Three Pieces by Vladimir Drozdoff Vyacheslav Gryaznov, piano

Vyacheslav Gryaznov, piano
Live recording of three pieces by Vladimir Drozdoff, 1882-1960.
February 20, 2016
Symphony Space, New York, NY
Reflections at Chopin's Urn, B3.42
Poème for the Left Hand, B3.18
Sonata No. 15, "Windsor Shades" B2.15
Program Notes:
Drozdoff. Reflections at Chopin’s Urn
The piece was probably written in the late 1940s. It is a beautiful, rhapsodic musical expression. Certain phrases might trigger images in ones mind of a strong Baroque dome, like that of Holy Cross Church in Warsaw where Chopin’s heart is preserved in an urn; and, although the texture is infiltrated by direct quotes of Chopin’s intonations and motifs from his opuses 31 and 58, the improvisation is reminiscent of Rachmaninoff’s style. The colors of sorrow prevail in the score; they associate by the low register and heavy chromatic chords enforced by Drozdoff’s expression marks like sombre, religioso, dramatico. In contrast, the middle section brings in the masterfully developed, bright, joyful spirit of Chopin’s theme from Sonata No.3.
Drozdoff. Poème for the Left Hand
More than 650 composers contributed to the universe of piano music pieces for the left hand alone, including some who were close to Drozdoff -- T. Leschetitzky, L. Godowsky, S. Barère, et al. Of Drozdoff’s inner circle, probably only S. Rachmaninov and A. Gretchaninoff abstained from this fashion genre.
The main objective of one hand pieces is to make listeners believe that you are in fact playing with two hands. Maurice Ravel said about his own piano concerto in D major: "The listener must never feel that more could be accomplished with two hands."
Drozdoff. Sonata No. 15, “Windsor Shades”
Sonata No.15 named “Windsor Shades” was inspired by Drozdoff’s vacation at the old mansion (built in 1740) of his friends Henrietta and Donald Vought near New York. It is comprised of three musical sketches, each a reflection of the artist’s sentiments echoing different phases of nature and images of the old house: “Rain Drop Elegia,” “Splashes,” and “Tempest.” Through association with nature the artist speaks about himself. The first sketch is rooted in the monotonous ostinato that accompanies the melody. The melody is lyrical, quiet, and a bit depressive at the beginning but it is soon transformed into a funeral lament by achingly-tart harmonies and increasing dynamic pressure. It is a very impressive reflection of his sober soul. The ostinato of accompaniment does not evoke monotonously dripping water so much as a human pulse, wearied by grief. One may hear the distant echo of Mussorgsky’s picture, "Old Castle"; perhaps even more clearly reflected in this piece is Chopin’s Prelude Op.28 №6. By contrast, Drozdoff’s music is more dramatic. Particularly in his later years, he often performed Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Chopin’s cycle of preludes. Perhaps the favorite old masters also helped him to find laconic musical tools for expressing the depressive feelings both of the autumn of nature and the autumn the artist’s own life, abandoned and alone with his melancholy.
Expressionistic harmonies grip the theme of “Elegia” with solid chords, and straighten out with sparkling arpeggios in the next piece of the cycle - “Splashes.” Sound fireworks form a weaving of delicate chromatic splashes, dramatically juxtaposing this peculiar jeux d’eau of Drozdoff’s with both the "Elegia" and the conclusion of the sonata cycle, "Tempest." Although everything here sounds like a storm, chromatic ‘howling’ rushing into the piano’s lower register, rapidly escaping into dissonant outbursts of silvery ringing top strings, thunder-like tremolos, harsh loud chords, and scorching collisions of very different tonalities; but this piece is more suggestive of a bleeding soul’s confession than an calamitous event of nature.
-George Borisov
Vyacheslav Gryaznov is an Artist in Residence with The Drozdoff Society.
The Drozdoff Society sponsors the Impromptu! Classical Music Recital Series at venues in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Society was formed for the purpose of preserving, promulgating, publishing, performing, and recording the compositions of Vladimir Drozdoff.

[@irinastepanova-borovskaya]

Vyacheslav Gryaznov! Изумительное исполнение,прочтение!

[@beth_levin_piano]

Beautiful!