#116 The Smell of Tempest

Tempest itself, that would be too simple. Here's the full game plan, board finely being built for the match. Even the peaceful intermezzo is well structured, some higher plans on mind. And then–the rage: everything works, all figures move at once. Attack, attack! The air is clear.

Martinů wrote this piece for Firkušný, what better recommendation would you get? He is a master of the keyboard.

Composer: Bohuslav Martinů
Work: Fantasy and Toccata, II. Toccata
Recording: Rudolf Firkušný

#5 The Smell of Unexpected

Why unexpected? One, this dixieland ballet was written in 1927; two, the orchestra is actually only a sextet (piano, violin, cello, trumpet, basoon, and clarinet); three, tango, really?

Yes, tango. After the beginning, sounding like an ending, the rhythm is there, in piano. It's a dance kept unexpectedly low, with soothing trumpet solo. The second part is even darker, ending in void. It's the smell you don't expect from Martinů. I was not prepared to hear something like it at all.

Composer: Bohuslav Martinů
Work: La revue de cuisine, II. Tango
Recording: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood