Catalogue

Summary:

Folklore is a musical journey throughout 19^th and 20^th century France, Georgia, Hungary and Spain, through different styles and soundscapes that are united by folk traditions and national character, as well as personal memories of the performers – Swiss-French cellist Christoph Croisé and Georgian pianist Ana Bakradze.

Folklore takes the listener on a musical journey throughout 19^th and 20^th century France, Georgia, Hungary and Spain. Through different styles and soundscapes, the compositions are united by the spirit of folk traditions and national character, as well as personal memories of the performers – Swiss-French cellist Christoph Croisé and Georgian pianist Ana Bakradze. Works originally conceived for their instrumental combination sit alongside transcriptions that fit their sound world like a glove, a testament to the popularity of all the music on this album.

Siete Canciones populares Españolas, a set of seven traditional Spanish songs by Manuel de Falla, is his most-arranged composition and among his most popular. Béla Bartók’s Six Romanian Folk Dances, originally composed for solo piano, were drawn from melodies the composer recorded of folk musicians singing in the countryside of his Hungarian homeland. Hungarian influences infuse Pablo de Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), originally scored for violin and orchestra. Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s Five Pieces on Georgian Folk Themes evoke childhood memories for pianist Ana, especially the fourth, a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her.

The most substantial work on the album, Robert Schumann’s Fünf Stücke im Volkston (Five Pieces in Folk Style) conjures the harmonies and rhythms of folk music.

French national character imbues Nadia Boulanger’s Trois pièces (Three Pieces) and works by her teacher Gabriel Fauré: his elegant Sicilienne – originally penned for orchestra but frequently adapted for cello and piano – and his ever-popular miniature ‘Après un rêve’ (After a dream) from his Trois Mélodies (Three Melodies).

When asked about their own connections to this music and what they wish for the listener, Christoph and Ana agree, “Above all, joy! We share a love for the roots in these pieces and the inspiration they provided to the composers. For this album, we’ve selected our favourite miniatures. Some are well known, others are more personal, but they all connect to the spirit of folk traditions in some way. It’s about the lasting pleasure of connecting through music we love.”

Tracklist:

MANUEL DE FALLA (1876–1946)
Suite populaire espagnole
after 7 Canciones populares españolas
(adapted Paul Kochanski; transcribed for cello and piano by Maurice Maréchal)
1. No. 1 El pano moruno (2:22)
2. No. 2 Nana (2:18)
3. No. 3 Canción (1:34)
4. No. 4 Polo (1:21)
5. No. 5 Asturiana (2:40)
6. No. 6 Jota (3:36)

BÉLA BARTÓK (1881–1945)
Romanian Folk Dances Sz. 56
7. I. Jocul cu bâtă (1:29)
8. II. Brâul (0:32)
9. III. Pe loc (1:07)
10. IV. Bubiumeana (1:03)
11. V. Poarga românească (0:30)
12. VI. Mărunţel (1:00)

SULKHAN TSINTSADZE (1925–1991)
5 Pieces on Georgian Folk Themes
13. I. Urmuli (5:25)
14. II. Chonguri (1:13)
15. III. Sachida (2:24)
16. IV. Nana (3:28)
17. V. Tsekva (2:05)

NADIA BOULANGER (1887–1979)
3 Pièces pour violoncelle et piano
18. No. 1 Modéré (2:58)
19. No. 2 Sans vitesse et à l’aise (1:37)
20. No. 3 Vite et nerveusement rythmé (2:37)

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
5 Stücke im Volkston Op. 102
21. I. Vanitas vanitatum: Mit Humor (3:18)
22. II. Langsam (3:26)
23. III. Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen (4:32)
24. IV. Nicht zu rasch (2:17)
25. V. Stark und markiert (3:00)

PABLO DE SARASATE (1844–1908)
26. Zigeunerweisen Op. 20 (8:19)

GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845–1924)
27. Après un rêve Op. 7 No. 1 (3:29)
28. Sicilienne Op. 78 (5:59)

Christoph Croisé, cello
Ana Bakradze, piano

Recorded: 16 & 17 December 2024, Alte Kirche, Boswil, Switzerland
Recording Producer, Mixing Engineer & Editing: Shintaro Sugiura
Publishers: Première Music Group (BOULANGER); Sikorski (TSINTSADZE)