JOÃO VICTOR COSTA - Piano pieces

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JOÃO VICTOR COSTA - piano pieces

Robert Andres - piano

Honor O\'Hea - piano (duo with Robert Andres in the four-hand piano pieces)

Released with the support of FUNCHAL 500 ANOS, this cd presents us piano pieces by the composer João Victor Costa. Interpreted by Robert Andres, piano solo, and Honor O\'Hea in the four-hand piano pieces.

Details:

JOÃO VICTOR COSTA - piano pieces

"In this year of 2008, in which Funchal commemorates 500 years of its existence as a city, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to present thos CD of my works for piano solo and four-hand. The selection criteria was very practical, contemplating, to a large degree, traditional Madeiran themes in variation from elaborated as characterisation related to the diversity of the people od MAdeira, as observed by me over the years.

Three themes were selected: Bailinho da MAdeira with eight variations for piano solo: Xaramba and Baile dos Calções (from Porto Santo). The last two themes are developed in five variations each and elaborated for piano four-hand. Each variation represents something of a comment on a social aspect as observed through a personal prism. Lacking the space for a more detailed presentation, I would just like to point out three variations from Xaramba: the 2nd variation represents a bold Xaramba who shows no scruples regarding anything, while the 3rd variations portrays a drunken Xaramba (a country lad); conversely, the 4th variation paints a moribund Xaramba, full of regrets.

The rest of the programme was kindly chosen by professor Robert Andres, the excellent interpreter of the whole programme, and it includes varied pieces, each of which was elaborated with a goal in mind. Among those, the two perpetuum mobile stand out, both based on an incorrigible stubbornness of the left hand motif, in the face of the arguments presented by the right hand, and always in mutational evolution. As for the harmonic context, I was just preoccupied with what my feeling was looking for and my reasoning approved of.

I wish to thank the Commission of FUNCHAL 500 YEARS for this excellent opportunity, as well as, above all, the dedication to interpretative exploration of Prof. Robert Andres, as well as of his wife, Prof. Honor O'Hea."

João Victor Costa

1/9 - Eight variations on the \"Bailinho da Madeira\" theme - 14\'11\'\'

10/14 - Suite Nº 1 in E - 16\'\'02\'\'

15/20 - Variations on the \"Bailinhos dos Calções\" theme from Porto Santo (piano duet) - 8\'18\'\'

21/26 - Suite Nº 2 in C - 17\'14\'\'

27/32 - Variations on the \"O Xaramba\" theme (piano duet) - 9\'29\'\'

Total: 65\'14\'\'

Ref.: NUM 1168