infotext:
Andras Hamary is an exceptional composer. And not only because he remained true to his compositional skills despite his previous, award-winning work as a pianist, but also because he managed to refuse the still existing Adornite "canon of the forbidden" of new music . In this he follows his compatriot György Ligeti, who in his later works, starting with the scandalized trio for violin, horn and piano from 1982, supposedly only dealt backwards with the parameter harmonics. For him, this look back was just a different look ahead, and András Hamary followed him in that.
Hamary tries to revive supposedly bygone or even dead forms, symbols and ciphers, in search of a language in which European music history with a focus on the Prélude is preserved in the best sense of the word. The foreplay is replayed like this.
András Hamary and Markus Bellheim got to know and appreciate each other while teaching in Würzburg. "Dedicated to Markus Bellheim in a friendly manner" is the dedication of Hamary's 24 Préludes. In addition to human sympathy, this friendship is based on common interests such as B. the love of modern and contemporary art and music and the great interest in the musical world of France, especially in the music of Debussy and Messiaen.
After his retirement, Hamary moved from Würzburg to Berlin, and in the loneliness of the years made difficult by Corona, he wrote his 24 Préludes in the tradition of Chopin, Scriabin and Debussy, Bellheim tailor-made.
Bonus DVD
»24 video animations«
András Hamary presents a selection from a series of his video animations on the bonus DVD.
Image and music were created at the same time or almost simultaneously. Most of the music is computer generated (Sibelius Sounds), the animations were made with Corel Painter, Moho and Final Cut.
program:
Andras Hamary (* 1950)
24 Preludes for Piano
First issue
[01] 1. Preamble 02:43
[02] 2nd stop and go 01:20
[03] 3. Sad Echoes 02:55
[04] 4. Terramoto 04:06
[05] 5. Interlude 1 02:10
[06] 6. Funeral 1 04:43
[07] 7. Ringato 03:29
[08] 8. Interlude 2 01:29
[09] 9. Funeral 2 04:02
[10] 10. Csillagszóró 02:32
[11] 11. Funeral 3 02:38
[12] 12. Mandolin 03:23
Second issue
[13] 1. Csendes Korál 03:38
[14] 2. El milagro secreto 03:39
[15] 3. Black Trumpets 02:38
[16] 4. Alla Marcia 01:16
[17] 5. Inventio in the Mist – Hommage à Dimitrij Shostakovich 02:34
[18] 6. The Drummer 02:54
[19] 7. Ritornello (Chopin) 02:33
[20] 8. Sarabande Pathétique 04:08
[21] 9. Zengö skálák 01:46
[22] 10. Paganini met Gershwin on 5th Avenue 02:10
[23] 11. Ostinato arrabbiato 03:40
[24] 12. Farewell 03:43
Total playing time: 70:21
Markus Bellheimpiano
Press:
The New Listener
13.05.2023
Markus Bellheim celebrates András Hamary's excellent cycle of Preludes
Andras Hamarys cycle of 24 Preludes for Piano (2021/22) is now played by the dedicatee Markus Bellheim, in co-production with B.R. Classic near NEOS appeared. The music as well as their performance can only be considered outstanding.
[…] With 24 piano preludes, one almost inevitably follows in the footsteps of a number of historical models: in the case of Hamary, these are above all Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Shostakovich (op. 34). In addition, the listener feels the influence of various composers, not only piano composers, who have not written any prelude cycles. In their rhythmic complexity or motoricity, some sections refer to Hamary's compatriot György Ligeti - especially his piano etudes. Schubert, Schumann, even Mahler or Nancarrow shine through in places. Not that the composer quoted verbatim in the 70-minute work consisting of 2 x 12 pieces; however, there are numerous allusions attached to concrete musical The situation with those colleagues who, of course, cannot and should not all be listed here. It is clear that Hamary faces up to this music-historical awareness, which is indispensable, without simply imitating or “incorporating” elements. In this way, the supposed “ballast” becomes a source for your very own inspiration. Literature forms the starting point for at least two preludes: Attila Jószef's poem Ringato for the "Lullaby" (1st volume, no. 7) and the story El Milagro Segreto by the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (2nd volume, no. 2). [...]
Markus Bellheim plays this tour de force absolutely brilliantly. The enormously demanding piano writing, written almost for him, works under his hands - and feet! – nevertheless never strained. Bellheim's concentration and highly differentiated art of touch, which has long been known from his Messiaen performances, comes into its own in each of the 24 pieces. The rapid numbers (such as No. 10 Csillagszóró [“Sparklers”] or No. 12, which is initially reminiscent of Ligeti and later becomes unrestrainedly tonal Mandolin), but he also manages the perfectly presented overtone feats, which often appear like a mirage, in an astonishing way. Hamary often demands the immediate development of the musical ideas behind the individual pieces and the grasping of the big picture Attack-Transitions between two preludes – always go hand in hand and constantly maintain the arc of suspense: empathy that is immediately transferred to the listener. [...]
Martin Blaumeiser