Rachmaninov was a first-of-April baby, and a big favourite of mine, but I held back and stuck to the lesser-known choice of Ferruccio Busoni, born on this day in 1866 in Empoli, Italy. A pianist himself, he composed quite a lot of pieces, acknowledging the influence and thematic use of other composers such as Bach and Chopin.
However, I was caught by the Indianisches items... having travelled in the United States, he connected with a lady who had been studying the songs and sounds of the Native Americans, producing a book which she passed on to him. Busoni did not like how the Indians were being treated... You can read a bit more about that if you wish, over on this linked page. Here, though, is one of the piano pieces inspired by the Indian Harvest Songs...
That is very interesting music!
ReplyDeleteHe was a very talented musician. He even helped redesign a piano that had extended (96) keys instead of the usual 88...to facilitate his transcriptions of Bach Organ works for piano.
Interesting how he got interested in North American songs and sounds.
ReplyDeleteit is mighty and there is no room for more tunes.. only this ones...
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