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Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo

Danaë Killian has studied Schoenberg’s music and thinking all her adult life, first performing his complete published solo piano works in recital in Basel in 2001.

Danaë Killian has studied Schoenberg’s music and thinking all her adult life, first performing his complete published solo piano works in recital in Basel in 2001.

She writes: "Schoenberg’s philosophy of the relationship between musical ideas and their presentation ubiquitously informs my categorical thinking on the fundamental questions of being and of ways of knowing. It is my destiny, it seems, to need to think the structures of existence through Schoenberg. Consequently, this recording is accompanied by my extended essay, For Grasping Schoenberg: An Epistemology of Sense and Meaning in Word, Music, and the Moving of a Pianist’s Arms—which is not so much about Schoenberg as an outline of how one might think toward this notoriously difficult modernist composer."

Artist

Danae Killian

Danaë Killian is an Australian pianist whose performances have found regard internationally for their intense originality and rare communicative power. Her repertoire ranges across the complete solo piano music of the Second Viennese School, major polyphonic works by JS Bach, and a wealth of Australian compositions.


Press quotes

“40 or 50 years ago the Schoenberg works for piano were considered by many to be esoteric and almost impenetrable to the general concertgoer but now, with that wonderful aid, hindsight, we can see them for what they truly are – a wonderful expression of musical thought from the late romantic period into the modernist era. And how additionally wonderful to have Danaë Killian bring this expressive and harmonically rich music to life. She clearly loves the piano works of Schoenberg and every nuance is ever so carefully expressed – dense here, ethereal there and then dancelike and a moment later joyously explosive. Fabulous playing from beginning to end.”

Read full review

— Peter McNamara, classikON

“Scheonberg the pianist? Not quite. In fact, he never actually played the piano. An stoning fact, considering that he wrote masterfully for the instrument. His oeuvre for the piano is presented here by Australian pianist Danae Killian. The track listing is in compositionally chronological order which allows the listener to track his development throughout the early experimentations with atonality in the Three Pieces, Op. 11, right through to the stunning Suite Op 25 which pays homage to the baroque suite and delivers some dynamic and witty writing that requires a high level of precision in all aspects of ones playing. Id is advisable to listen to these works whilst following the score. The pieces are easily downloadable from imslp.org. Only then can one appreciate the complexity of these miniature compositions. I found the brevity of the Six Little Piano Pieces, Op 19 from 1911 the most compelling works on this disc. His sparseness in texture combined with a mixture of bright and colourful harmonies make these light but carefully constructed movements a very attractive set to listen to. Killian has also included a link to an essay entitled "For Grasping Schoenberg: An Epistemology of Sense and Meaning in Word, Music, and the Moving of a pianists's arms', which looks at hear approach to her thinking of who she describes as a 'notoriously difficult modernist composer'. Pollini's reading has to this point been the benchmark for the recording of these works. Killian treats each work as a unique entity and entrusts a model of obliqueness and character to a collection of technically demanding and richly rewarding pieces. This is an excellent CD on all levels and from an intellectual standpoint, well worth purchasing.” ★★★★★

— Frank Shostakovich, 2MBS Fine Music Magazine

Track Listing

    Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11 (1909) Arnold Schoenberg

  1. I Mäßige Viertel
  2. I Mäßige Achtel
  3. III Bewegte Achtel

    4. Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19 (1911) Arnold Schoenberg

  4. I Leicht, zart
  5. II Langsam
  6. III Sehr langsame Viertel
  7. IV Rasch, aber leicht
  8. V Etwas rasch
  9. VI Sehr langsam

    10. Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 23 (1923) Arnold Schoenberg

  10. I Sehr langsam
  11. II Sehr rasch
  12. III Langsam
  13. IV Schwungvoll. Mäßige Viertel
  14. V Walzer

    15. Suite, Op. 25 (1923) Arnold Schoenberg

  15. I Präludium
  16. II Gavotte – Musette – Gavotte (da capo)
  17. III Intermezzo
  18. IV Menuett – Trio – Menuett (da capo)
  19. V Gigue
  20. Klavierstück, Op. 33a (1929) Mäßig Arnold Schoenberg
  21. Klavierstück, Op. 33b (1931) Mäßig langsam Arnold Schoenberg

Performers

Where to buy

Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Release date
December 2014
Copyright
© 2014 Danaë Killian
Phonogram
℗ 2014 Move Records
Category
Classical
Catalogue number
MCD 513
Alternate catalogue number
MCD513
Barcode
EAN 9314574051322