The Hands the Dream
Sydney pianist Daniel Herscovitch specialises in contemporary repertoire. This debut disc presents solo piano works he has chosen by six Australian composer colleagues.
Graham Hair composer
Michael Whiticker composer
Roger Smalley composer
Felix Werder composer
Božidar Kos composer
The programme gathers solo piano works by Graham Hair, Michael Whiticker, Richard Vella, Felix Werder, Roger Smalley and Božidar Kos.
Recorded in 1990 at the studios of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the disc was issued as Australian Piano Music, Vol. 1.
Reviews
Pianist Daniel Herscovitch exhibits total control and insight into this often difficult repertoire.
Herscovitch is well-known to Sydney audiences for his ability to find his way around the most terrifying of contemporary scores and this release makes his talents, and via those talents this music, available to a wider audience.
Daniel Herscovitch gives outstandingly committed performances of solo piano music by six Australian composers of very different styles and intentions on this generous Tall Poppies disc ...
Artist
Daniel Herscovitch
Daniel Herscovitch meets the hardest contemporary piano writing head-on, with control, stamina and real insight. His Tall Poppies debut gathers Australian scores that range from Hair and Smalley to Kos, Werder, Whiticker and Vella.
Tracks
- Under Aldebaran Graham Hair 3:51
- Seven Fleeting Glimpses Graham Hair 3:29
- The Hands the Dream Michael Whiticker 14:26
- Memory Pieces (1980–85) Richard Vella 16:25
- A Little Piano Music Felix Werder 7:25
- Variations on a Theme of Chopin Roger Smalley 10:12
- Barcarolle Roger Smalley 5:14
- Piano Sonata Božidar Kos 14:51
Performers
- Daniel Herscovitch · piano
Composers
Graham Hair
Born in Geelong, composer Graham Hair has received numerous commissions from such organisations as Duo Contemporain and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1990 he took up the position of Gardiner Professor at the University of Glasgow.
Roger Smalley
Roger Smalley AM (1943–2015) was an English-born composer and pianist who made Australia his home from the mid 1970s. Composition and a distinguished life at the keyboard ran together throughout his career.
Felix Werder
Felix Werder (1922–2012) was a German-born Australian composer who stood at the forefront of the musical avant-garde in this country. His early twelve-tone writing later opened into a freer, collage-like style that often makes virtuosic demands on its performers.
Michael Whiticker
Michael Whiticker was born in Gundagai, Australia. He has received major commissions from leading Australian ensembles and organisations, and has won numerous awards in Australia and Germany for his compositions.
Božidar Kos
Božidar Kos is an Australian composer. His recorded works include a Piano Sonata and the substantial cello piece Evocations.
Richard Vella
Richard Vella writes with a sharp ear for colour and drive. His guitar piece Mirrors of Fire rides a relentless walking bass; the clarinet Tango is flamboyant and free; Memory Pieces let the piano glance back at Czerny, mazurka and cinema.
Contributors
Where to listen
The Hands the Dream is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
The Hands the Dream is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP020
- Total playing time
- 75 minutes 53 seconds
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
Daniel Herscovitch
Richard Vella - Recording Engineer
- Max Harding
- Venue
- ACO Studio, Sydney
- Credit
- Genevieve De Couvreur
Jeremy Edwards
Terry Harper - Release date
- 15 Sep 1992
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Australian Classics
- Genre
- Contemporary Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9399000002024
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