Marko Petricic, born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1974, began studying classical accordion at the age of eight. Before arriving in the United States in 1991, he had won top prizes at major National and International competitions in Yugoslavia, Italy and Germany. He had also appeared as a soloist on the Yugoslav National Radio and Television several times. In 1991-92, he studied the bayan at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. During this time, he won five first places in five categories at the American Accordion Association National Competition in Nashville, TN. He also performs Balkan folk music with an exceptional violinist, Mathieu Névéol, from the Paris Orchestra in France. In addition to performing on the bayan, he is also an accomplished organist and holds D.M.A. and M.M. degrees from Indiana University; he holds the Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Ohio University. On this recording, his program includes both originals and arrangements of music for the accordion. Quoting from the plentiful liner notes by the performer: "Sonata No. 1 by Ginastera, Asturias by Albéniz, Malagueña by Lecuona, and Tarantella by Liszt were written for the piano. Toccata from Suite Gothique by Boëllmann was written for the organ and Sonata by Soler, for the harpsichord. These pieces have textures that make them suitable for bayan performance; expressive melodies and adaptable voice distributions especially contribute to their successful bayan transcriptions." "The program also includes original music for the bayan. Vladislav Zolotaryov and Albin Repnikov's works are considered the standard bayan repertoire. In his Sonata No. 3, Zolotaryov quotes a section from Schönberg's Verklärte Nacht and fully explores diverse technical possibilities and sound effects that only the bayan can produce. Repnikov's Capriccio is a virtuosic piece that utilizes the button layouts on both sides of the instrument to their maximum potential. Alexander Cholmonov's Suite has four movements, two of which are included in this recording. Clear in form and lyrically expressive in style, this music is appealing to a wide range of audiences." "Václav Trojan was a well-established Czech composer who wrote music for a variety of media such as orchestra, opera, ballet and film. Cathedral in ruins was written specifically for the accordion, inspired by Trojan's visit to Dresden, where he saw the ruins of the Frauenkirche bombed during Second World War. It is a haunting, powerful piece that contains some of the best idiomatic writing for accordion, and is highly regarded in classical accordion circles worldwide. I had the opportunity to visit Dresden and see the ruins of this magnificent church before the restoration began, which helped me understand the visual imagery as a direct inspiration for composing this music." "Tarantella from "Years of pilgrimage" is an explosion of electrifying rhythm and shattering ecstatic chords. A masterpiece of the Romantic period and a landmark in the piano repertoire, "Year of pilgrimage" traces Liszt's spiritual and emotional journey through life. I learned this piece shortly after coming to America in 1992, when I myself was embarking on a new pilgrimage." - Marko Petricic. Dr. Petricic is an exciting performer. He also understands how to program an artistic repertoire presenting brilliant technique along with superb musicianship. This CD would be an addition of worth to anyone's collection of recordings. It was recorded in 2006 and made available in 2007. Ft is available through the performer's website: www.markopetricic.com One may also read his concert reviews and current information. Reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers, July, 2010. |
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