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
96th of October :
‘This CD is a spellbinding tour of musical history, compellingly linked by family resemblance. Witten is a splendid ensemble player. He joins to flawless performances a gift for bringing out the best in his fellows. His partners, here clearly enjoy every moment —a mood the listener will share.’
—Mildred Faintly, 96th of October
Arcana.FM :
‘Is it recommended?
Yes, and hopefully Toccata will be issuing more from this source. Nikolai’s later ballets and symphonic poems, or Ivan’s Grawemeyer Award-winning Double Concerto would be a good place to start – while not forgetting the latter’s sons, Stefan and Sergei, are also composers.’
—Richard Whitehouse, Arcana.FM
Pizzicato :
‘These recordings from a concert performance offer an opportunity to get acquainted with this assemblage of three generations of musicians – the fourth is not represented here. By far the best known, Alexander, is represented with his violin sonata and three small works for this instrumentation. The internationally experienced performers, all of whom have a connection to the United States, particularly Boston, offer a carefully crafted and spiritedly presented picture of these works by the three composers in mature performances.’
—Pizzicato
96th of October :
‘It is with a similar sense of surprise and pleased discovery that I listened to this CD of chamber music by three generations of Tcherepnins, written between 1900 and 1996. If I didn’t have the liner notes before me, I would have guessed at the composers in vain, confident only that the work was of such quality that it must be by someone famous. Ranging from late Romantic to Modern (though considerably shy of atonality), the work is all delightful and surprising. Its natural audience will be those who are already familiar with the music of the clan’s patriarch, Nikolai Tcherepnin, but anyone who enjoys modern classical music in the Bartok to Stravinsky end of the spectrum will find much to enjoy here. […]
Witten has assembled a group of musicians with whom he obviously has real rapport, and all of whom are clearly having a very good time. The performance is flawless, has a genuine warmth, the players’ engagement is contagious.’
—Mildred Faintly, 96th of October