The Balkan Piano, Vol. 1 – Amir Xhakoviq

Contents

Sanja Drakulić: Drive

Vladigerov: Episodes, Op. 36: No. 4, Improvisation

Tomislav Zografski: Suite for Piano in A Major, Op. 27

Rafet Rudí: Preludium – Les cloches Arbëresh

Vojin Komadina: Two Minuets, No. 1, Andante con moto & No. 2, Andante moderato

Dušan Bavdek: Awakening

Peçi: Barokjare

Aleksandar Perunović: metaglasswork

Mihajlović: Three Preludes: No. 1, Andante sostenuto – Allegro moderato, No. 2, Non lento & No. 3, Allegro

Psathas: Jettatura

The composing traditions of the ten Balkan countries are as good as unknown in the rest of the world. In this revelatory piano recital, the Albanian pianist Amir Xhakoviq presents a glittering array of keyboard jewels from his own country and its neighbours, ranging from wild and energetic toccatas to timeless evocations of bells and other ancient traditions, with a surprisingly wide range of references, from folk-music to Scarlatti and jazz. As ‘Volume One’ indicates, this album is intended as the first of a series that will continue to explore the unfamiliar music of the Balkans.