Toccatas

15 min.

September 30, 2005
Atelier Von Nagel, Paris, France
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord

Commissioned by Brandon Fradd through the New Music New Donors program of Meet the Composer

“…faszinierte dafur aber mit einer ganz anderen Klangkonstellation.” (“Fascinating in its unusual, unique sound world.”)

 

“Toccatas by Harold Meltzer (who was present to enjoy his applause) proved to be interesting music: baroque sort of turned sideways with bits of atonal Gershwin.”

 

“The outstanding works are Mel Powell’s Recitative and Toccata Percossa, which is in a pungent neoclassical idiom, and the Meltzer, an eclectic but very convincing set of shortish pieces that pay homage to what one might call “the 20th Century harpsichord piece” without falling into the same traps. The first, in particular, is a delightful essay in changing rhythmic patterns, mostly in two voices—exactly what the harpsichord can do best.”

 

“Harold Meltzer’s five short toccatas effortlessly navigate the genre with a non-formulaic outlook and fresh harmonic invention at all times.”

 

• September 30, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Atelier Von Nagel, Paris, France
• October 8, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Malcolm Rose’s Workshop, Lewes, England
• October 23, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, First Presbyterian Church, Libertyville, Illinois
• October 28, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, San Diego Harpsichord Society, San Diego, California
• October 30, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Musicsources, Berkeley, California
• November 3, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland
• November 5, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Sebring-Lewis Hall, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa
• November 6, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Iowa City Early Keyboard Series, University of Iowa
• November 8, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Wolfsonian Museum, Miami Beach, Florida
• November 13, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, First Scots Presbyterian Second Sunday Series, Charleston, South Carolina
• November 14, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
• November 17, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York City
• December 17, 2005: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, TIBRA series, Kopavogur Concert Hall, Salurinn, Iceland
• January 12, 2006: Joyce Lindorff, harpsichord, American Academy in Rome, Italy
• January 16, 2006: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Bischofshof, Munstersaal, Basel, Switzerland
• July 1, 2006: Jie Chen, piano, Maverick Concerts, Woodstock, New York
• January 26, 2008: Jie Chen, piano, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York
• March 29, 2008: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Mission Blue Center, Brisbane, California
• April 7, 2008: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
• May 6, 2008: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Philharmonic Society of Lodz, Poland
• November 9, 2008: Ning Yu, piano, The Stone, New York City (Toccata V)
• December 2, 2008: Ning Yu, piano, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York (Toccata V)
• February 8, 2009: Thomas Sauer, piano, Vassar College Modfest, Poughkeepsie, New York (Toccata V)
• November 13, 2010: Jory Vinikour, harpsichord, Festival of New American Music, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, California
• January 21, 2012: Ruta Bloomfield, harpsichord, Faith Community Church, Santa Clarita, California (Toccatas III and IV)
• February 3, 2012: Ruta Bloomfield, harpsichord, The Master’s College, Santa Clarita, California (Toccatas IV and V)
• February 28, 2012: Ruta Bloomfield, harpsichord, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California (Toccatas IV and V)