My lifelong obsession with virtuoso miniatures found a creative landing in Texas Hill Country at the picturesque Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio, only 25 miles from my home in Austin. For three decades I have spent countless hours listening to Casals, Piatigorsky, Heifetz, Stern and others who have loved these melodies and performed them with virtuosity, artistry and sincerity.
As a student more than 20 years ago, I began transcribing Casals recordings of character pieces, sometimes with a piano score, other times, a blank page. Transitioning from pupil to performer, I added some of my favorite violin miniatures as well. Collecting these 18 treasures to be both heard and seen is a dream come true.
Retreat with me as we turn over these gems again. Welcome to The Blue Rock Sessions.
Humoresque, Op. 101, No. 7 for Cello & Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
Mélodie, from "Orpheus et Euridyce," for Cello & Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
The Swan, from "The Carnival of the Animals," for Cello & Piano
El paño moruno, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
Asturiana, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
Jota, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
Nana, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
Cancion, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
Polo, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, No. 6, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
Mélodie in E flat, Op. 42, No. 3, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
Valse Sentimentale, Op. 51, No. 6, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
Prelude, Op. 2, No. 1, for Cello and Piano
Danse Orientale, Op. 2, No. 2, for Cello and Piano
Serenata Napoletana, Op. 24, No. 2, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Casals)
Nocturne in E flat, Op. 9, No. 2, for Cello and Piano (arr. Casals)
Sabre Dance, from "Gayane," for Cello and Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
Figaro, a Concert-Rhapsodie on Rossini's "Barber of Seville," for Cello and Piano (for Heifetz, arr. by Tsang)