French Music for Harp and String Quartet by Rachel Talitman, Benjamin Braude, Irina Sherling, Samuel Barsegi

Marcel Tournier played an important role as a professor and artist in the Conservatoire and Member of the Jury of Exams and Compositions of Paris. His music let us hear at the same time all the poetic and virtuosity aspects of the harp which has proved to have unlimited resources. Moreover, the large majority of his work is written for harp solo, the violin and cello being complementary. In this recording we are listening to two of his main works for harp and string quartet. In the piece entitled "Féerie" the harp transports us in the dream world of elves. With the three "Images" we are literally travelling through the magic of oriental Algeria. Marcel Tournier's theory and different ways of writing for the harp are summarised in his book : « La Harpe à travers le monde et l'Ecriture de la Harpe », published by "Lemoine" edition. Marcel Tournier remains until today one of the most important harp composers. Like most of his contemporary's he was influenced by the large and so celebrated movement presented by the Impressionism.

Marcel Samuel-Rousseau (1882-1855)

Began his studies with his father Samuel Alexandre Rousseau. Later he joined Lenepveu 's class at the Paris Conservatory. He was awarded the second Grand Prix of Rome with Cantate "Maia" (1905). Over his professional career he added his father's first name to his owns, and composed under the name of Marcel SamuelRousseau. He was professor of Harmony at the Paris Conservatory (1916-1952) and Artistic Director of the Paris Opera (1942-1944). In 1945 he was elected to the Beaux Arts Academy. His only piece for harp is "Variations Pastorales sur un vieux Noel" and Marcel Tournier wrote the accompagnement for this quartet.

André Caplet

André Caplet was born in 1878. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire (1896-1901). In 1901, he won the 1st Grand Prix of Rome with his cantata "Myrrha". Timpanist at the Colonne Concerts, then assistant, he quickly revealed himself as an excellent orchestra conductor. In 1899 he was the music director of the Odeon. Between 1910-1914,he conducted the Opera of Boston. He ensured the creation of "Martyre de Saint Sebastien" (1911) in Paris. Claude Debussy also put him in charge of part of the scoring.A volunteer in 1914, he was wounded by the gas and had to temporarily renounce his job as a director of the school of American Music Conductors as well as the management of the orchestras of the Opéra de Paris (1919) Concerts Lamoureux (1920) and Concerts Pasdeloup (1922) , both for health reasons and to ensure his work as a composer. In the instrumental domain, he wrote at the age of 30, one of his main works le Masque de la "Mort Rouge" for harp and string quartet, translating into personal language the tragic story of Edgard Poe. In a heavy atmosphere of anguish and terror, the appearance of the Red Death Mask in which the diabolic denounces the joy of the young prince and his friends who are happily celebrating in a fortified abbey. There, the prince presented his guests with a mask ball. Meanwhile, each time the peculiar and profound sound of a very old clock strikes the hours, the dancers seem paralysed. And then the party resumes but with less liveliness and as if embarrassed by the memory of these calls of the hour. Nevertheless, little by little, the music gets more lively, the couples are frantically dancing when the clock strikes midnight and in the shadow appears a figure wrapped in a shroud. A morbid terror seizes the entire audience, the Red Death had come like a thief and all the guests drop dead flooded with a bloody dew. The composer died in 1925.

RACHEL TALITMAN

was born in Tel Aviv. After graduating the Music Academy at the Tel-Aviv University, she came to Brussels to study with Suzanne Mildonian at the Royal Conservatory of Music where she obtained the "diplôme supérieur" for harp and chamber Music with distinction. At the same time she specialised in French music with Pierre Jamet in Paris. Prize Winner of the Tenuto Virtuosity Competition in 1975, the International Harp Competition of Paris 1976 and the International Harp Competition Cazala 1977. Harp Professor at the Antwerp Royal Conservatory of Music till 1985. In 1980 she created with the bassoon player Luc Loubry the Harpeggio Ensemble, which has the aim of playing, recording and promoting the unknown repertoire of the harp, which is rich of composers and compositions that contributed to the virtuosity development and recognition of this instrument as solo and chamber music. The discography of Rachel Talitman is vast and original, covering the repertoire of the harp solo, chamber music and concertos.

