Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano in E minor, op 38 – Allegretto quasi Menuetto (Guest author Sara Acres)

Albert Combrink2013-09-03T13:44:49+02:00

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

Sonata for Cello and Piano in E minor, op 38 Allegretto quasi Menuetto

During the troubled months leading up to Schumann’s death, the 21-year-old Brahms lived in the Schumann household, looking after their six children during Clara’s frequent concert tours and growing emotionally closer to Clara herself. It was, no doubt a stressful time for everyone so it comes as no surprise that Brahms was also battling persistent writer‘s block caused by what he perceived to be a plateau in his creativity. [read more…]

Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano in E minor, op 38 – Allegretto quasi Menuetto (Guest author Sara Acres)Albert Combrink2013-09-03T13:44:49+02:00

Arpeggione Sonata, D.821 (Schubert)

Albert Combrink2013-09-01T16:11:50+02:00

Caspar David Friedrich: “The Tree of Crows”

My sheet music states quite clearly:

Schubert: Sonata in A minor Arpeggione D. 821 for Cello and Piano

But others state something different:

Schubert: Sonata in A minor Arpeggione D. 821 for Viola and Piano

So, this must be a transcription of the Cello work, Right?

Wrong.

Schubert: Sonata in A minor D. 821 for Arpeggione and [read more…]

Arpeggione Sonata, D.821 (Schubert)Albert Combrink2013-09-01T16:11:50+02:00

Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Cello and Piano Op.143

Albert Combrink2013-06-07T21:47:19+02:00

Ballet Russes 1912 – August Macke (3 January 1887 – 26 September 1914) was one of the leading members of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)

This post is part of a long term project between myself and cellist Sarah Acres, which explores French Song repertoire, taking in along the way some of the great solo works of [read more…]

Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Cello and Piano Op.143Albert Combrink2013-06-07T21:47:19+02:00

Zigeunerweisen (Pablo Sarasate)

Albert Combrink2013-05-29T20:01:07+02:00

Pablo Sarasate –

Zigeunerweisen (Pablo Sarasate: 10 March 1844 – 20 September 1908)

Few pieces of music embody at once both the spirit of the 19th century virtuoso of almost supernatural ability, as well as the wild and free spirit of the roaming gypsy. A virtuoso violinist at the height of his powers, Spanish composer Pablo Martín Melitón de Sarasate y Navascués, composed this gypsy-inspired show-piece to show off his own incredible technique. Zigeunerweisen Op. 20, was originally composed for violin and orchestra in 1878 when the composer was 33 years old, [read more…]

Zigeunerweisen (Pablo Sarasate)Albert Combrink2013-05-29T20:01:07+02:00

Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris – Happiness beyond kings

Albert Combrink2013-03-07T17:41:37+02:00

Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris

Child prodigy and youngest of 12 children, Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) was a Venezuelan, naturalised French, composer, conductor, music critic, diarist, theatre director, and salon singer. Best known as a composer of songs, he wrote in the French classical tradition of the mélodie. The fine craftsmanship, remarkable beauty, and originality of his works capture the insouciance of la belle époque.

Accompanist and brilliant writer Graham Johnson describes the song beautifully:
“À Chloris is beyond doubt the summit of Reynaldo Hahn’s art as a pasticheur, and [read more…]

Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris – Happiness beyond kingsAlbert Combrink2013-03-07T17:41:37+02:00

Live Video: Benedictus (Karl Jenkins) from “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace”

Albert Combrink2013-03-07T17:06:56+02:00

Benedictus / Karl Jenkins / The Armed Man / A mass for peace. (Cello & Piano Version)
Sarah Acres (Cello), Albert Combrink (Piano)
Live Amateur video Footage at “Lenten Meditation” Cello & Piano recital, as part of the St. George’s Cathedral Concert Series

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Live Video: Benedictus (Karl Jenkins) from “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace”Albert Combrink2013-03-07T17:06:56+02:00

Rachmaninov Cello Sonata, Movement III – Bells and Choirs in the Infinity Room of God

Albert Combrink2013-02-25T20:34:10+02:00

Despite the long shadow his life threw into the 20th century, the work of Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov {Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов} stands as one of the great pinnacles of Russian Romanticism. Born in 1873 in Semyonovo (near Novgorod) in Russia and died in 1943 in Beverly Hills, California, USA, this pianist, conductor and above all, composer left behind a body of work much loved by audiences across the world. There is a richness in his musical textures and a burning lyricism that makes his works stand out.

