Jānis Mediņš: 24 Dainas (Preludes)
Jānis Mediņš (1890-1966) was one of the pioneers of Latvian music: his works include the first Latvian opera, and he was also an important conductor and teacher. His 24 Dainas for piano — he took the title from Latvian folk-poetry — show the influence of Rachmaninov, Grieg and Scriabin and have a modal colour inherited from Latvian folk-music. Although their composition was spread over four decades — interrupted by the Second World War and Mediņš's exile in Sweden — the Dainas are unified by their passionate lyricism and epic sweep.
Jonathan Powell, piano
Listen To This Recording:
-
24 Dainas (1921–1962)
- Daina No. 1
- Daina No. 2
- Daina No. 3
- Daina No. 4
- Daina No. 5
- Daina No. 6
- Daina No. 7
- Daina No. 8
- Daina No. 9
- Daina No. 10
- Daina No. 11
- Daina No. 12
- Daina No. 13
- Daina No. 14
- Daina No. 15
- Daina No. 16
- Daina No. 17
- Daina No. 18
- Daina No. 19
- Daina No. 20
- Daina No. 21
- Daina No. 22
- Daina No. 23
- Daina No. 24
MusicWeb International :
‘For the present, admirers of Rachmaninov, Medtner and Bortkiewicz can revel in this estimable, dramatic, grandly poetic, touching and never garrulous music.’
—Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Powell’s technique fears nothing. Indeed, he seems to relish challenges. […] The 18th [of the Dainas] piece is virtuoso in nature; it is difficult to imagine a more fiery account than Powell’s. […] But such a chunk of Mediņš’s piano music as this Toccata disc offers is to be welcomed into the catalogs with open arms.’
—Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine March/April 2013
Audiophile Audition Magazine :
‘Many of these pieces are quite impressive and memorable; despite the various influences and resemblances to other composers that they might have, they represent a very individual style of music-making. Certainly, Jānis Mediņš is a composer worth knowing, and I’m glad that pianist Jonathan Powell and Toccata Classics have given us the opportunity to make his acquaintance. […]! [Jonathan Powell] Besides being a scholar of twentieth-century Russian piano music, however, Powell is a powerhouse of a pianist, with a large technique and a burning conviction for the music he’s performing. The sound engineers have afforded him a comparably powerful recording. Recommended!’
—Lee Passarella, Audiophile Audition Magazine