Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of early 20th-century classical music with Robert Armbruster's "Harmonies" - 20th Century Classical Piano Rolls. This exquisite collection, released on May 10, 2025, under the Novus Promusica label, spans an impressive 4 hours and 26 minutes, offering a rich tapestry of piano compositions that showcase the virtuosity and artistry of the era.
Robert Armbruster, a name synonymous with musical excellence, curates this album with a discerning ear, presenting a diverse array of pieces that range from the delicate and introspective to the bold and dramatic. The album features a blend of well-known classics and lesser-known gems, all meticulously performed on historical piano rolls, a medium that adds a unique, resonant quality to the music.
From the lively and rhythmic "Viennese Dance No. 1 on Themes from Gaertner" to the serene and contemplative "Nocturne," and the playful "Children at Play - Elegy," Armbruster's renditions are both technically impressive and deeply expressive. The album also includes iconic works such as Beethoven's "Für Elise," Chopin's "Barcarolle, Op. 14," and Liszt's "Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475," each brought to life with a sensitivity that highlights the emotional depth and technical brilliance of these timeless compositions.
"Harmonies" is not just a collection of piano rolls; it is a testament to the enduring power of classical music and the skill of its interpreters. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a captivating journey through the musical landscape of the early 20th century. Robert Armbruster's masterful performances and the historical significance of the piano rolls make "Harmonies" a truly remarkable addition to any music lover's collection.
2025 Novus Promusica2025 Novus Promusica
Tracks
Viennese Dance No. 1 on Themes from Gaertner - Duo-Art 6410Eduard Gaertner, Ignaz Friedman, Peter Phillips
NocturneMona Rejino, Anna Miernik
Children at Play - ElegyAlexandre Tansman, Anna Miernik
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven, Anna Miernik
Kandinsky's CircleLaura Ballestrino
Piano Sonata, Op. 2 No. 2: III. Scherzo Allegretto - Duo-Art 0268 BrLudwig van Beethoven, Beethoven-Rubinstein, Una Bourne, Peter Phillips
Piano Sonata, Op. 2 No. 2: IV. Rondo Grazioso - Duo-Art 0269 BrLudwig van Beethoven, Beethoven-Rubinstein, Una Bourne, Peter Phillips
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857 - Welte-Mignon 2965Johann Sebastian Bach, Eugen d'Albert, Peter Phillips
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 (Raindrop) in D-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 1319Frédéric Chopin, Ferruccio Busoni, Peter Phillips
Lyrische Stucke, Op. 43: No. 6 to Spring (An Den Fruling) - Welte-Mignon 1307Edvard Grieg, Raoul Stéphane Pugno, Peter Phillips
Grandes Études De Paganini, S. 141: No. 4, Vivo - Duo-Art 70249Franz Liszt, Peter Phillips, Magdeleine Brard
Suite for Harpsichord, No. 14: Gavotte Varie - Welte-Mignon 540George Frideric Handel, Raoul Stéphane Pugno, Peter Phillips
Toccata in B-Flat Major, Op. 11 - Welte-Mignon 3971Muzio Clementi, Peter Phillips, Raoul von Koczalski
Trio No. 5 in G Major: Gypsy Rondo (Arr. Solo Piano by Bauer) - Duo-Art 7254Joseph Haydn, Peter Phillips, Harold Bauer
Youths Magic Horn: No. 2 Joyfully I Walked Through the Green Forest (Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen. - Welte-Mignon 768Gustav Mahler, Peter Phillips
Petite Suite, Op. 1: No. 6, Serenade - Welte-Mignon 1042Alexander Borodin, Peter Phillips, Anatol von Rössel
Années De Pèlerinage (1st Year), S. 160: No. 4, Au Bord D'une Source - Duo-Art 6664Franz Liszt, Peter Phillips, Alfred Cortot
