Piano Music

This recording offers the listener a chronological overview of the creative output of Julius Röntgen, from his first published composition in 1864 – when he was only nine years old – to pieces he wrote five decades later as a mature composer. These latter works reveal a composer with excellent skills, diverse influences and a master of musical forms and compositional techniques. It is said that one would search in vain for anything truly original or shocking in Röntgen's oeuvre. However, this recording contains works that refute this assumption. Pianist Mark Anderson names three works that stand out in particular and are truly unique and powerfully original. The first is a short Toccata, which is a kind of mystery work because it was never published and has no date of composition. The others are the Sonate in C mineur from 1877 and the Passacaglia en Fuga from 1911. Julius Röntgen composed more than 600 works and is especially known for his concerti, symphonies and chamber music. Mark Anderson's recordings and performances have been well received. He has performed regularly as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician. He has performed in Japan, much of Europe and the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America.