American Piano Concertos
Gershwin / Copland / Barber
Xiayin Wang
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Peter Oundjian
Chandos (CHSA 5128)
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013

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This third movement of the Barber concerto is full of honest heart-driven excitement. The 5/8 meter throughout and different tempi maintain a sense of propulsion. It has very thick and powerful writing for the woodwinds and brass, and especially the mind-blowing opening - it is almost like it's announcing the arrival of the devil! It absolutely requires total accuracy from the soloist and the orchestra because of the extreme complexity of the rhythm. The ending just grabs your heart, and actually one can't breath because it is so intense! -XW

Barber: Piano Concerto, Op. 38 - III. Allegro Molto (excerpt)

American Piano Concertos
Gershwin / Copland / Barber
Xiayin Wang
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Peter Oundjian
Chandos (CHSA 5128)
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013

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I think this second movement shows the character of the piece right away: ragtime and jazz and a mixture of Copland's own harmonic language accompanying the jazz and ragtime rhythm. Sometimes you can hear a bit of uncertainty in the rhythm but it is almost a trick to the ears, resolving to perfectly line up at the end of the section. Again, this is a big challenge for the orchestra and soloist to get all the various kinds of rhythmic divisions together. -XW

Copland: Piano Concerto - II. Molto Moderato (excerpt)

American Piano Concertos
Gershwin / Copland / Barber
Xiayin Wang
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Peter Oundjian
Chandos (CHSA 5128)
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013

* * *

This first movement has lots of different characters in it. The opening is like a big jazz band with a full orchestra - it absolutely brings ones ears to a whole new world. Gershwin only wrote one concerto and he orchestrated it himself, unlike the "Rhapsody in Blue." I personally picture so many scenes in my mind: the streets of America in the early 20th C, or just a pleasant and uplifting melody here and there. This work absolutely puts a smile on your face instantly. -XW

Gershwin: Concerto in F - I. Allegro (excerpt)

Recitalist, chamber musician, soloist, and Chandos recording artist.

XiayinWang