Barcarolle, Op. 14 - Duo-Art 65888Selim Palmgren, Peter Phillips
Echoes of the Andes - Duo-Art 6449Carlos Valderrama, Peter Phillips
Moments Musicaux, Op. 94: No. 3, in F Minor - Welte-Mignon 1211Franz Schubert, Vladimir de Pachmann, Peter Phillips
Two Part Inventions: No. 1, BWV 772 - Duo-Art 6392Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Suite for Harpsichord No. 5: Air with Variations ('Harmonious Blacksmith') - Duo-Art 6020George Frideric Handel, Peter Phillips, Teresa Carreño
Egeria, Op. 35 - Duo-Art 71566Ernest Richard Kroeger, Robert Armbruster, Peter Phillips
Military Marches, Op. 51: No. 3, Marche Militaire in E-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 3309Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Backhaus, Peter Phillips
Berceuse, Op. 57, in D-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 328Frédéric Chopin, Alfred Reisenauer, Peter Phillips
Fireside Tales, Op. 61: No. 2. Of Br'er Rabbit - Welte-Mignon 3681-USEdward MacDowell, Peter Phillips, Carolyne Cone Baldwin
Trois Études De Concert, S. 144: No. 3, Un Sospiro in D Flat - Duo-Art 5546Franz Liszt, Marguerite Volavy, Peter Phillips
Album Leaf. Op. 28: No. 3, Dance Caprice - Due-Art 04 BrEdvard Grieg, Peter Phillips, Arthur De Greef
Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute): Overture (Arr. Solo Piano by Kohlberg) - Welte-Mignon 1802Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Walter Kohlberg, Peter Phillips
Finlandia, Op. 26 (Arr. For 4 Hands Piano by Ganz) - Duo-Art 539-4Jean Sibelius, Peter Phillips, Rudolph Ganz, Ernest Hutcheson
Grande Valse De Concert, Op. 41 in E Major - Welte-Mignon 1968Alexander Glazunov, Peter Phillips, Marceline Kimontt
Lohengrin (Arr. For Piano by Leopold): Act II Excerpts - Duo-Art 71940Richard Wagner, Peter Phillips, Ralph Leopold
Fantasie, Op. 17: II. Mässig. Durchaus Energisch - Welte-Mignon 362Robert Schumann, Teresa Carreño, Peter Phillips
Zigeunerweisen - Welte-Mignon 814Pablo de Sarasate, Peter Phillips, Berthe Marx-Goldschmidt
Der Freischutz: Overture - Welte-Mignon 1805Carl Maria von Weber, Peter Phillips, Walter Kohlberg
Iolanthe: Selections (Arr. Solo Piano by Armbruster) - Duo-Art 70459Arthur Sullivan, Robert Armbruster, Peter Phillips
8 Variations on Sussmayr's Trio "Tandeln Und Scherzen" in F Major, WoO 76 - Duo-Art 6957Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Phillips, Ethel Leginska
Andante Favori, WoO 57 - Duo-Art 71350Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Phillips, Wanda Landowska
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11 in E Minor: Romance, from 2nd Movement (Arr. Solo Piano by Backhaus) - Welte-Mignon 3310Frédéric Chopin, Peter Phillips, Wilhelm Backhaus
Ballade No. 4, Op. 52 in F Minor - Welte-Mignon 1669Frédéric Chopin, Peter Phillips, Vera Margolies
Les Huguenots: Fantasia. Part 1 - Welte-Mignon 2828Giacomo Meyerbeer, Peter Phillips, P. Gayraud
Coppelia Ballet: Selections (Arr. By Gayraud) - Welte-Mignon 2808Léo Delibes, Peter Phillips, P. Gayraud
Fantasie, Op. 17: I. Durchaus Phantastisch Und Leidenschaftlich Vorzutragen - Im Legendenton - Erstes Tempo - Adagio - Im Tempo - Welte-Mignon 361Robert Schumann, Teresa Carreño, Peter Phillips
Ruins of Athens. Op. 113 (Arr. Solo Piano by Busoni): Fantasie - Welte-Mignon 1322Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Phillips, Ferruccio Busoni
Rigoletto: Fantasie and Selections (Arr. Solo Piano by Gayraud) - Welte-Mignon 2844Giuseppe Verdi, P. Gayraud, Peter Phillips
Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475 - Duo-Art 7073Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Peter Phillips, Harold Bauer