Catalogue

Summary:

Pianist Joyce Yang follows her critically acclaimed AVIE debut, Collage (AV 2229), with the equally imaginative Wild Dreams, inspired by a musical dream sequence. Joyce explains, “In our dreams, remote parts of our psyches come forth to create their own worlds and realities. Improbable scenarios intertwine. Characters normally divided by time and space mingle in our imaginations. In this subconscious world there are no boundaries or rules, and spontaneity trumps logic. Each piece on Wild Dreams defies gravity, and the sense of time and space is redefined in the spontaneity of performance. Part of my thinking may be stimulated by my synesthesia – the way I “see” music – but I am also imagining the swirling subconscious at work in the minds of these composers, prodding wild new realities and vocabularies as they created these particular pieces in their waking dreams.” Joyce interweaves dream-inspired and nocturnal works such as Earl Wild’s transcription of Rachmaninov’s Dreams, Hindemith’s In Einer Nacht, Schumann’s Fantasiestücke and Bartók’s Out of Doors. The climax of the programme is Rachmaninov’s passionate Second Piano Sonata, performed with bravado.

Tracklist:

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 – 1943)
arr. Earl Wild (1915 – 2010)
1. Dreams, Op. 38, No. 5 (3:25)
2. Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14 (7:12)

Paul Hindemtih (1895 – 1963)
In einer Nacht, Op. 15
3. I Müdigkeiten (1:35)
4. III Phantastisches Duett zweier Bäume vop dem Fenster (1:22)
5. VI Sehr lebhaft, flimmernd (0:52)
6. VII Nervosität, nicht schnell (0:54)
7. VIII Scherzo: Äußerst lebhaft (1:04)

Bela Bartók (1881 – 1945)
Out of Doors, Sz. 81, BB 89
8. With Drums and Pipes (1:45)
9. Barcarolla (2:56)
10. Musettes (3:37)
11. The Night’s Music (5:30)
12. The Chase (2:13)

Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856)
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
13. Des Abends (3:07
14. Aufschwung (3:11)
15. Warum? (2:37)
16. Grillen (3:05)
17. In der Nacht (4:02)
18. Fabel (2:58)
19. Traumes Wirren (2:33)
20. Ende vom Lied (4:58)

Rachmaninov
Piano Sonata No. 2, Op 36
21. I Allegro agitato (8:01)
22. II Non allegro – Lento (6:00)
23. III L’istesso tempo – Allegro molto (5:41)
Total time: 78:46

Recorded July 2013, SUNY Purchase, New York
Producer: Elizabeth Ostrow