Three Generations
This album explores music by three father-and-son generations of the Tcherepnin family of composers: Nikolai, Alexander and Ivan. Although each wrote a wide range of scores, from solo pieces to operas and ballets, this recording focuses on their chamber music, presenting pieces spanning 95 years. Nikolai’s works for violin and piano reveal a late-Romantic, post-Tchaikovskian sensibility, whereas those of Alexander have a more modern, twentieth-century touch, closer to the style of his friend Sergei Prokofiev (a student of Nikolai Tcherepnin). Ivan is represented by two works — early and late – for flute, clarinet and piano, which have an improvisatory and playful quality.
Quan Yuan, violin (Tracks 1–9)
Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, flute (Tracks 10, 11)
Ian Greitzer, clarinet (Track 11)
David Witten, piano (Tracks 1–10)
Donald Berman, piano (Track 11)
- Romance for violin and piano, WoO
- Élégie for violin and piano, Op. 43
- Arabesque for violin and piano, Op. 11, No. 5
- I Allegro moderato
- II Larghetto
- III Vivace
- Poème Lyrique for violin and piano, Op. 9
- I Andante commodo espressivo
- II Allegro risoluto marcato
- Pensamiento for flute and piano
- Cadenzas in Transition for flute, clarinet and piano
ALEXANDER TCHEREPNIN (1899–1977)
Romance for violin and piano, WoO (1922)*
Élégie for violin and piano, Op. 43 (1927)*
Arabesque for violin and piano, Op. 11, No. 5 (1921)*
Sonata in F major for violin and piano, Op. 14 (1921)
NIKOLAI TCHEREPNIN (1873–1945)
Poème Lyrique for violin and piano, Op. 9 (1900)
Andante and Finale for violin and piano, Op. posth. (1943)*
IVAN TCHEREPNIN (1943–98)
Pensamiento for flute and piano (1996)
Cadenzas in Transition for flute, clarinet and piano (1963)*
*FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘For anyone who has not come across any of these three generations of the Tcherepnin family, this disc is a valuable starting point from which to explore three highly talented and individual composers whose music is both fascinating and genuinely different. […]
The musicians on the recording express their admiration for the music in their expert delivery; the flute-playing of Ivan’s widow, Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, especially in Pensiamento, of which she is one of the dedicatees, demonstrates an especial beauty. The sound is excellent and the entire disc is a joy.’
—Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘The performances here date between 2019 and 2021, with those by Ivan Tcherepnin recorded live, and all are clearly recorded with very fine performances by Quan Yuan on violin accompanied by David Witten (who also wrote the very informative notes). The pieces by Ivan Tcherepnin are played by one of the composer’s relatives, Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, on the flute with her partners Ian Greitzer on clarinet and Donald Berman. This very fine release is recommended to all enthusiasts of twentieth-century music.’
—Gregor Tassie, MusicWeb International