This is 4th posting. In Japan, if you give up something after 3 times try, you will be called “3 days monk “. To be honest, my Master is typical “3 days monk” but I don’t want to give up this series, even though I got big influence from my Master. However, this series needs interim refreshment between heavy articles, just like Beethoven and Mahler wrote relatively right No.4 symphonies. I fully understand their feeling. As a kind of refreshment, I introduce Dukas “Villanelle” from “French music for Horn and Piano”.
Music
“L’apprenti sorcier” and “La Péri” by Dukas might be famous for music fan but one more music is famous for horn players. It is “Villanelle”. Why Dukas’s remaining works are so few ? It is because Dukas did not allow himself to leave unsatisfactory works from his point of view. Finally, only 20 – 30 works remained. “Villanelle” was composed for entry examination for Conservatoire de Paris and stayed in his life works.
Recording
Date: 1985 (No detailed date on LP)
Venue: Lukas Kirche, Dresden
Recording Engineer: Horst Kunze
We can see “Digital Metal Mastering “(DMM) on ETERNA label.
My favorite
Some people may have image that Peter Damm plays only German music. No, it is wrong. If you listen this recording, you will find he is very flexible to any kind of music. He can be French when he plays French music, and can be American when American music is there.
Horn signal, right after short Piano notes followed by very nostalgic sweet melody. Music suddenly speed up with thriling tempo created by Peter Rösel.
Again, Peter ! Peter Damm, Peter Schreier, Peter Rösel. Good performances are made only by Peter. Piano player plays key role to set the tempo at middle fast part.Peter Rösel plays nicely to support high tension of Peter Damm. I must say he is also legendary player.
Peter Damm plays good ensemble with the piano. The thrilling collaboration is a point which you can’t miss. The music speed up and hit high F after playing many triplet. I love his triplet.
Enjoy French Peter Damm !
One more thing
I found Youtube movie of Peter Damm recital in NHK Japan in 1981. My Master also recorded the program but he lost the video tape. It is very rare to watch his performance of Villanelle and Brahms Trio with interview, though the sound quality is not perfect at Brahms.
