Charles Koechlin - Ballade; L' Ancienne maison de campagne; Preludes

Charles KOECHLIN (1867-1950)

Ballade, Op. 50 (1911-15) 

L'ancienne maison de campagne, Op. 124 (1932-33) 

Préludes for Piano, Op. 209 (1946-48) 

Jean-Pierre Ferey (piano)

rec. 1993, Salle Adyar, Paris

Review

The three piano works played by Jean-Pierre Ferey span a period of over thirty years.  All the music displays Koechlin’s compositional strengths i.e. wealth of imagination, unbounded fantasy, myriad timbral sonorities and vast harmonic diversity. Perhaps the most familiar of the scores is the suite L’Ancienne Maison de campagne, Op. 124, dating from 1932-33, and certainly the most extended composition here. Consisting of thirteen short pieces with descriptive titles, it recalls childhood memories of the time that Koechlin spent as a young child at his grandfather’s country estate near Lake Zurich. Serious, playful, struggling, pondering and determined are just some of the moods catered for.

The earliest work is the Ballade, Op. 50, written originally for solo piano, but later orchestrated for piano and orchestra. It consists of one long movement in eight sections. You’ll find it a very attractive listen, with haunting themes and diaphanous harmonies worked into a score both supple and flowing, and spiced with modal flavours. Ferey performs the first twelve of the 15 Préludes for Piano, Op. 209, composed 1946-48. Although these can be played separately, their full essence is only revealed when they’re performed as a cycle. There is plenty of variety, some are slow, some fast and some constructed in four or five parts. Modal harmonies and skilful counterpoint provide enticing ingredients.

Ferey, who has made it his life’s mission to champion the rarely performed and unsung repertoire is the perfect advocate for these alluring works.

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