Tajcevik - Seven Balkan Dances

[liszt1022]

This is a set of seven rhythmically and harmonically interesting dances by 20th century Croatian / Serbian composer Marko Tajčević. It's rather obscure but worth more interest.

My instructor in college had played these and passed them on to me. They featured in a few recitals after that. These recordings were from one of those recitals.

Check them out!

[liszt1022]

...

[pianowolfi]

I just started listening and I got captivated from the first note...
...
...

to the last!

Well I love music with "Arabian"/ oriental influence It might be interesting to play these in a program together with some Albéniz, or Bartók's Romanian folk dances.

[liszt1022]

Thanks for listening to it all!
I see 13 downloads of the first dance, and 2 for all the others... which is too bad, because the others are pretty great!
Especially #2, it's a setting of a folk song.
And #3, with those crazy meter changes and Gypsy scale!
And #4, because I love 7/8 time.
#5 is pretty intense rhythmically, all those surprise downbeats!
#6 because the RH is 2/4 and the LH is 3/8.
#7 because it's the big finish! It's a bear dance, I believe.

[furtwaengler]

It is a trend I notice a lot here, many downloads of the first of a list, and a lower number of the others. Curiously if you look at sets that Rachfan has posted of Catoire and others there is usually a pretty even ratio of downloads - a sign of respect for the music and the musician, I think. You'll probably see more as people get to know you.

I've just downloaded the lot, and I'll comment back after I listen to the set.

Thanks for the descriptions as well.

[rachfan]

Hi Dave,

With those Catoire sets you mentioned, it's truly hard not to like that music, which is probably why it caught on so well. And I'm grateful for that!  But I still seem to be one of a very few championing his music. I still strongly believe in Catoire. Perhaps his time just hasn't come yet.

David

[rachfan]

Hi liszt,

This was a first hearing for me.  Generally I'm not enamored of dance forms, but I must say I really enjoyed these!  They are very colorful, often very kinetic, and there is sufficient contrast among them as well in mood, tempo and rhythm.  Your playing was superb, and if there are any technical difficulties in these pieces, it would be impossible to know given your fine artistry.  The recording is likewise of high quality.  It was a pleasure hearing these pieces!  

David

[liszt1022]

Well thank you very much! I'll have to post something else when I have it all practiced and find a good place to record it.

[mediumwell]

my friends keep telling me to stop learning romantic pieces, so i think i might learn these instead.  they sound really brilliant btw...

[liszt1022]

Please let us know how it goes! The score's here:
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Balkan-Dances/5977283

[furiouzpianist]

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

I love these gypsy melodies!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic playing, with lots of color, and a real enthusiasm for this folk music.

I saved these recording to my computer, so that i can listen to them again, even if you take them down.

WOW.

[furtwaengler]

These are indeed worthy of great interest. I was finally able to sit down and enjoy the recording straight through, and I love the piece, and I love your performance. It is funny I had been listening to Busoni's Indian Fantasy which proceeded the Tajcevik in the foobar queue, and it took me a few seconds to realized the Busoni had ended and the Tajcevik had begun!

I'd love to hear more of Tajcevik's output, and I look forward to hearing more of your truly excellent musicianship. This performance is a nice addition to my library.

[mnmleung]

I really enjoyed them, thank you.
And thank you for posting a link to the score.
Ming