Rudolf Escher - Toccata (Arcana Musae Dona) 1944

Rudolf Escher (1912-1980), a cousin of the famous graphic artist M.C. Escher, is the most important dutch composer since Sweelinck.

Sepp Grotenhuis - piano

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Escher
• Pijper
• Debussy
• Ravel
• Griffes
• Boulez
• Scarbo
• Gaspard
• Hindemith
• Stravinsky
• Ligeti
• Richter
• Michelangeli
• Aimard
• Hamelin

[jre58591]

This is a very good piece. However, Ronald Brautigam's recording is much better.

[dmitribron]

Brautigam is the reference recording. but it is on an old LP. The sound quality is not great.

[dmitribron]

first I thought I was listening to Hindemith... and then... indeed.... it is like Ravel. a strange combination. surreal. but somehow it is compatible.

[LeonardTrommel]

Great to find this on Youtube! This is a very good performance... Is it available on cd? What label? Do you think think you could upload the last movement?

[dmitribron]

Rudolf Escher: Complete Piano Music, Sepp Grotenhuis, Ottavo Recordings 2002

ik zie 'm staan bij Amazon

[cbreemer]

Thanks for posting this marvellous piece ! It obviously owes some to Ravel but I think Escher is very much his own man. Don't know enough about him to dispute whether he is the most important Dutch composer since Sweelinck, but he certainly seems to be a major one. Would you be able to post the other movements of this suite as well ?

[jre58591]

Actually, there is a CD which is obviously of better quality. It is impossible to find now, unfortunately. I do still like Sepp Grotenhuis as a pianist, though.

[ebutuoy868]

A clear "Scarbo" influence in the middle part.

[Noshirm]

Ik had nog nooit gehoord van Escher voor vandaag ... wat een interessant stuk.

[EuriskoLontano]

This piece reminds me a lot of Ravel's Toccata (from Tombeau de Couperin). Definitely harmonic, rhythmic and even slightly melodic. Does anyone else hear this?