Steven Osborne: OK by Me - A Life in Encores CD
Steven Osborne's latest album is a one-off which Osborne himself describes as ‘unlike any I’ve made before’. The choices have not only deep musical but autobiographical significance. In the autobiographical sphere come works such as Liadov’s ‘Musical Snuffbox’ which evokes memories of his mother’s musical jewellery box, and the Poulenc ‘Novelettes’ which were the works that secured him his first Wigmore Hall recital. Other choices stem from figures across modernism and jazz including fellow Scot Peter Maxwell Davies, friend James Clapperton, and legendary jazz figure Meredith Monk. One significant element in the album is improvisations and arrangements, including an improvisation around Keith Jarrett’s Vienna Concert, an improvisation on the final chord of Sir Michael Tippett’s The Ice Break’ and an arrangement of Joni Mitchell’s ‘A case of you’. The opening title track ‘OK by me’ is Steven’s own, which the pianist declares simply came to him, fully formed, one morning while practicing the piano.
Tracklist:
1. OK by me
2. Sheep may safely graze (Movement 10 of Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV208)
3. Sommerfugl (No 1, 'Butterfly' of Lyric Pieces Book 3, Op 43)
4. A Musical Snuffbox Op 32
5. Liebesleid (No 2 of 3 Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen)
Drei Romanzen Op 28
6. No 2 in F sharp major: Einfach
7. Haar
8. Farewell to Stromness
9. Isoldina
Three Preludes
10. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
11. Andante con moto e poco rubato
12. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
13. Sicilienne
14. Widmung (No 1 of Myrthen, Op 25)
15. Improvisation on the final chord of Sir Michael Tippett's The Ice Break
16. My song
17. Prelude (No 7 in C major of Ten Pieces, Op 12)
18. Novelette in C major FP47 No 1
19. Novelette in B flat minor FP47 No 2
20. Novelette sur un thème de Manuel de Falla FP173
21. Railroad 'Travel song'
22. A case of you
23. Improvisation on Keith Jarrett's Vienna Concert
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