Pancho Vladigerov - Episodes for solo piano (complete), Op.36 (Score Video)

00:05 Prelude (Krassimir Gatev)
02:42 Nostalgie (Krassimir Gatev)
05:37 Ratchenitza (Krassimir Gatev)
08:21 Improvisation (Rada Chomakova)
15:42 Toccata (Rada Chomakova)
Pancho Vladigerov (1899-1978) was a Bulgarian composer, arguably the most influential composer in his country's history. For more on Vladigerov, see my blog: unknowncompose...
Written in 1941 - nineteen years after his first violin concerto ( • Pancho Vladigerov - Vi... ), the other score video of his music available on my channel - the "Episodes" are very different in character and exhibit Vladigerov's mature compositional style. These pieces were influenced both by the increased chromaticism of 20th-century tonal works and the harmonies and rhythms of Bulgarian folk music - the latter characteristics being particularly prominent in the Ratchenitza and Toccata. For me, the true gem of "Episodes" is the Improvisation, with its dreamy nature and ravishing harmonies - I have always been partial to slow music :)
Score videos of the Improvisation ( • Vladigerov - Episodes ... ) and Toccata ( • Pancho Vladigerov - Ep... ) are already available on ‪@fyrexianoff‬'s TH-cam channel. I use the same recordings, by Rada Chomakova, because I find them to be the most compelling interpretations; my intent is not to infringe on the score videos he already made, but rather to make the whole suite available in one place.
There are also some small differences between the score and the recording in a few places. Krassimir Gatev knew Vladigerov personally, so I don't know if these pieces were revised later or if the pianist just made a few minor mistakes. Regardless, I found Gatev's interpretations to be far more nuanced and sensitive than the few other recordings available.
Recordings of Vladigerov's quite skillful orchestrations of the Improvisation ( • Improvisation, Op.36, N4 ) and Toccata ( • Improvisation and Tocc... ) are also available. Unfortunately I don't know where to get the orchestral scores - if anyone is aware, please let me know!

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