Bernstein / Dossin,Alexandre Piano Music CD

Known for his large-scale compositions, Leonard Bernstein also wrote for his own instrument, the piano. The sequence of four Anniversaries, published between 1944 and 1989, are brief, deftly evocative vignettes written to celebrate his many friends, colleagues and family members. The early Piano Sonata is imbued with youthful self-confidence, and explores certain compositional techniques to which he was to return in more mature works. The rhythmically incisive Music for the Dance No. II is another important early work.

1. I 2. II 3. For Aaron Copland 4. For My Sister, Shirley 5. In Memoriam: Alfred Eisner 6. For Paul Bowles 7. In Memoriam: Nathalie Koussevitzky 8. For Sergei Koussevitzky 9. For William Schuman 10. For Shirley Gabis Rhoads Perle 11. In Memoriam: William Kapell 12. For Stephen Sondheim 13. For Craig Urquhart 14. For Leo Smit 15. For My Daughter, Nina 16. In Memoriam: Helen Coates 17. In Memoriam: Goddard Lieberson 18. For Jessica Fleischmann 19. In Memoriam: Constance Hope 20. For Felicia, on Our 28th Birthday (And Her 52nd) 21. For Aaron Stern 22. In Memoriam: Ellen Goetz 23. I 24. II 25. III 26. Non Troppo Presto