Frédéric Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28
Leoš Janáček:
- On an Overgrown Path, Book 1
- Sonata "1. X. 1905"

Despite being short (some of them cover only one page and last about 30 seconds), the 24 Preludes, Op. 28 by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) are bursts of creativity and imagination that express a variety of profound sentiments within their scope. They were composed during a particularly bad winter when Chopin's health was on the decline, but most of them are more substantial and more emotionally stimulating than much longer efforts by lesser composers. Alfred Cortot, the first pianist to release a recording back in 1926 of the complete set, added a brief descriptive epithet to each prelude in an attempt to identify the emotive creative impulse behind each one. Tags such as Rebellion, Descent into the abyss, Death is here in the shadows, Fear, Above a grave, Tree full of songs, etc ... go a long way in establishing the mood within each piece, that pianists can use as an expressive springboard for their individual interpretation.

Italian pianist Domenico Codispoti delves deep behind the notes on the page, and enhances each one's introspective temperament and persona. From the deep melancholy of No. 6 Lento assai, to the exhilaration of No. 16 Presto con fuoco and the all-out rage of No. 22 Molto agitato (audio clip below), Codispoti, whilst always maintaining a perfect dynamic balance between the main melody and the harmonic body of each piece, exposes their creative impulse.

The ten pieces that comprise On an Overgrown Path by Czech composer Leoš Janáček (1854-1928) are much more Schumannesque in style and nature. So much so that I'm reminded of Schumann's own Kinderszenen, as each individual piece, influenced by Moravian folklore, is like a snapshot of a distant past memory, maybe from childhood. And again, Domenico Codispoti well captures and projects each one's individual character. As well, the dramatic urgency that he instills to the incomplete Sonata "1. X. 1905" will entice you to research that work's troubled existence.