• Vittorio Giannini: Piano Quintet

GIANNINI: QUINTET FOR PIANO AND STRINGS
Years ago, I discovered Vittorio Giannini’s work in my capacity as a conductor. Very taken with his Concerto Grosso for string orchestra and aware of his orchestral and vocal output, I became curious to know if he had written chamber music. Prolific as he was, I came to learn that in fact a great deal had been written, the bulk of which remains unpublished.

The three-movement Quintet for Piano and Strings is, in my view, a masterpiece. The opening of the first movement presents itself with a lyrically flowing viola solo in 5/4 time, lightly punctuated by chords in the piano. Giannini takes this opening theme and continually re-purposes it throughout the movement, ultimately building to a sonorous climax. The second movement begins with intimate, contemplative soli; first from the cello then viola, before moving on to fantastic realms of sound. This movement visits many styles, which blend uniformly into a distinctive compositional voice. In the
louder, faster sections, the musical imagery conjured is panoramic, even cinematic. The third and final movement utilizes something of an A-B-A structure, starting off with a restless, flowing motive that alights briefly to a resolution, changing then to a driving, motor-like music. Interrupted by a broad, sweeping middle section reminiscent of the second movement, the motor rhythm then resumes, driving relentlessly to a wild finish.

The journey of discovery, performance and ultimately recording of these works has been truly special and fulfilling. We hope that the Piano Quintet and Trio will take their rightful places in the concert repertoire. [Ariel Rudiakov]

GIANNINI: PIANO TRIO
From the outset of the experience of learning and recording Giannini’s unknown Piano Trio, my colleagues and I were impressed by the unapologetically lush romanticism of the work. The first movement is rich, powerful, and dynamic, and Giannini makes use of the full dynamic range of all three instruments, with mood shifts alternating between placidly lyrical and passionately extroverted. The second movement is unexpectedly poignant, centering around a deeply-felt melody that undergoes numerous transformations ranging from hushed to ecstatic. This movement is undoubtedly a gem; the romantically-bent listener will certainly be emotionally moved by this gorgeous work. The third movement caught us off-guard in a different way: the simplicity and innocence of the opening material is so far-removed from the dark, powerful textures that contrast it throughout the movement that, at first, we didn’t quite know what to make of it! With repeated run-throughs and practice we came to interpret these polar extremes in mood as Giannini’s unique way of expressing cynicism and humor, and we grew to love this movement with all of its quirkiness. The last three chords, for instance, never ceased to elicit raised-eyebrows and smirks from the three of us, throughout our experience of recording the work, yet we did so with a feeling admiration and appreciation. This Piano Trio is a wonderful, refreshing, unique work so full of life and passion that we feel it is an excellent addition to the abundant repertoire of the Piano Trio genre. [Adam Neiman]


MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Manchester, Vermont
ARIEL RUDIAKOV, Artistic Director

What is now known as the Manchester Music Festival (MMF) began in 1974. Violinist Carroll Glenn and her husband, pianist Eugene List (both deceased) were the founders of a summer chamber music study program for college-age string players and pianists. Cellist Michael M. Rudiakov, along with his wife Judith, took over the organization in 1985, bringing it back from the brink of collapse and transforming it over the next 15 years into a year-round performing and teaching organization. Today, the MMF has its own headquarters, a robust music education program and a full slate of summer
and fall/winter concerts. The Festival’s mission prioritizes equally between teaching and performing, and its ongoing activities have led it well beyond the boundaries of most organizations similar to it. It is likely that, in the future, MMF will be renamed the Manchester Music Centre, to more accurately reflect its standing in the community, while better communicating the truth of its institutional gravitas. The five musicians performing on this recording are faculty or guest artists of the MMF. [www.mmfvt.org ]

VITTORIO GIANNINI (1903-1966)
QUINTET for Piano and Strings
Allegro con spirito
Adagio
Allegro

TRIO for Piano and Strings
Allegro non troppo
Andante triste
Allegro non troppo, con eleganza