Benjamin Braude

violinist, has appeared in solo and chamber music recitals throughout Europe, Israel, and USA. He performed as a soloist with such orchestras as the Royal Flemish Philarmony, the Antwerp Chamber Orchestra, The International Masterplayers Orchestra and the Nuovo Musici Orchestra. The music critic of the "De Nieuwe Gazet", Antwerp, commended him for: " supple bowing, fine sonority and interpretation based on a perfectly controlled musicality." Mr. Braude studied with A.Gertler, P.Bondarenko, F.Andrievski, J.Rubenstein and participated in master classes with H.Szeryng and Y.Menuhin. Former member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders, he served on the faculty at the Conservatoire Royal de Mons (Belgium). Co-founder of the "Braude Quartet", ensemble dedicated to promotion and recording of lesser-known music of the past, Mr.Braude has recorded for the "Talent" and "Discovery" Labels among others. He is currently a member of the"Solistes Européens du Luxemburg'' ensemble.

Irina Sherling

was born in Kiev, and studied violin at the Kiev Music School and at the Kiev Music College. She completed her studies at the Jerusalem Music Academy and was the student of prof. Kless and later of prof. Bondarenko, assistant of David Oistrach. In 1983 she started working in the Belgian Radio Television Orchestra and is engaged as first soloist in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders since 1984. During this time she was engaged with the I Fiamminghi Chamber Orchestra and joined them on tours worldwide, performing in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Holland, France, Germany, Israël etc. she has made many Radio, Television and CD recordings with this orchestra. She also frequently performs with Chamber ensembles, and as a soloist.

Since 1997 she has joined the "Orchestre des Solistes d'Europe". From 1988-1995 she was teaching in the Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp.

Samuel Barsegian

was born in 1971 in Armenia. He entered Professor Erkanian's violin class at the Tchaikovsky Special Music School for gifted children at the age of six, and at age 15 he decides to switch to the viola. In 1989 he graduated with honours and began studying to the viola at the Yerevan State Conservatory under Professor Albert Brutian. From 1989 to 1991 Mr. Barsegian performed as a soloist for the Armenian Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and was awarded Grand Prize at the Armenian National Competition. He participated in the chamber music course, Villa Musica, with Janos Starker and Joseph Silverstein in 1990. From 1991 to 1995 he studied at the State Highschool of Music in Freiburg, Germany under Professor Kim Kashkashian. While studying in Freiburg, Mr. Barsegian performed under conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Valery Gergiev, Semyon Bychkov, Daniel Barenboim and David Shalon as well as appearing as soloist with the Armenian Philarmonic Orchestra and at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. In 1994 he participated in a master class with Michael Tree, Paul Neubauer, Roberto Diaz and Carin Tadle in the USA. Mr Barsegian began postgraduated training under Professor Madeline Prager at the State Highschool of Music in Karlsruhe two years ago and has been performing with the Basler Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, the Basler Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra Freiburg since 1996. He is currently developing his artistic career with Professor Rudolf Barshai.

Dieter Schutzhoff

studied cello at the Musikhochschule Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) with Marcel Cervera . In 1990 he obtained his " Kunstlerische Reifeprüfung " diplome. He won several times a first prize (solo and chamber music) in the the german Federal Competition "Jugend Musiziert": Dieter Schutzhoff was a member of the festival ensemble of the "Wolfgang Marschner Festival at Hinterzarten (Germany) and the Pyrmonter Telemann Ensemble. He was teaching chamber music at the Pfülger-Stiftung Freiburg. Since 1992 he is a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders and takes part in many Chamber music concerts. He plays as well in many television, radio and cd productions.

Average Customer Review: