performed in front of an audience. I also asked for the score of his other harp piece and his works for cimbalom. They all turned out to be very enjoyable pieces to play on the piano, their somewhat unusual textures making for a decidedly interesting soundscape. Balassa considers the Fantázia, Op. 97 to be his best piano work, hence I have left it for the very end of this album, and as a fitting conclusion to a most rewarding project.’ – István Kassai

Listen to an excerpt from
12 Easy Piano Pieces, Op. 123: No. 1. A kis pendelyes (‘Little Urchin’)
BALASSA, S.: Piano Music (Complete), Vol. 3
GP805
Sándor Balassa

About this Recording

Sándor Balassa (b. 1935) has stated that his music for piano ‘has to evoke genuine emotions, recalling the abundance of a springtime meadow, giving us a feeling of richness, and inspiring a sense of adventure in us and touching our hearts’. In this third volume, which includes piano versions of pieces for harp and cimbalom, the sheer diversity of Balassa’s imagination is amply illustrated, conjuring atmosphere and poignant recollections as well as demanding exceptional virtuosity. Balassa considers the closing Fantázia, Op. 97 to be his best piano work.

KICSI A BORS... HAT BAGATELL ZONGORÁRA, OP. 106
(‘PEPPERCORNS ARE SMALL... SIX BAGATELLES FOR PIANO’)
(2008) (12:25)
1
No. 1. Andante (01:49)
2
No. 2. Allegro assai (02:22)
3
No. 3. ♩ = 56 (01:42)
4
No. 4. Allegretto movimento (02:09)
5
No. 5. ♪ = c. 80 (03:10)
6
No. 6. Molto allegro (01:08)
ÉSZAKI AJÁNDÉK, HÁRFA SZÓLÓ, OP. 139
(‘A GIFT FROM THE NORTH, HARP SOLO’)
(version for solo piano) (2015) (08:11)
7
I. Andantino (02:56)
8
II. ♪ = 116 (01:17)
9
III. Lento tranquillo (03:57)
TIZENKÉT KÖNNYŰ ZONGORADARAB, OP. 123
(‘TWELVE EASY PIANO PIECES’) (2011) (25:04)
10
No. 1. A kis pendelyes (‘Little Urchin’). Allegro moderato (01:06)
11
No. 2. Téma változatokkal (‘Theme with Variations’).
Allegro moderato (02:00)
12
No. 3. Hubble ajándéka (‘Hubble’s Present’). Calmo (02:49)
13
No. 4. Liliputi lakodalom (‘Lilliputian Wedding’). ♩ = 112 (02:11)
14
No. 5. Jégvirágok (‘Frost Patterns’). Andante, calmo (02:10)
15
No. 6. Az el nem küldött levél (‘A Letter Never Sent’). Lento rubato (02:57)
16
No. 7. Tételpár (‘Pair of Movements’). Larghetto –
Allegro moderato (01:20)
17
No. 8. Álom (‘Dream’). Adagio assai – Allegro – Andante (03:26)
18
No. 9. Etűd, amelyben a játékos maga választja meg a tempót
(‘A Study Where the Player Chooses the Tempo’) (01:12)
19
No. 10. Altató (‘Lullaby’). Adagio (01:42)
20
No. 11. Március (‘March’). Andantino (01:08)
21
No. 12. Makovecz. Andante maestoso – Andante leno –
Allegro movimento (02:56)
HAJTA VIRÁGAI CIMBALOMRA, OP. 38
(‘FLOWERS FROM THE HAJTA FOR CIMBALOM’)
(version for solo piano) (1984) (06:03)
22
[No. 1.] Introduzione (Bevezető): Rubato, poco agitato – Moderato –
Lento (00:52)
23
[No. 2.] Rondo I. Andantino grazioso – Pochissimo più mosso –
Tempo I (02:55)
24
[No. 3.] Rondo II. Presto (02:14)
RONDO, OP. 145 (2018) (02:33)
25
♪ = 80–84
FANTÁZIA ZONGORÁRA, OP. 97 (‘FANTASIA FOR PIANO’)
(2006) (09:08)
26
Andante flessibile – ♩ = 52, poco rubato – Tempo I – ♪ = 112 – ♩ =
52 – Tranquillo – Meno mosso
WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING

TOTAL TIME: 63:34

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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