BERTOLD HUMMEL (1925-2002): 6 Lieder nach Gedichten von Herman Hesse, Op. 71a, Kopflos - Liederzyklus nach skurrilen Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, Op. 108, Piano pieces, Op. 83, Nos. 1-3 and Op. 62a/2.

Description: Presented as a 'concept album', based on an effectively structured concert given by the younger Hummel in memory of his father, this disc explores the connection between Hummel and Hesse. The songs from 1978 are mature and finely structured examples of a late-romantic idiom, avoiding modernism for eloquent word-painting, and with a characterful yet unobtrusive piano part to underline the moods of the texts. Interspersed among the song cycles and brief readings from Hesse are piano pieces, which display a taut and economical, somewhat Hindemithian, æsthetic, without altogether avoiding bursts of pianistic exuberance. Kopflos is Hummel's last completed large work, more graphically illustrative of the texts than the earlier cycle, with a striking sense of dialogue between the voice and piano parts, the latter here a 'character' in its own right. German texts. Martin Hummel (baritone, speaker), Markus Bellheim (piano).