Poetic Moods a welcome new recording

Poetic Moods samples nearly a century of solo piano music by Ukrainian composers. Although each of these composers has made significant contributions to the development of Ukrainian music within the European classical tradition and some have developed international recognition, their compositions are not familiar to North American audiences and are rarely performed. From this perspective, Dolnycky may be commended for her efforts to increase our exposure to the work of some of Ukraine’s most talented musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The tone for the CD is set by its opening track, Prelude Op. 44 No. 2 by Liatoshynsky, which is followed by two compositions by Revutsky. Waltz was written in 1908-09 and is played crisply and clearly by Dolnycky. The 2 Preludes feature more technically demanding passages and dynamic lyricism in the style of Rachmaninoff. Dolnycky negotiates the virtuosity of both Preludes cleanly and expressively.

Shamo, Sylvestrov, and Ishchenko are members of the next generation of 20th-century Ukrainian composers and all have connections to Liatoshynsky.

The gems on this CD are world premiere recordings of two compositions by Ishchenko. The disk takes its name from the first composition entitled "Poetic Moods, Book 1", which was written in 1981 and consists of 7 short movements that are tonally and rhythmically experimental. The second work was composed recently in 2001 and is titled "Four Waltzes and Just a Touch of Chopin". Each Waltz is written in a unique post-tonal language and quotes brief passages directly and unexpectedly from well-known Chopin Waltzes.

Despite the cross-section of compositional styles that it samples, Poetic Moods is a remarkably unified CD whose overall tone is contemplative and subdued. Dolnycky has chosen this repertoire with care. Her performances are musically expressive and thoughtfully presented conveying a deep connection to this music and enticing her listeners to experience the poetry within it.