Schulhoff: Suite, Concerto Doppio & Songs

Dive into the rich and varied world of Erwin Schulhoff with this captivating collection of chamber music, released on September 1, 2000, by Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm. This album showcases the diverse talents of Schulhoff, a Czech pianist and composer of German-Jewish origins, whose promising career was tragically cut short by the rise of the Nazi regime.

Spanning just under an hour, this album offers a journey through Schulhoff's unique compositional style, which blends classical genres with vernacular music influences. The Suite for Chamber Orchestra, WV 58, is a standout piece, featuring a prologue and a series of dances, including a ragtime, a valse Boston, a tango, a shimmy, a step, and a jazz piece, reflecting Schulhoff's fascination with popular music styles of the time.

The album also includes the Concerto Doppio for Flute and Piano with Orchestral Accompaniment and Two Horns, WV 89, a lesser-known but equally compelling work that highlights Schulhoff's innovative approach to composition. The Four Songs for Soprano with Orchestra Accompaniment, WV 19, provide a delicate contrast, showcasing Schulhoff's lyrical side.

The Three Pieces for String Orchestra, WV 5, offer a glimpse into Schulhoff's early style, with an elegie inspired by Edvard Grieg, a menuetto in the old style, and a lively dance titled "Pipa tanzt." Each piece on this album is performed with precision and passion by the Tritonus Wimares ensemble, with notable contributions from Norico Kimura, Wally Hase, Heidi Sophia Hase, and Walter Hilgers.

This album is a testament to Schulhoff's enduring legacy and his significant contributions to the world of classical music. It's a perfect addition to any classical music enthusiast's collection, offering a rich and rewarding listening experience.

Erwin Schulhoff, born in Prague in 1894, was a pioneering Austro-Czech composer and pianist whose eclectic style and bold experimentation made him a standout figure in early 20th-century music. Schulhoff's compositions spanned a wide range of influences, from Schoenbergian expressionism to Stravinskian neo-classicism, and he was one of the first European composers to integrate jazz into traditional musical forms. His embrace of Dadaism and socialist realism, along with his commitment to communist ideals, reflected his radical artistic vision. Despite his promising career, Schulhoff's life was tragically cut short by the Nazi regime. He was persecuted for his Jewish heritage and died in a concentration camp in 1942. His legacy endures through his innovative and emotionally resonant works, which continue to captivate audiences and inspire new generations of musicians.