ARENSKY SUITES
and other pieces for two pianos






If the Anton Arensky Suites for Two Pianos do not exhibit the original genius of those composed by Rachmaninoff during the same period, they are delightfully charming and tremendous fun to play, reminiscent of a joyous era leading up to the collapse of the Western World as it was then known.

The influence of Tchaikovsky is obvious in this music and perhaps the fact that Arensky did not venture very far beyond may be disappointing to many listeners. But to those who regret the fact that Tchaikovsky's output for piano is relatively limited, this music does fill a need. And for those who love and play two piano music, it is a blessing.


The most popular of the movements from the Arensky Suites is the Waltz from Suite 1 Opus 15. We will hear this played first by the one of the great two piano teams, Harold Bauer and Ossip Gabrilowitsch. Individually both are spectacular virtuoso pianists. Together they make magic. This is how this music should be played. The performance of the Waltz movement by Ivan Davis and Carlo Grante is also a treasure, very stately, very elegant.

There are fine performances of the first Suite by Polina Leschenko & Mauricio Vallina, of both Suites by the duos of Daniel Blumenthal and Robert Groslot, and Mark Taimanov and Lyubov Bruk, and a remarkable 1892 Edison cylindar recording of several excerpts from the second suite played by Sergei Taneyev and Paul Pabst. Taneyev was a fellow composer and colleague of Arensky's at the Moscow concervatory who also taught Rachmaninov and Scriabin. Pabst, another colleague, was one of the greatest professors of piano in the history of the Moscow conservatory. The sound is very poor but the authenticity of the performance is undeniable.




Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
ii Valse

Harold Bauer and Ossip Gabrilowitsch
Recorded in 1929







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
ii Valse

Ethel Bartlett & Rae Robertson







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
Daniel Blumenthal & Robert Groslot, pianists


i Romance






ii Valse






iii Polonaise







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
Polina Leschenko & Mauricio Vallina


i Romance
ii Waltz (beginning)






ii Waltz (conclusion)
iii Polonaise







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
ii Valse

Ivan Davis & Carlo Grante
Recorded in 1988







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
i Romance - ii Valse - iii Polonaise

Mark Taimanov & Lyubov Bruk, pianists







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
Julius Kim & Jiae Kim, pianists


i Romance






ii Waltz







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
Vittoria Caracciolo & Nunzio Dello Iacovo


ii Valse






iii Polonaise







Suite 1 for Two Pianos in F Major Op 15
Paola Bruni & Pasquale Iannone


ii Valse






iii Polonaise







Suite 2 for Two Pianos Op 23 'Silhouettes'
Daniel Blumenthal & Robert Groslot


i Le Savant - ii La Coquette - iii Polichinelle






iv Le Reveur - v La Danseuse







Suite 2 for Two Pianos Op 23 'Silhouettes'
Sergei Taneyev and Paul Pabst
Recorded in 1892


i Le Savant






iii Polichinelle






iv Le Reveur







Suite 2 for Two Pianos Op 23 'Silhouettes'
i Le savant - ii La coquette - iii Polichinelle - iv Le rêveur - v La danseuse

Mark Taimanov & Lyubov Bruk, pianists







Suite 3 in C major for Two Pianos Op 33 "Variations"
Lana and Slava Levin, pianists
recorded in 2010


part 1






part 2






part 3







Suite 4 for Two Pianos, Op 62


iii "Le Rêve"
unidentified pianists






iv Finale
Germán Bragado Domínguez & Pedro Salvatierra Velázquez, pianists







Suite 5 for Two Pianos (Children's Suite), Op 65
Daniel Blumenthal & Robert Groslot, Pianists


1 Praeludium - Allegro moderato






2 Aria - Andante sostenuto






3 Scherzino - Allegro






4 Gavotte - Andantino






5 Elegia - Andante






6 Romance - Andantino






7 Intermezzo - Allegro capriccioso






8 Alla polacca - Allegro moderato







12 Pieces for Two Pianos Op 66
Duo Tatjana & Leonid Schick


I Prélude - II Gavotte - III Ballade






IV Menuetto - V Elégie - VI Consolation






VII Valse - VIII Marche - IX Romance






X Scherzo - XI Berceuse - XII Polka







Six pièces enfantines pour piano à 4 mains, Op 34


2 "Le coucou"
Michel Cardinaux & Marina Chapochnikova
recorded in 2008






3 "Tears"
Duo Lumina (William Labecca & Cecilia Cropi)
recorded in 2004




















Here is my new book, a murder mystery with a musical polemic






and the audiobook version



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