Search - Jongen, Andersen :: Complete Piano Works 1

Distinctive music

S. Blacklock | Northern Ireland | 07/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was originally going to give this set 3 stars. Let me explain: a) the piano is a yamaha, b) the performance is not quite as varied or exciting as it could be. Nevertheless, this is simply a personal opinion and there are many out there who would have their own views.

Joseph Jongen's music is neglected, plain and simple. I have never heard a piece of his played in concert and his name is not overtly mentioned anywhere in the musical preferences of many a student, at least here in the North of Ireland. Diane Andersen portrays Jongen as Jacqueline Mefano communicates Alkan: warmly and affectionately. This is particularly the case in the second Walloon Rondo (CD2)- a piece that just about manages to be exciting in Andersen's hands. It is quite a virtuosic morceaux and would be a great item in the concert-repertoire of any pianist. It needs greater expression and scintillation though to be truely mesmerising. And this is exactly what the following piece is: mesmerising. Andersen finds depth and mystery in this impression of Lake Ogwen and the emotions are darkly sumptuous thanks to the harmonic language of the composer. Other pieces of note on the second disc are certain of the preludes - many are playable by learning hands and are useful learning tools for musical theory: Scarlattiana to name but one, is a cleverly-wrought parody of the recognisable style of the Baroque composer. The first disc provides us with some of the composer's earlier works: Clair de Lune and Soleil a Midi are some of the more atmospheric items.

An good impression of contrast is created in these works and Jongen's style (to me: Romantically Impressionistic with the odd hint of the popular music of the time) is visible throughout. A good disc by all accounts. It perhaps will not entirely satisfy the listening virtuoso but for those of us who are content with music of a different kind, unique and generous, this will quench the thirst quite adequately."