Search - Charles Koechlin, Kathryn Stott :: Koechlin: Les heures Persanes, Op. 65

Koechlin the dreamer

E. Weed | Houston, TX | 01/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Koechlin's music seems to polarize listeners. He lived more or less contemporaneously with Ravel and Debussy and shared their interest in an extended, but not particularly dissonant, harmonic palette. I would have thought that lovers of, particularly, Debussy's piano music would quickly fall for The Persian Hours, but judging from some reviewers' reactions, that's not necessarily the case. I think that may be for two reasons: (1) Koechlin develops his ideas in a leisurely fashion; and (2) he's quite happy to experiment with a very free-flowing pulse, a pulse that almost disappears at times. Because of that, I think some people hear Koechlin's music as somewhat meandering, and, at times, motionless.



My own experience has been that, listening past those first impressions, one ends up with a richly rewarding collection of musical images. Koechlin is, indeed, in no hurry. He wants to carry you off to a dream vision of Persia, like Matisse's Morocco perhaps, or the Middle East of the French poets. I've been listening to this music for years, first in Herbert Henck's version for Wergo, and now in Kathleen Stott's version for Chandos. I wouldn't be without either one, though Henck is a bit tighter rhythmically, and may make a better case for the music for the uninitiated. Henck is, however, out of print. Stott is a more relaxed, and hers is the version I've been turning to lately.



For my money, this is one of the unacknowledged (minor) masterpieces of 20th Century piano music."

Phantastic

GB | 12/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard bad things about Koechlin's other music, but this group of piano pieces is excellent. The music captures the allure of the Persia of the Arabian Nights ... exotic, contemplative, expansive. He uses tonality rather freely and does not rely upon simple scales often associated with the middle east to evoke Persia. Excellent. I am not sure how this version stacks up against others, but it did receive a wonderful review in the Times of London."

Rediscovering an important 20th century composer

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charles Koechlin is not a name that naturally comes to mind in discussions of important composers of the last century. In fact, were it not for the inclusion of some his songs for voice and piano that appear on some of our more intelligent and repertoire-conscious singers, the music of this Impressionist/Postimpressionist composer would probably have fallen into obscurity - until lately.



This very impressive recording of 'Les heures Persanes, Op. 65' as performed by pianist Kathryn Stott should alert audiences that the treasures left behind by this composers merit more attention. Written much in the style of Debussy and Ravel, with just a pinch of Poulenc!, Koechlin's musical pictures of the landscape of Persia are richly sonorous and atmospheric. If the individual pieces lack a degree of spontaneity or unique ideas, then that is probably part of the concept of Koechlin's cycle. The works are meant to evoke an impression of 'orientale' and that they do, especially in the heavily pedaled, slightly inundated sound Stott chooses.





For those unfamiliar with the many fine works of this composer this is a fine introduction. And for those who love impressionist piano music this CD is a welcome addition of another composer's views. Grady Harp, July 05

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