His Cello Sonata remains one of the most difficult chamber works in the repertoire, not [read more…]

Rachmaninov Cello Sonata, Movement III – Bells and Choirs in the Infinity Room of GodAlbert Combrink2013-02-25T20:34:10+02:00

Piazzolla’s Oblivion: Tango and the Mystery of Divine Love

Albert Combrink2013-02-24T13:58:06+02:00

Piazzolla’s Oblivion: Tango and the Mystery of Divine Love

Written as part of the Soundtrack of Marco Bellocchio’s 1984 film Enrico IV, the hauntingly beautiful Oblivion has had great success on the concert stages of the world. [you can watch the trailer to this film at the bottom of this page.]

From superstars in the classical world such as violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, to superstars in the jazz arena such as Chick Corea and Al de Meola, the timeless quality of this piece has revealed [read more…]

Piazzolla’s Oblivion: Tango and the Mystery of Divine LoveAlbert Combrink2013-02-24T13:58:06+02:00

Messiaen: Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus – Floating in Spiritual Amniotic Fluid

Albert Combrink2013-02-19T21:06:21+02:00

Olivier Messiaen: Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus (1941) for Cello and Piano

from Quatuor pour la fin du temps, also known by its English title, Quartet for the End of Time)

In 1940, Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) was interned in a German prison camp, where he discovered among his fellow prisoners a clarinettist, a violinist and a violoncellist. The success of a short trio which he wrote for them led him to add seven more movements to this Interlude, and a piano to the ensemble, to create the Quartet for the End of Time. Messiaen and [read more…]

Messiaen: Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus – Floating in Spiritual Amniotic FluidAlbert Combrink2013-02-19T21:06:21+02:00

Spiegel im Spiegel (Arvo Pärt) – Looking for Stonehenge

Albert Combrink2013-02-17T20:42:01+02:00

United Kindgdom, 2005: The Search for Stonehenge

As a tourist in the UK, I managed to arrange a trip to Stonehenge. A must see. One of the wonders of the world, about 13km North of Salisbury. A mysterious pile of rocks which no-one knows much about with any certainty, it fitted nicely in to the to-do list of a few days off. See the pier where Dorsett where “Sophie’s Choice” was filmed, book your tickets for the Royal Albert Hall, make sure to [read more…]

Spiegel im Spiegel (Arvo Pärt) – Looking for StonehengeAlbert Combrink2013-02-17T20:42:01+02:00

Chamber Music

Zigeunerweisen (Pablo Sarasate: 10 March 1844 – 20 September 1908)

Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris

Benedictus / Karl Jenkins / The Armed Man / A mass for peace. (Cello & Piano Version) Sarah Acres (Cello), Albert Combrink (Piano) Live Amateur video Footage at “Lenten Meditation” Cello & Piano recital, as part of the St. George’s Cathedral Concert Series

Piazzolla’s Oblivion: Tango and the Mystery of Divine Love

Olivier Messiaen: Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus (1941) for Cello and Piano

United Kindgdom, 2005: The Search for Stonehenge

Benedictus / Karl Jenkins / The Armed Man / A mass for peace. (Cello & Piano Version)
Sarah Acres (Cello), Albert Combrink (Piano)
Live Amateur video Footage at “Lenten Meditation” Cello & Piano recital, as part of the St. George’s Cathedral Concert Series