ERNST TOCH (1887-1964): 3 Burkesken, Op. 31, 3 Klavierstücke, Op. 32, 5 Capriccetti, Op. 36, 10 Etudes for Beginners, Op. 59, 10 Intermediate Etudes, Op. 57, 14 Small Town Pictures, Op. 49, Piano Sonata, Op. 47.

Catalogue Number: 06S057
Label: Capriccio
Reference: C5293
Format: CD
Price: $16.98
Description: Everything here was written between 1923-31, half of the works being suites of very short character pieces, almost all of which are less than 90 seconds in length. Although there is enough atonality and "modern" harmonic writing to make it plain that we're in the 20th century, the whole affect of these sets of pieces is that of similar Characterstücke by Schumann (the Small Town Pictures even have Schumannian titles). The sonata, three movements lasting barely eight minutes, is hardly more involved while the etudes are hardly less approachable harmonically and Toch, in all these pieces, relies first and foremost on melody. Anna Magdalena Kokits (piano).