http://cfinehouse.com/ The blog of pianist Constantine Finehouse en Copyright 2010 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:24:59 GMT Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:24:59 GMT I am happy to report to all of you who have been wondering, to those of you who have not been wondering but patiently waiting and, finally to those of you who were not even aware of this project that my first solo album, Backwards Glance, featuring the music of Johannes Brahms and Richard Beaudoin has just been released on Spice Rack Records. On this disc, Brahms' late Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118/2 and his monumental early Sonata in F minor, Op. 5 (the last of his three piano sonatas which Schumann had once described as "veiled symphonies") are interspersed with two compositions by Richard Beaudoin, "Qui Tollis" and "Les signes de ma faiblesse" (The Signs of My Weakness). Beaudoin's pieces cross-reference Brahms' works on this CD specifically and owe much Brahms' own roots in the German compositional tradition more generally. The name of the album comes from one of the movements of the Brahms Sonata, entitled "Rückblick," which means exactly that: Backwards Glance. It is in this fourth movement that Brahms looks back at the three earlier movements of the piece to borrow from their thematic material to create music that is new in terms of its emotional content and overall sound. It is in this same way that in his pieces on this album Beaudoin alludes to Brahms' themes while creating compositions that are entirely new, both in style and substance. I am happy to report to all of you who have been wondering, to those of you who have not been wondering but patiently waiting and, finally to those of you who were not even aware of this project that my first solo album, <a href="http://cfinehouse.com/discography/backwardsglancedisc.html">Backwards Glance</a>, featuring the music of Johannes Brahms and Richard Beaudoin has just been released on Spice Rack Records. On this disc, Brahms&apos; late Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118/2 and his monumental early Sonata in F minor, Op. 5 (the last of his three piano sonatas which Schumann had once described as &quot;veiled symphonies&quot;) are interspersed with two compositions by <a href="http://www.richardbeaudoin.com/">Richard Beaudoin</a>, &quot;Qui Tollis&quot; and &quot;Les signes de ma faiblesse&quot; (The Signs of My Weakness). Beaudoin&apos;s pieces cross-reference Brahms&apos; works on this CD specifically and owe much Brahms&apos; own roots in the German compositional tradition more generally. The name of the album comes from one of the movements of the Brahms Sonata, entitled &quot;Rückblick,&quot; which means exactly that: Backwards Glance. It is in this fourth movement that Brahms looks back at the three earlier movements of the piece to borrow from their thematic material to create music that is new in terms of its emotional content and overall sound. It is in this same way that in his pieces on this album Beaudoin alludes to Brahms&apos; themes while creating compositions that are entirely new, both in style and substance. http://cfinehouse.com/discography/backwardsglancedisc.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:19:57 EST Constantine Finehouse http://cfinehouse.com/blog/blog.html#blog_01282010_1819 In an attempt to keep you abreast of my performances, recording projects and other musically important endeavors I am starting a blog. This blog is not meant to be an outlet for my thoughts on the general state of classical music in the 21st century or on any other debatable issues for that matter, interesting as they may be. It will, however, let you know what I am currently up to in my musical life. In other words, I will keep it (relatively) short and to the point. I do hope that you will keep up with my activities--and thank you for your care and support. In an attempt to keep you abreast of my performances, recording projects and other musically important endeavors I am starting a blog. This blog is not meant to be an outlet for my thoughts on the general state of classical music in the 21st century or on any other debatable issues for that matter, interesting as they may be. It will, however, let you know what I am currently up to in my musical life. In other words, I will keep it (relatively) short and to the point. I do hope that you will keep up with my activities--and thank you for your care and support. http://cfinehouse.com/blog/ Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:05:46 EST Constantine Finehouse http://cfinehouse.com/blog/blog_test.html#blog_01282010_1605