FRANZ SCHMIDT (1874-1939) : Chaconne in C-sharp minor (for organ) *; Romanze für Klavier / Romance for piano; Toccata (Original version for piano left hand); 4 little choral preludes for organ * - No. 3: „O, wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen"; Variations and Fugue on an original theme * ( from: "Königsfanfaren aus Fredigundis"). Karl-Andreas Kolly, Klavier / piano. Bearbeitungen für Klavier von / piano transcriptions by Karl-Andreas Kolly.

Description: Franz Schmidt was not only a brilliant cellist, but also a gifted pianist who mastered almost the entire piano repertoire with ease. Nevertheless, he had a kind of love-hate relationship with the piano. His great love was the organ. However, this did not prevent him from writing numerous works for the left hand (Beethoven Variations, Piano Concerto in E-flat major, Quintets). All of these were commissioned by the one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein. For two-handed piano, on the other hand, Schmidt left behind only one composition. It is the melancholic Romance, which he dedicated to his English teacher Geoffrey Sephton in 1922. Karl-Andreas Kolly: 'The fact that I have nevertheless decided to set three of Franz Schmidt’s organ works for piano has primarily to do with my great passion for his music. And also a little with my hope that in a piano version, his organ works could possibly reach an additional audience.'