Intrada presents a new landmark recording following its 2019 Dimitri Tiomkin album, Paris Under the Stars: Ballet Music for Albertina Rasch.

Intrada presents a new landmark recording following its 2019 Dimitri Tiomkin album, Paris Under the Stars: Ballet Music for Albertina Rasch.

These pieces feature the virtuosic artistry of Scottish pianist Lynda Cochrane, and were last performed in concert by Tiomkin himself throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s.

While some of the works on this new CD appeared in their orchestral version on that previous album, those works can now be heard transcribed for solo piano alongside music specifically written by Tiomkin for the instrument.

Tiomkin thrived at writing music on demand as evidenced by his prolific compositional output: more than 100 film scores; a like number of songs; and the ballet, concert, and stage works on this recording, the latter all written in an extraordinarily busy period between 1927 and 1932. Albertina Rasch changed the course of Tiomkin’s life both professionally and personally.

The dancer-turned-choreographer brought Tiomkin to the U.S. in 1925 to accompany her vaudeville dance troupes, the two were married in 1926, and in early 1927 Tiomkin, as music director, embarked on a coast-to-coast tour with “Albertina Rasch and her American Ballet.”

Among the works first conceived as solo piano concert pieces are 'Scarlet Jazz' and 'Quasi-Jazz' (or 'Impressions of the Blues,' programmed on his solo recitals alongside modern works by Debussy and Poulenc). Other solo works include In the 'In the Land of Narcissus' (the piano solo was later orchestrated by Hans Spialek; and reconceived as a song with words, 'Blue Daughter of Heaven,' and filmed for a ballet sequence in the 1930 MGM film Lord Byron of Broadway), 'Old Fashioned Days,' 'Quartet' and 'Scottische.'

All of this and more are presented on this newly recorded album featuring over 72 minutes of Tiomkin's beautiful piano writing.

Composed By Dimitri Tiomkin
Lynda Cochrane, Piano
Intrada Int 7174

More info at: Dimitri Tiomkin: The Official Site

Premiere release of newly-recorded original Dimitri Tiomkin music for piano! New recording made in April & May 2022 continues our wonderful relationship with Olivia Tiomkin Douglas, producer and Dimitri Tiomkin authority Patrick Russ, archivist and writer Warren Sherk,

Premiere release of newly-recorded original Dimitri Tiomkin music for piano! New recording made in April & May 2022 continues our wonderful relationship with Olivia Tiomkin Douglas, producer and Dimitri Tiomkin authority Patrick Russ, archivist and writer Warren Sherk, USC librarian Ned Comstock and, importantly, virtuoso pianist Lynda Cochrane with whom Intrada has enjoyed working with on our Royal Scottish National Orchestra releases that include Tiomkin’s masterful score for Dial M For Murder.

Written for famed dancer and choreographer Albertina Rasch & The Great American Ballet, these solo piano works, both charming and imposing, were composed between 1927 and 1932. Stylistic ideas are varied, showcasing Tiomkin’s early proficiency with the instrument in works encompassing everything from waltz to jazz, from bolero to blues, from two-step to cakewalk.

Detailed notes about Tiomkin at this early stage of his career are provided by Warren Sherk with additional information from producer Russ. But highlighting all is the masterful playing by Lynda Cochrane, which encompasses not only the wide range of styles but also the incredible variety of virtuoso passages both in keyboard technique and musicality.

One wonderful highlight is the two-movement “Fiesta”, with it’s richly surging Gitana, followed by the rousing Fandango.
The opening Valse Grace and Scarlet Jazz capture attention as well. And the unique harmonic vocabulary of Dark Blue is yet another highlight. Still another is the rousing Tampico movement that closes 'Au Mexique'.
The crystalline recording was made in Scotland’s Studio, Glasgow. Package design by Kay Marshall includes rare photos courtesy of Volta Music Corporation.

While it may be a bonus, one need not be a fan of Tiomkin’s film scores to appreciate this meld of arresting and meditative solo piano vignettes, beautifully written by Tiomkin and impeccably played by Ms. Cochrane, who has performed with Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, John Debney, Kevin Kaska and many other noted film music composers

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records