Bruch / Birkelund / Westergaard - Trio Miniaturen 18 & 24 [CD]

The four 'Miniatures' by Swiss composer Paul Juon clearly reveal his Russian childhood. It is melodious music- a variety of character that clearly refer to Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. Nonetheless, Juon's inimitable style is immediately audible. Max Bruch was seventy-two when he composed 'Eight Pieces' for his son, Max Felix. It is substantial multifaceted oeuvre, intensifying progressively from calm awakening to complex exuberance. The 'Eight Pieces' are illuminated by Bruch's lyricism and are completely uninfluenced by his contemporaries such as Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Bartok. It is intense and profound music- intimate interaction and expression are balanced by passion, Sturm und Drang, and quiet delicacy. Truly, how a real late-romanticist composed one whole century ago. Friedrich Wilhelm Voight's 'Nocturne' contrasts sharply with the numerous marches he composed as highly-ranked military musician. 'Nocturne' is a charming piece, containing elements of both salon music and the operatic stage; it even features a brief recitative. Throughout the movement the voices intertwine in an intimate dialogue, altering between simple melodies and pompous drama.