Irving Schlein #2. The Previous Century is devoted to works by American-Jewish composer Irving Schlein.
Galina Sandovskaja performs from the second book of the Preludes uit 1940.
At this time, the composer (picture) was building a successful parallel career on Broadway as a pianist, arranger and musical leader. In the early thirties, he worked with Al Jolson as a pianist and was involved with hits such as ‘Can-Can’ and ‘Silk Stockings’ by Cole Porter. In the forties, he was assistent to Kurt Weill, and he wrote the ballet music to ‘Love Life’ and initiated the revival of ‘Knickerbocker Holiday’. 
Pianist Inga Dzekster (picture) performs the Piano sonata no. 2 from 1939 with the parts Majestic, Andante semplice and Allegro con spirito.
Followed by Galina Sandovskaja with the Third Piano Sonata from 1940, with the parts Allegro giusto, Andante and Risoluto.
On 17 April 1940, at a Composers’ Forum Laboratory-recital at the Lenox Gallery of the Public Library of New York, a number of Schlein works were performed, including his Sonatine for Viola d’amore and piano, a string quartet and two songs, the “Alabama Lullaby” and “Git awf mah back” with baritone Jess Walters, known later from Covent Garden.
Altviolist Andrej Dogadin and pianist Pavel Eliasjevitsj perform the Petite Suite for viola and piano from 1940. He continues with flute player Marina Vorojtsova and Valentin Karlov on clarinet with the Trio for flute, clarinet and viola from 1940.
To round off, you can listen to the Double Fuga and the Fuga for string quartet from 1941, performed by the Academia String Quartet Petersburg.
Irving Schlein (New York 18 May 1905- 11 July 1986).
1. Preludes, Book 2 (1940): 2.1) Allegrissimo, 2.2) Prestissimo, 2.3) Lento assai, 2.4) Allegretto, 2.5) Lento molto – in the manner of chimes, 2.6) Allegro moderato, 2.7) Majestically – slow, 2.8) Allegro moderato e agitato e energico.
Galina Sandovskaja, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-08.
2. Piano sonata no. 2 (1939): 1) Majestic, 2) Andante semplice and 3) Allegro con spirito.
Inga Dzekster, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-12.
3. Pianosonate no. 3 (1940): 1) Allegro giusto, 2) Andante and 3) Risoluto.
Galina Sandovskaja, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-05.
4. Petite Suite for viola and piano (1940): 1) Allegro giusto, 2) Moderato.
Andrej Dogadin, viola, Pavel Eliasjevitsj, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-10.
5. Trio for flute, clarinet and viola (1940): 1) Andante, 2) Presto, 3) Andante con moto en 4) Allegro commodo.
Marina Vorojtsova, flute, Valentin Karlov, clarinet, Andrej Dogadin, viola.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-07.
6. Double Fuga for string quartet (1941): 1) Moderato.
7. Fuga for string quartet (1941): 1) Allegro con spirito.
Academia String quartet Petersburg: violin players Sandra Schinder, Natalia Kopatsjanoe, Dmitri Jakoebovski, viola, Vladimir Joenovitsj, cello.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-09.
Special thanks to Pavel Eliasjevitsj and Lisa Schlein.
