01. Grande Sonate, Op. 14 (Joachim Raff) I. Allegro
02. Grande Sonate, Op. 14 (Joachim Raff) II. Allegro molto
03. Grande Sonate, Op. 14 (Joachim Raff) III. Larghetto
04. Grande Sonate, Op. 14 (Joachim Raff) IV. Allegro – Animato – Più mosso
05. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 1. Epheu Andantino
06. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 2. Cypresse Larghetto
07. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 3. Nelke Presto – Molto meno mosso, quasi andantino – Tempo I
08. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 4. Lorbeer Allegro vivace
09. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 5. Rose Andantino, non troppo lento
10. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 6. Vergissmeinnicht Allegro grazioso
11. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 7. Reseda Allegretto
12. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 8. Lubine Andante
13. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 9. Animone Allegro
14. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 10. Immergrun Allegretto – Un poco meno mosso – Tempo I
15. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 11. Maiglockchen Allegretto pastorale (quasi andantino)
16. Bl?tter und Blüten, Op. 135a (Joachim Raff) No. 12. Kornblume Presto – Un pochettino meno mosso – Come prima
Raff’s piano compositions earned him considerable acclaim in his lifetime. The four volumes of Bl?tter und Blüten (Leaves and Blossoms) consist of twelve deliciously melodic and colourful depictions of the then popular vogue for ‘The Language of Flowers’.
By contrast, the Grande Sonate is a late work and one of his major statements. Conceived on a quasi-symphonic scale, its sonorous gravity and breadth encompass a bleak nobility that represents the culmination of his writing for the piano.
British-Vietnamese Tra Nguyen’s imaginative programming balances core repertoire and lesser-known music, winning critical praise. Her discography introduces many world première recordings of neglected music. Her previous recordings of Joachim Raff’s piano music have earned wide critical acclaim, including Album of the Week awards by The Independent. Tra Nguyen studied with Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatory and with Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music where she received the Academy’s highest award for her final recital. She was awarded the ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for her “significant contribution to the music profession” in 2013.