György Kurtág, the renowned Hungarian composer and pianist, presents "Flowers We Are..." a captivating collection of piano works that showcase his unique musical language. This album, released on September 15, 2023, under the Ars Produktion label, is a testament to Kurtág's distinctive style, which draws inspiration from the likes of Bartók, Webern, and Stravinsky. The album features a blend of Kurtág's own compositions and arrangements of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, all performed on piano four hands.
The album spans a duration of 53 minutes and includes pieces from Kurtág's "Játékok, Book 8," a series of miniature piano works that are known for their brevity and immediacy of expression. Among these are intimate pieces like "Flower We Are... (Embracing Sounds)" and "A Quiet Farewell to Endre Székely," which highlight Kurtág's ability to convey deep emotions through concise musical gestures. The album also features Kurtág's arrangements of Bach's chorale preludes, such as "Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599" and "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 687," which offer a fresh perspective on these timeless works.
"Flowers We Are..." is a fascinating exploration of Kurtág's musical world, where each piece is a carefully crafted gem. The album is a delight for classical piano enthusiasts and those interested in contemporary classical music, offering a unique blend of old and new. Kurtág's distinctive style, characterized by its compression in scale and forces, makes this album a standout in his discography. Whether you're a longtime fan of Kurtág's work or a newcomer to his music, "Flowers We Are..." is sure to captivate and inspire.
2023 ARS Produktion2023 ARS Produktion
Tracks
Játékok, Book 8: Flower We Are... (Embracing Sounds)György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: One More Voice from Far AwayGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 601 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Responsorium (Pilinszky "Egy hófehér kar")György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Hommage à J.S.B.György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 687 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: DirgeGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot', BWV 635 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Study to Pilinszky's "Hölderlin" (Position Exercise)György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV 643 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Beating - QuarrellingGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: A Quiet Farewell to Endre SzékelyGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Gott, durch deine Güte, BWV 600 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Pilinszky János. WaltzGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: FalteringGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Das alte jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Flowers We Are... For MiyakoGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 "Actus tragicus": Sonatina (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: In Memoriam Sebők GyörgyGyörgy Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: ...tot ziens Jan...György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 618 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Flowers We Are... For Miyako (Alio modo)György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: ...A Solemn Air...György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 711 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by György Kurtág)Johann Sebastian Bach, György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Játékok, Book 8: Flowers We Are...György Kurtág, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
IndulóGyörgy Ligeti, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
Polifón etüdGyörgy Ligeti, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
3 Lakodalmi táncGyörgy Ligeti, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
SonatinaGyörgy Ligeti, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
AllegroGyörgy Ligeti, Ani Sulkhanishvili, Nia Sulkhanishvili
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