by suketto
【Today’s number】 César Cui：25 Preludes, Op. 64 (1903)
Many of the preludes are fairly well-known works, and I think it’s a genre that makes it easy to understand the characteristics of the composer.
In particular, the 24 Preludes, which cover all major and minor keys, have been composed by many composers.
This time, I will introduce Cui’s work among the preludes which cover all keys.
For those who thought, “Who is Cui?”, that is right reaction.
As one of ”The Five”, I think he had a certain degree of name recognition and influence at the time.
Compared to Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov in the same group, I can’t help but tear up at the lack of the presence.
I can’t deny the feeling that the object to be compared is too great…
It’s like realizing the strength of the influence of a catchy large-scale work…
This work starts in C major and progresses by increasing the number of # one by one, and from the turning point, decreasing the number of ♭ by one, passing through the 24th piece in A minor and returning to the parallel key of the 25th piece in C major.
A comfortable pop melody and a number of unexpectedly heavy chords, a hidden passion and intensity…
Each piece doesn’t feel flashy, but different elements are scattered throughout, making it a very attractive work.
When the motif or theme of the first piece appears in the final one, I am deeply moved and ascended, so returning to C major is one of the things I recommend.
My personal recommendations are the following 6 pieces.
No 1 in C Major
No 3 in G Major
No 14 in B-flat Minor
No 19 in E-flat Major （I like the best!!）
No 20 in G Minor
No 25 in C Major （Returning to C Major!!）
If you find a piece you like, please listen to it all the way through! !
★Recommended one★
Naxos has a lot of variety and it’s really amazing.
The sound quality of this CD is slightly characteristic of the piano, and it is a little flat and light, or rather, it has a clean and dry feeling.
Are there any influences of the recording environment?
It’s a piece that just matches the work and makes you want to listen to it again and again.