Piano Music of August Winding (1835-99)

Piano Music of August Winding (1835-99)
John Kersey, piano
RDR CD85

Audio sample: Winding: Prelude in C minor, op. 26 no. 8

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Total time: 63 minutes 18 seconds

Preludes in all the Keys: A Cycle, op 26
1. in C major: Poco Adagio, maestoso e con nobilità (2’07) 2. in A minor: Allegro agitato ed affetuoso (1’35”) 3. in F major: Comodo (1’25”) 4. in D minor: Allegro risoluto e energico (00’55”) 5. in B flat major: Allegro non troppo. Giocoso, con allegrezza (1’26”) 6. in G minor: Moderato con fierezza (3’13”) 7. in E flat major: Andante innocente e tenero (1’37”) 8. in C minor: Presto impetuoso (00’54”) 9. in A flat major: Allegro non troppo con dolcezza (1’17”) 10. in F minor: Allegro moderato, poco agitato (1’21”) 11. in D flat major: Con moto. Soave e con grazia (1’42”) 12. in B flat minor: Andantino quasi Allegretto, Grave e mesto (1’34”) 13. in G flat major: Allegro vivace con calore e molt’ animato (2’10”) 14. in E flat minor: Presto furioso e con strepito (1’25”) 15. in B major: Allegretto tranquillo e dolce (2’14”) 16. in G sharp minor: Allegretto dolente e malinconico (3’30”) 17. in E major: Moderato grazioso e con tenerezza (1’45”) 18. in C sharp minor: Allegro energico e molt’ appassionato (1’25”) 19. in A major: Allegretto dolce e piacevole (1’48”) 20. in F sharp minor: Andantino con duolo (1’45”) 21. in D major: Allegro con vivacità ed anima (1’08”) 22. in B minor: Adagio grave e lugubre (2’36”) 23. in G major: Allegro molto con gran vivacità (1’12”) 24. in E minor: Andante sostenuto, quasi una fantasia (3’01”) 25. Postludium in C major: Poco Adagio, maestoso e con nobilità (2’39”)

Landlige Scener: Skizzer for Piano, op 9
26. Med Tilegnelsen (1’58”) 27. Ved Daggry (1’55”) 28. Ved Kornmarken (2’45”) 29. I det Frie (1’33”) 30. Løvfald (2’24”) 31. Aftenstemning (2’44”) 32. Afsked (3’49”)

Our thanks to Dr Denys Waelbroeck for supplying scores of these rare works.

August Winding was the son of a pastor, and received his first piano lessons from his parents. In 1847 he studied with Carl Reinecke and from 1848-51 with Anton Rée, also studying composition with Niels Gade. In 1856 he completed his studies in Leipzig and Prague, where he studied with Dreyschock. Returning to Denmark, he became well-known for appearances as a soloist, particularly in Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. In 1864, he married Clara, daughter of J.P.E. Hartmann. From 1867 he taught at the Royal Conservatory, as well as privately. In 1872 he developed a nervous injury to his arm as a result of overwork which forced him to stop concertizing and devote his attention to composition. He resumed teaching at the Conservatory in 1881 and became a member of its board after the death of Gade in 1890. In 1888 he reappeared in public as a soloist and gave a limited number of concerts between then and his death, receiving the accolade of a state professorship and annuity in 1892.

Winding’s works include principally a large amount of solo piano music, particularly etudes, as well as a symphony, piano concerto, concert allegro for piano and orchestra, piano quartet, string quintet and two violin sonatas. This disc is the first to be devoted to his solo piano music.

The major cycle of Preludes in all the keys is dedicated to Isidor Seiss, the noted piano teacher and pupil of Friedrick Wieck. Unlike Chopin, Winding adopts a cycle of ascending fourths followed by their relative minors. This is a superbly varied and inspired series, with a lyrical emphasis throughout. Of particular note are the finely-drawn B flat minor (no. 12), perhaps the most reminiscent of Chopin, and the final E minor dark fantasia. The set ends with the first prelude returning as a postlude, having already been alluded to in the B minor prelude (no. 22).

The Landlige Scener (Rural Scenes) are an early work of Winding’s and show his distinctive voice already well-developed with clear progression from the world of Schumann and Mendelssohn. The movements are attractively descriptive, including Ved Daggry (at dawn), Løvfald (leaf fall), Ved Kornmarken (through the cornfield), Aftenstemning (evening mood) and Afsked (farewell). Winding’s father had a passion for collecting and arranging folk music and its contours are evident in a number of these effective, unpretentious pieces.

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