A new recording featuring the works of Dutch composer Jan Vriend has been released, showcasing his compositions “Six Liebesträume” and “Six Preludes into Fugues.” This album brings together performances by pianists Ralph van Raat, Elizabeth Goh, Apollon Kalamenios, and the composer himself.
“Six Liebesträume,” composed in 2010, was written for Ralph van Raat. Vriend describes these pieces as explorations of specific areas from both pianistic and musical perspectives, aiming to create compositions where technique serves the music. The six movements delve into various themes, with the fourth dedicated to Masachi Nishiyama, inspired by her performance of Debussy’s “Images.” The entire set has an approximate duration of 40 minutes.
The “Six Preludes into Fugues,” composed in 2023, were dedicated to Ralph van Raat on his 45th birthday. In this collection, Vriend begins each set with a fugue, from which the prelude is distilled, making them inseparable. Each fugue employs a specific principle for the sequencing of the theme, drawing inspiration from composers like Bach. Vriend emphasizes the importance of musical phrasing, articulation, and dynamics, allowing performers a degree of initiative and musical instinct.
The recording sessions took place at Studio Van Schuppen in Veenendaal, the Netherlands, with “Six Liebesträume” recorded in January 2026 and “Six Preludes into Fugues” in December 2023. The album is available on major streaming platforms and for purchase through attacca.nl. This release offers listeners an opportunity to engage with Vriend’s recent contributions to contemporary piano literature.
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