Songs Without Words

2011 | Atma

Julius Drake (piano)

About

Julius Drake is renowned as one of the best accompanists working today and has chosen the ATMA label to record his first solo CD. He has conceived this recording as a personal journal and performs selections from Brahms’ Intermezzi, Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte and Schubert’s Moments musicaux, among others.

Track Listing

Schumann: Album for the Young, Op. 68, Vol. 2

Album fur die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68, Part II: Fur Erwachsenere: No. 35. Mignon

Schumann: Album for the Young, Op. 68, Vol. 1

Album fur die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68, Part I: Fur Kleinere: No. 1. Melodie (Melody)

Excerpt Brahms: Intermezzi (3), Op. 117

3 Intermezzos, Op. 117: No. 1 in E flat major

Excerpt Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Book 2 (6), Op. 30

Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words), Book 2, Op. 30: No. 12 in F sharp minor, Op. 30, No. 6, “Venezianisches Gondellied”

Excerpt Mendelssohn: Songs without Words, Book 3 (6), Op. 38

Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words), Book 3, Op. 38: No. 18 in A flat major, Op. 38, No. 6, “Duetto”

Excerpt Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15

Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op. 15: No. 12. Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)

Excerpt Schubert: Moments Musicaux (6), D780, Op. 94

6 Moments musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780: No. 2 in A flat major: Andantino

Excerpt Liszt: Schwanengesang – Vierzehn Lieder Von Franz Schubert, S560

Schubert – Schwanengesang, S560 / R245: No. 12. Der Doppelganger

Excerpt Grieg: Lyric Pieces III (6), Op. 43

Lyric Pieces, Book 3, Op. 43: No. 5. Erotic

Excerpt Debussy: Suite Bergamasque

Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de lune

Poulenc: L’histoire de Babar, le petit elephant (The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant), FP 129: Berceuse

Excerpt Janacek: On An Overgrown Path

Pozarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path), Book 1, JW VIII / 17: IV. The Madonna of Frydek: Grave

Bartók: Mikrokosmos Book IV

No. 116. Song

No. 100. In Folk Song Style

No. 107. Melody in the Mist

No. 97. Notturno

Britten: Holiday Diary Op. 5 for solo piano

Holiday Diary, Op. 5: IV. Night

Reviews

It’s a treat to hear [Drake] take centre stage…the recital evokes lullabies and moonlight, nostalgia and intimacy, all of it cushioned by Drake’s warm sound, beautiful phrasing and affectionate touch…There’s a lovely unity to it and the pieces are well ordered to complement one another.

Ironically, this solo recital may serve its most useful purpose in an accompanying role, for sophisticated background music at a small gathering or dinner party. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…