Bion Tsang: The Blue Rock Sessions
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.
The Videos
The Videos
Tune in to all 18 videos from the blue rock sessions:
1. ANTONÍN DVOrÁK
Humoresque, Op. 101, No. 7 for Cello & Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
2. CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK
Mélodie, from "Orpheus et Euridyce," for Cello & Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
3. CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
The Swan, from "The Carnival of the Animals," for Cello & Piano
4. Manuel de Falla
El paño moruno, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
5. MANUEL DE FALLA
Asturiana, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
6. MANUEL DE FALLA
Jota, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
7. MANUEL DE FALLA
Nana, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
8. MANUEL DE FALLA
Cancion, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
9. MANUEL DE FALLA
Polo, from “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” for Cello and Piano
10. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, No. 6, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
11. PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Mélodie in E flat, Op. 42, No. 3, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
12. PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Valse Sentimentale, Op. 51, No. 6, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Stern/Tsang)
13. Sergei Rachmaninoff
Prelude, Op. 2, No. 1, for Cello and Piano
14. SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Danse Orientale, Op. 2, No. 2, for Cello and Piano
15. Giovanni Sgambati
Serenata Napoletana, Op. 24, No. 2, for Cello and Piano (arr. by Casals)
16. Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne in E flat, Op. 9, No. 2, for Cello and Piano (arr. Casals)
17. Aram Khachaturian
Sabre Dance, from "Gayane," for Cello and Piano (arr. by Heifetz/Tsang)
18. Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Figaro, a Concert-Rhapsodie on Rossini's "Barber of Seville," for Cello and Piano (for Heifetz, arr. by Tsang)