Grand Piano
Carlo Albanesi dedicated his Six Album Leaves , published in 1876, to his teacher Sabino Falcone (1845-1886), a composer of sacred and chamber music works. The Album Leaves are written as miniatures, mostly of a lyrical nature.
The prelude-like first album leaf Trattenimento (Conversation) in G minor features Baroque allusions such as a theme in canon form and an organ point.
Ruscelletto (Little Stream) in G major imitates the splashing and sparkling of water and retains the rhythmic motif of the theme, an inverted dotting over a quaver movement in the bass, for almost the entire piece.
Like the opening piece, the Romanza in E minor is characterized by imitations of the voices and is elegiac in tone. The main motif is used canon-like in the middle section and initiates a dialogue between the two voices.
The theme of the Novelletta in B flat major is slightly reminiscent of Schubert's Impromptu in the same key. The ornamentation of the melody with arpeggios and passagework contribute to its light-hearted and joyful character.
Also in B flat major is the Allegramente , whose dance-like, humorous character is reflected in the use of many staccatos, leaps, chains of thirds, chromaticism and motif changes between the different voices.
In the concluding...
The prelude-like first album leaf Trattenimento (Conversation) in G minor features Baroque allusions such as a theme in canon form and an organ point.
Ruscelletto (Little Stream) in G major imitates the splashing and sparkling of water and retains the rhythmic motif of the theme, an inverted dotting over a quaver movement in the bass, for almost the entire piece.
Like the opening piece, the Romanza in E minor is characterized by imitations of the voices and is elegiac in tone. The main motif is used canon-like in the middle section and initiates a dialogue between the two voices.
The theme of the Novelletta in B flat major is slightly reminiscent of Schubert's Impromptu in the same key. The ornamentation of the melody with arpeggios and passagework contribute to its light-hearted and joyful character.
Also in B flat major is the Allegramente , whose dance-like, humorous character is reflected in the use of many staccatos, leaps, chains of thirds, chromaticism and motif changes between the different voices.
In the concluding...
The characteristics of the song without words , derived from Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's works with this title, include a lyrical melody, often a narrative tone and a unity of character without strong contrasts. All this applies to Carlo Albanesi's Sei romanze senza parole , published in 1889 and dedicated to the wife of the painter Val Prinsep.
The Piano Sonata No. 6 in C major, published in 1913, is Albanesi's last sonata and is dedicated to his friend, the Italian pianist, conductor and composer Michele Esposito . Albanesi performed it himself in public.
Mr. Albanesi seems to have gone to Grieg for his inspiration both of melody and harmony, for, though, the Suite is Ritmi di danze antiche , it is only the rhythms that are ancient, the harmony is rather alarmingly modern...
In the 19th century, it was fashionable to draw on historical compositional forms and figures in order to reinterpret and revitalize them. Albanesi did this with his Suite, Op. 60 .
The Gavotta is a lively dance with small leaps, which with Albanesi alternates between major and minor as well as staccato and legato and contains the Baroque figure of the so-called passus duriusculus.
The Sarabanda , a slow stride dance, is composed almost entirely in four voices and is characterized by its typical syncopation on the second beat and dotting on the first beat.
The Pavana , a slow processional dance, is written in 4/4 time in a minor key and is characterized by a typical pizzicato accompaniment under an archaic, mournful melody, partly in chords.
Albanesi's Siciliana , characterized by its dotted notes and 6/8 time, is designated Andantino melanconico, which emphasizes its minor-key character. The theme appears in various voices, the culmination at the end is underlined with a diminished chord.
The Rigodone (from the French rigoler - to joke,...
In the 19th century, it was fashionable to draw on historical compositional forms and figures in order to reinterpret and revitalize them. Albanesi did this with his Suite, Op. 60 .
The Gavotta is a lively dance with small leaps, which with Albanesi alternates between major and minor as well as staccato and legato and contains the Baroque figure of the so-called passus duriusculus.
The Sarabanda , a slow stride dance, is composed almost entirely in four voices and is characterized by its typical syncopation on the second beat and dotting on the first beat.
The Pavana , a slow processional dance, is written in 4/4 time in a minor key and is characterized by a typical pizzicato accompaniment under an archaic, mournful melody, partly in chords.
Albanesi's Siciliana , characterized by its dotted notes and 6/8 time, is designated Andantino melanconico, which emphasizes its minor-key character. The theme appears in various voices, the culmination at the end is underlined with a diminished chord.
The Rigodone (from the French rigoler - to joke,...