|
|
TP277 I was dancing with a gnat
Russian national songs by Ekaterina Komalkova
Aura Go & Ian Munro (piano duo)
$23 (Australian dollars)
 buy at:
AMC -
Buywell - iTunes
| 
|
Tall Poppies Records is proud to release a new CD recording by duo pianists Aura Go and Ian Munro, bringing the music of Russian composer Ekaterina Komalkova to the listening public in the West for the first time.
Ekaterina Komalkova (1959—) first came to national attention in the last years of the former Soviet Union when she won the nationwide composition competition. Her piano ‘Fantasy’ became known among the international community of pianists in 1986 when it was chosen as the mandatory test piece for the Tchaikowsky International Piano Competition. Writing for symphony orchestra, film, television and especially for young people, she was appointed musical director of ‘Ulitsa Sezam’ — Russia’s version of ‘Sesame Street’ — in the late 1990s.
Here, in a magical collection of re-imaginings of Russian folk songs, Komalkova’s ability to infuse these traditional melodies with fresh harmonic twists and rare beauty is a tour de force, placing her among the first rank of composers in a genre pioneered by Tchaikowsky, Balakirev, Rebikov and Rimsky-Korsakov. Discovering the music of this unduly neglected composer has been a revelation to pianists Aura Go and Ian Munro, as it has been for listeners at recent concert performances in which her ‘Russian National Songs’ has featured. Tall Poppies invites you to join in the tour of discovery these marvellous musical distillations of Russian musical life have to offer.
Available as both a digital and physical album, ‘I was dancing with a gnat’ comes with a generous 28-page booklet adorned with exquisite original art by talented young Canberra-based artist Ashley Cullen. Beginning with an extensive introductory essay and a delightful personal reflection by Komalkova herself, there follow full lyrics to all 80 tracks, which range from ancient peasant songs through well-known works by Lermontov and Makarov to Tsarist and Soviet-era patriotic soldier’s songs, all researched, translated and rendered into poetic forms in English by Munro.
Digital version is available at https://auragoianmunro.bandcamp.com/ |
| Ekaterina Komalkova | 80 Russian national songs |
site design by carl vine
|
|
