Bernard van der Sigtenhorst Meyer: Early Piano Music

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Catalogue No: TOCC0575
EAN/UPC: 5060113445759
Release Date: 2020-12-04
Composer: Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer
Artists: Albert Brussee

Download the Booklet

The early piano music of the Dutch composer Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer (1888–1953) suggests the art of the miniaturist painter. These ‘portraits’ of birds, flowers, landmarks and other natural phenomena have the static and studied quality of Japanese prints and owe much to French Impressionism: they sit somewhere between Debussy and Satie, and unfold with gentle, unhurried dignity. Albert Brussee offers a final bonne bouche with his own gentle tribute to Van den Sigtenhorst Meyer.

Albert Brussee (piano)

Listen To This Recording:

    Van de Bloemen (‘Of the Flowers’), Op. 1 (1915)

  1. No. 1 Roses
  2. No. 2 Cornfield in the Sun

    3. Het oude China (‘Old China’), Op. 2 (1916)

  3. No. 2 The Censer*

    4. Van de Vogels (‘Of the Birds’), Op. 4 (1917)

  4. No.1 The Swan
  5. No. 2 A Flock of Tits in the Woods

    6. Zes Gezichten op den Fuji (‘Six Views of Fuji’), Op. 9 (1919)

  6. No.1 The Origin of Fuji
  7. No. 4 Fuji in the Rain

    8. Saint-Quentin, Op. 12 (1920)

  8. No. 1 Ruins*

    9. De Maas (‘The Meuse’), Op. 11 (1920)

  9. No. 1 The River*
  10. No. 3 The Mouth of the Meuse*

    11. Oude Kasteelen (‘Old Castles’), Op. 14 (1920)

  11. No. 1 Brederode*
  12. No. 2 Twickel*
  13. No. 3 De Brittenburg*

    14. Acht Preludes, Op. 17 (1922)

  14. No. 3 The Cat
  15. No. 7 The Mouse
  16. No. 5 The Marabou
  17. No. 6 The Hummingbird

    18. Capri, Op. 19 (1922)

  18. No. 1 I Faraglioni*
  19. No. 3 Anacapri*

    20. Albert Brussee

  20. Of Flowers and Birds – In memory of Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer*

* FIRST RECORDINGS

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4 reviews for Bernard van der Sigtenhorst Meyer: Early Piano Music

  1. :

    ‘For Albert Brussee this is nothing less than a ‘labour of love’. The entire production is realized thanks to his efforts, and these include not only his playing, but also the carefully written, extensive CD booklet. Daan van Aalst was responsible for a recording that leaves nothing to be desired. […]

    For an international audience, this is undoubtedly an eye-opener, shining a light on Dutch piano music, which will certainly appeal to a younger audience at this time of renewed interest in Satie. Anyone who compares the interpretation of Brussee with that of Kuyken cannot escape Brussee’s somewhat thoughtful approach […].’

    —Siebe Riedstra, Opus Klassiek

  2. :

    ‘Albert Brussee (Apeldoorn, 1946), known as a conscientious pianist and music publicist, stands up for the evocative, poetic music of the Hague composer Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer, which deserves a better fate than being forgotten. […] Brussee plays all of [the works with care, love and imagination, so that while listening you are transported to an ideal world of dreams, scents and colours, plants and animals, far away from environmental pollution and pandemics. Moreover, Brussee personally wrote the CD booklet, in which much interesting information about Sigtenhorst Meyer can be read. All in all an ideal album for ‘travelling’ at home during the lockdown.’

    —Wenneke Savenije, De Nieuwe Muze

  3. :

    The added value of this recording lies in the nine pieces that are presented on this CD for the first time. […]

    Brussee plays all these works with great attention. […]

    The final piece, Of Flowers and Birds – In memory of Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer, deserves special attention. Brussee wrote it himself, inspired by the composer’s works. In this seven-minute composition, in which we hear themes from some of the recorded works, Brussee lets himself be whipped up to exquisite piano playing. The sheet music has been published. A great gain to the piano literature.’

    —Sandra Kooke, Piano Bulletin

  4. :

    ‘[…] To be fair, I had never heard of Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer, but this introduction to his compositions is most pleasant. […] Brussee plays the nineteen works from the period 1915 to 1923 with verve. The Steinway sounds clear, the musical intelligence, skill and involvement of Brussee splash from the keys. His sensitivity to the exciting atmosphere of these works with titles such as Six Views of Fuji, The Meuse and Old Castles, is almost tangible. Beautifully the composer paints the River Meuse, flowing buoyantly in all weather conditions, the bygone, sometimes threatening pictures of old castles, the destructive power of the war in Saint-Quentin in the north of France. Really, Van den Sigtenhorst is an artist in the best sense of the word. The CD concludes with Of Flowers and Birds, written by Brussee himself, commissioned by the Hague Art Society: a worthy tribute to a composer who has unjustly remained under the radar.’

    —Marjolijn Sengers, Luister

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