Robert Schumann

Symphonic Etudes (inc. 5 posthumous etudes)

3 Romances op.94 for oboe & piano (arr. for saxophone and piano)

2 part

Alfred Schnitke “Suite in the old style”

– Pastorale

– Ballet

– Menuet

– Fugue

– Pantomime

Edison Denisov Sonata for saxophone and piano in 3 movements (1970)

Erwin Schulhoff Hot-Sonate in 3 movements (1930)

Program notes

First half of the concert is by Schumann, German composer, who was one of the most influential composers for Russian music. The diverse temperament of his music, passionate contrasts, true lyricism and brave declamations influenced many Russian composers starting from Tchaikovsky. Symphonic Etudes were written in a few attempts. They were revised and changed for a few times, some beautiful etudes were eliminated, even the name of the work was changed about five times. It has very deep versatility and triggers different emotions. I am going to include posthumous variations.

Second part of the concert has a Russian-German origin. “Suite in the old style” brings us to an early music, which Schumann was studying and showing to the audience the whole life. Erwin Schulhoff, jewish immigrant in Germany, talks to us with humoresque language inside the strict form and Edison Denisov, who was born exactly 90 years ago, shows us even bigger versatility of colours, emotions and characters than Schumann.