New Dances of the League of David

by David Kaplan

Overview

Robert Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze for piano, Op. 6, evoked the name of the composer's partly imaginary music society, the "League of David" or "Davidsbündler" (Tänze means "dances"). That was a literary construction of Schumann's that attempted to promote the values of musical inspiration and depth over virtuosity and showiness. Here, pianist David Kaplan attempts to take up this banner with his New Dances of the League of David, commissioning various composers with the direction to take inspiration from Schumann's original. This recording presents 12 of the original Davidsbündlertänze, interspersed with the new pieces. The ordering is irregular, not a strict alternation, and the new works have various kinds of relationship to Schumann; some works (sample Michael Brown's IV. Ungeduldig) expand a Schumann piece, so to speak, while others focus on a single chord or texture. Kaplan does not foreclose experimental ideas; Ted Hearne's Tänze (with a sense of urgency) includes passages where the performer must use the piano's housing as a percussion instrument. The humor of Caroline Shaw's XVI. (mit gutem Humor, un poco lol ma con serioso vibes) seems apropos. This work is directly paired with the Schumann piece of the same name, while other works are freestanding. There is a freeform feel to the collection, which Kaplan captures nicely in his playing, but the best thing about it is that the Schumann originals are enhanced; something about presenting them this way highlights their boldness. An intriguing entry in the growing body of works that use established repertory as a stimulus to further creativity. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	07/12/2024
Label:	NEW FOCUS
UPC:	0690277901812

Tracks

1. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~I. Lebhaft
2. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~II. Innig
3. Morse Code Fantasy - Hommage to Robert Schumann
4. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~III. Mit Humor
5. Bundists (Robert, György and me) Etwas ungeduldig
6. IV. Ungeduldig
7. ¿¿¿
8. No. 6 Sehr rasch und in sich hinein
9. VII. Saccades
10. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~VIII. Frisch
11. Vorspiel
12. Liebesbrief anSchumann
13. Mirrors and Sidesteps
14. Tänze (with a sense of urgency)
15. II. Quietly
16. X. Sehr rasch
17. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XI. Balladenmässig. Sehr rasch
18. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XII. Mit Humor
19. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XIII. Wild und lustig
20. Reminiscence (Delicate, wandering)
21. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XIV. Zart und singend
22. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XV. Frisch
23. XVI. (mit gutem Humor, un poco lol ma con serioso vibes)
24. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XVI. Mit gutem Humor
25. XVII. (Quietly, from Afar)
26. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~XVIII. Nicht schnell
27. Leid mit Mut (Molto Rubato)
28. Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6~V. Einfach

Album Credits

Performance Credits

David Kaplan   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Laura Hartenberger   Note Editing
Marcos Balter   Composer
Caleb Burhans   Composer
Sean McLaughlin   Piano Preparation
Robert Schumann   Composer
Gabriel Kahane   Composer
Andrew Norman   Composer
Marc Wolf   Design,Typography
Mark Carlson   Composer
Ted Hearne   Composer
Benjamin Maas   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Dario Acosta   Photography
Martin Bresnick   Composer
Timo Andres   Composer,Producer
David Kaplan   Producer,Liner Notes
Ryan Francis   Composer
Han Lash   Composer
Samuel Carl Adams   Composer
Michael Stephen Brown   Composer
Titilayo Ayangade   Photography
Caroline Shaw   Composer
Michael Gandolfi   Composer
Augusta Read Thomas   Composer