Alberto Ginastera

The selected piano music of this Argentine master spans the arch of his compositional career / Partition /

Ballet in 1 Act and 5 Scenes-In 1941 Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera was commissioned to write a Ballet comprising One Act and Five scenes that was based on and would depict pastoral life in Argentina. He closely based his score on the great epic poem Mart n Fierro by Jose Hernandez which tells the story of the Argentinean cowboys or Gaucho — nomadic and heroic figures who are the subject of much of the country's folklore. The story tells of a city boy who watches and falls in love with a country maiden. Despite initial contempt for him her feelings turn to admiration as he demonstrates he can perform the rough and difficult work and proves his skill in taming wild horses.Estancia is set over the passage of a single day: dawn morning afternoon night and dawn. Ginastera has not only captured the rhythms of life on a Estancia or ranch but also provided an insight into the gaucho's now diminished way of life. This volume contains a fabulous Piano reduction of the Full Ballet score.

The main influence on Alberto Ginastera for this 1981 composition was the folk music dances of the northern part of Argentina and the lonely and desolate regions of the Andes and the nations of South America. This is an interesting and mysterious piece full of passion and ambiguity with a distinct fantastical quality despite being earthed in folk music. This is the 1995 Revised Edition and is an attempt to end the controversy concerning the authenticity of the original edition. It reflects the composer’s final thoughts on the work as found in Ginastera’s last personal manuscript copy.

This expressive piano sonata Written in Mallorca and Geneva during the summer of 1982 the year before Ginastera???s death. It was commissioned by the University of Michigan and dedicated to Pianist Barbara Nissman who premiered the work later that year. It features his characteristic angularity and imaginative rhythms the quick initial tempo sets the pace for the entire work and the rhythmic textures that follow are based on American Indian dances and the ceremonial dances of Latin America. A wonderful work for Piano Solo by a composer at the height of his skill and a tune that will become one of your favourite pieces.