SKU: BT.EMBZ15061

Zoltán Kocsis (1952 - 2016) was not just a phenomenal pianist. He was also regarded as a musical 'polymath' whose genius embraced the activities of a composer, conductor, editor, instrumentalist, and arranger. In the last capacity, he added some 150 works to symphonic, chamber, song and piano repertoire. He gladly adapted music of the turn of the 20th century, as appears from his transcriptions of Richard Strauss, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Enescu, and above all, Debussy. (Many of these are distributed by Editio Musica Budapest.) 'In Debussy's case, (...) I was always interested in works that offered possibilities beyond the bounds of the piano, possibilities for orchestration.Just as with Liszt it was often possible to see that certain of his works had been written for piano for publication purposes, so with Debussy it is clear that mainly his song accompaniments exceeded the bounds of possibility for the piano,' Kocsis stated in one interview. Perhaps that recognition also encouraged him to arrange the popular piano work Valse romantique (1890) for clarinet and piano. The arrangement superbly pinpoints the sensitive, almost ingratiating tunefulness of the Waltz, adding a piece that sounds great and is rewarding to perform to the clarinet repertoire.

Mit dem unlängst verstorbenen Zoltán Kocsis betrauert die Nachwelt nicht nur einen phänomenalen Pianisten, sondern auch einen 'Polyhistor der Musik': Sein außergewöhnliches Talent entfaltete sich ebenfalls in seiner Tätigkeit als Komponist, als Dirigent, als Herausgeber und nicht zuletzt auch als Arrangeur und Bearbeiter organisch. Durch letztere Aktivität bereicherte er die symphonische, Kammer-, Lied- und Klavierliteratur um etwa einhundertfünfzig Werke. Sehr gern adaptierte er die Musik aus der Zeit der Wende zum 20. Jahrhundert, wie auch seine Richard-Strauss-, Ravel-, Rachmaninov-, Enescu- und vor allem Debussy-Transkriptionen belegen. (Mehrere davon werden auch von unseremVerlag vertrieben.).

SKU: ST.H488

ISBN 9790220224560.

Though much to be feared, dragons by definition are rarely encountered, living at the furthest corners of the known world, or further even than that. As Bilbo Baggins discovered, to go in search of one can be an epic journey; and though Christopher Maxim, composer of the popular Toccata Nuptiale for organ, does not reveal whether Smaug, or Fafner, or the dragon slain by Saint George, is the particular beast in view, Here be Dragons! has the dramatic atmosphere of an adventure to remote and mythical places. Darkly chromatic roulades for clarinet, perhaps the creature's fiery breath, set the scene for an exciting duet on a gripping theme that stalks through the music in a variety of menacing variations, including a dragonish fugue. In the energetic arpeggios and trills that embellish the tune there is much for players of around Grade 8 standard to relish, in a showpiece that will undoubtedly lend enchantment to any concert.

The world premiere can be enjoyed on YouTube.

SKU: HL.14028056

ISBN 9788759861592. English.

Throne (1988) for Clarinet and Piano was composed on a commission from the Swedish clarinetist Hakon Rosenberg. Structurally it is organized in an arch form.
Although it begins in the piano, the work can be considered as one long clarinet solo, where the piano's role is that of extending and mirroring the clarinet, both in register and motif. As such the piano is treated as a monody throughout, until the last warm B Major chord embraces the final notes of the clarinet. On the title page the composer tells us that Throne is Elevation, Unity, Diamonds, Crown, Glory, Velvet, Frailty, Decline, Oblivion, Nothing.
In short Throne is and abstract tone-poem on the transitoriness of Life.
Poul Ruders 1988.

SKU: MA.EMR-28997

Dix / Nearer, My God, To Thee / Passion Choral / Grosser Gott, wir loben Dich / Redemption / Jerusalem / Pray For A Better World / Wir pflugen / Resurrection / In Terra Pax / Lobe den Herrn / Nun danket alle Gott / Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott ....