Joseph Fennimore: 24 Romances for Solo Piano

Albany Records celebrates composer Joseph Fennimore's 75th anniversary with the release of this two-cd set of his 24 Romances and other select works. Born in 1940, Fennimore is known not only for his compositions, but also as an extraordinary pianist and teacher. He is best known for his works for piano and chamber ensembles. The Romances were not written as a set, but rather composed over a span of 30 years, from age 43 to 73, amidst a prolific, hugely creative career. The Romances grew from ideas that periodically arose, took hold, took shape, and suited the general idea of a Romance: a short, imaginative piano work. Also included on this 2-CD set are his Fifth Sonata for Piano; Passacalle; Sonatinella; and Three Pieces for Piano. Jeffrey Middleton, long a champion of Fennimore's piano music, graduated from Juilliard and received his doctorate from Yale. His career has included chamber music, vocal coaching and accompanying, solo performances, and teaching. Middleton is on the faculty of the School of American Ballet, and was the 2010 recipient of the Mae Wien Award for distinguished faculty service.