Herman Strategier : Piano Works

•  Dutch composer Herman Strategier was a pupil of the 'éminence grise' of Dutch Catholic eccelestiastical music, Hendrik Andriessen, and has left an extended oeuvre for a widely varying instrumentation and in many genres. His tonal idiom was predominantly elegiac with a great sensitivity to tone colour. It betrays a strong French influence which places him close to people like Fauré, Debussy and Ravel.

• This is the world premiere recording of a lovely collection of his very best works, composi-tions that are easy on the ear. Most of the works here confirm to Strategier's motto about ''musique pour faire plaisir', music which gives pleasure to both the listener and the per- former.

• Although the name of Strategier is nowadays little-known outside his native country, he is considered one of the important European composers from the century and his name has found a place in the authoritative New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians as well as in the equally authoritative MGG (Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart) Music Encyclope-dia.

 

David Mannesse was born in Arnhem where he studied at the conservatory with Janine van Mever. He continued his studies with Willem Brons to further develop his solo playing. He also specialised in song accompaniment. Mannesse plays as a soloist and an accompanyist at home and abroad, and is regularly on radio. His debut took place in 1993 in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

David Mannesse is a Strategier specialist and often includes him in his repertoire. On this CD he has recorded Strategier's most important works for piano solo. He is one of the founders of the Herman Strategier Foundation, which aims to promote the composer's work among a wider public.