Alexander Tcherepnin: Nos. 1, 2 and 7 from 7 Etüden (Studies) Op 56

1 - Moderato 2 - Allegro 7 - Andantino -------------------------------------------------------------- Tcherepnin (1899-1977) must have been one of the all-time most travelled composers. In the mid-1930s he took at teaching post at the Shanghai Conservatory, and in 1938, married one of his students, the Chinese pianist Lee Hsien-Ming, whom he had followed back to Europe when she went to study in Brussels and Paris. This set of studies was written that year and dedicated to her. As in the better-known set of Five "Chinese" Concert Etudes (1934-36) he uses pentatonic themes, and the set has a subdued Chinese flavour. The last study of the three I have selected is, I think, one of the most beautiful piano pieces of the 20th c, and the serenity of its final pages foreshadows the sort of rapt stillness to be found in, for example, "Le baiser de l'infant Jesus" from Messiaen's 'Vingt Regards' of 1944(note the similarity between the very end of that piece and Tcherepnin's study)and the works of Arvo Pärt. -------------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear http://www.psear.co.uk