Clare Hammond – Hélène de Montgeroult: Études (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:10:15 minutes | 1,09 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © BIS
Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836) was a French composer and pianist who lived an extraordinary life. Though only 8 years younger than Mozart, she wrote in an early Romantic style that was decades ahead of her time, leading her biographer, Jérôme Dorival, to describe her as “the missing link between Mozart and Chopin”.Born into an aristocratic family, Montgeroult fled France during the Revolution and was involved with exiled political factions in the UK. On her return, she joined a diplomatic envoy to Naples, only to be abducted by Austrian soldiers en route and imprisoned. She regained her freedom, but was then put on trial by the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror. Montgeroult managed to avoid execution by improvising a set of variations on the Marseillaise that moved the judges to tears.
Her legacy for keyboard comprises 9 extant sonatas, 114 etudes and a host of supplementary pieces. The etudes, in particular, are extraordinary and anticipate the stylistic advances of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Chopin. Montgeroult started writing these etudes in 1788 for her pupil, Johann Baptist Cramer, and the entire set was completed by 1812. Clare has recorded 29 études due for release on BIS Records in October / November 2022. Hear Clare discuss Montgeroult’s legacy with Donald Macleod in BBC Radio 3’s Composer of the Week here, and watch a performance at the Wigmore Hall and the trailer for her disc below.
Tracklist:
1. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 37 in G Major (00:55)
2. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 36 in F Major (02:19)
3. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 35 in C Minor (00:50)
4. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 34 in F Major (01:19)
5. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 28 in E Major (03:12)
6. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 26 in G Major (01:30)
7. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 38 in A Minor (04:32)
8. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 41 in E-Flat Major (03:29)
9. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 51 in F Minor (01:31)
10. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 53 in E Minor (01:45)
11. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 52 in C Major (01:39)
12. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 55 in F Minor (01:35)
13. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 66 in C Minor (01:23)
14. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 62 in E-Flat Major (03:03)
15. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 65 in E-Flat Minor (01:05)
16. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 67 in B Major (02:30)
17. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 74 in C Minor (04:05)
18. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 89 in A-Flat Minor (04:39)
19. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 82 in C Minor (01:45)
20. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 97 in G Minor (03:40)
21. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 99 in C Minor (03:30)
22. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 100 in B-Flat Minor (01:59)
23. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 101 in C-Sharp Major (02:35)
24. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 103 in F-Sharp Minor (02:38)
25. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 106 in B Major (03:43)
26. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 104 in G-Sharp Minor (02:04)
27. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 107 in D Minor (01:43)
28. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 110 in A Major (03:00)
29. Clare Hammond – Piano Étude No. 111 in G Minor (02:03)
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