BENJAMIN GODARD (1849-1895): Piano Works, Vol. 2 - 3 Morceaux, Op. 16, Fragments poétiques, Op. 13, Nocturnes No. 1, Op. 68, No. 2, Op. 90, No. 3, Op. 139 and No. 4, Op. 150, Rêve vécu, Op. 140, Fantaisie, Op. 143, Renouveau, Op. 82.
Catalogue Number: 01R047
Label: Grand Piano
Reference: GP684
Format: CD
Price: $16.98
Description: The next volume of this series continues with Godard’s characteristic tension between the salon and amateur markets he needed to earn a living from by providing relatively easy to play but beautiful music and the concert-quality material that one thinks he would have preferred to write exclusively. So his first Nocturne of c.1882 is easy on the ears and fingers - Chopin minus the elaborate filigree - while the Second (1882) and Fourth (1893) emphasize sophisticated musical development and avoid easy writing for the soloist. So it goes throughout these pieces, the Morceaux of 1874 for the amateur market; the Fantaisie (1893) highly demanding throughout its varied musical contexts. There’s even a premonition of Impressionism in the second of the Fragments from the very early date of 1869. Eliane Reyes (piano).