GEORGE WALKER: Sonata No. 1 for Piano (1953)

George Walker, composer and pianist

I Allegro energico
II (@07:26) Theme and Six Variations
III (@ 12:20) Allegro con brio

from Albany TROY117 (1994)

http://www.albanyrecords.com

George Walker was born in Washington, DC on June 27, 1922 of West Indian-American parentage. He graduated from high school at the age of 14, attended Oberlin College and the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied piano with Rudolf Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero. His auspicious debut at Town Hall in 1945 was described in the New York Times as "notable...an authentic talent of marked individuality and fine musical insight...a rare combination of elegance and sincerity...an understanding, a technical competence and a sensitiveness rarely heard at debut recitals." Walker obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Eastman and went on to study in France with Nadia Boulanger on Fulbright and John Hay Whitney Fellowships. His compositions have been played by virtually every major orchestra and chamber orchestra in the United States. This recording uniquely showcases the pianist as composer-composer as pianist as Walker performs his Sonata No. 1.

Contents:
Ludwig Van Beethoven, composer
Sonata No. 26, Op. 81a
George Walker, piano


Johannes Brahms, composer
Waltz, Op. 39, No. 15
George Walker, piano


Frederic Chopin, composer
Barcarolle, Op. 60
George Walker, piano


Frederic Chopin, composer
Mazurka, Op. 63, No. 2
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in B Flat Major, L. 39
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in D Minor, L. 366
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in E Major, L. 430
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in G Major, L. 490
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in E Major, L. 23
George Walker, piano


Domenico Scarlatti, composer
Sonata in A Major, L. 23
George Walker, piano


Franz Schubert, composer
Moment Musical, Op. 94
George Walker, piano


George Walker, composer
Sonata No. 1
George Walker, piano

Review:
"... What a pleasure to hear another composer's insight into Beethoven's beautiful Sonata! And here, Walker plays the difficult double-note passages with panache. Walker's playing of small pieces by Schubert, Chopin, and Brahms is beautifully lyrical and expressive... his own Sonata [is] an excellent piece of mainstream Americana." (Classical Pulse)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Walker
• American
• classical
• composer
• pianist
• virtuoso
• sonata
• piano
• three
• movements
• 1953
• Pulitzer
• Prize
• 1996
• Black