James Crabb & Geir Draugsvoll - Duos for Classical Accordions

James Crabb & Geir Draugsvoll
Duos for Classical Accordions
EMI Classics 5697052, 1997

Petrouchka arranged for two accordions is not unlike the original, since the composer's push-button winds and biting, nasal strings resemble nothing if not a giant orchestral squeeze box. Little is lost in this "de-orchestration"--for example, percussion passages are dealt with by whacking the accordion's sides. Stravinsky's Tango also lies well on the instrument, but the players miss the music's ironic bite. James Crabb and Geir Draugsvoll recast Pictures at an Exhibition with dazzling ingenuity. Their prim and spotless virtuosity, however, transforms Mussorgsky's raging, elemental lion into an agreeable, domestic kitty cat. Nevertheless, accordion fanciers will be enticed. Move over, Lawrence Welk! - Jed Distler

These two young Europeans have done an inspired and remarkably attentive job of translating the orchestral music of Stravinsky's Russian folk ballet "Petrushka" for their two great button accordions. The score itself seems at times to have been inspired by the quaint, wheezy dance music often played on the accordion in Old Russia, making it a particularly apt choice for this unusual duo. I have saved for last the most compelling reason to buy this disc: the level of technical skill and the range of expression on display will leave speechless any music lover in your circle who dismisses the accordion as a mistake of creation. Music of such interpretive richness and rigorousness cannot be dismissed. (I may add, if you are the sort of person who likes to dance to the music, these two will not let you down.)
The disc is rounded out by an aggressive, somewhat hurried reading of Stravinsky's usually melancholy "Tango," and a meritorous adaptation of Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition," which comes off like a reasonable compromise between the original keyboard work and the orchestrated version which made its fame. The playing throughout is nearly faultless.

This CD is one of the most remarkable "sleepers" to come along for some time. The first time I heard the recording of these two guys doing Stravinsky's Petroushka I was absolutely blown away. Everything seems to be there...everything Stravinsky wanted us to hear, with uncanny musicianship these two performers do it all. Pix at an Exhibition is interesting in its own special way, but the real stand out, drop dead performance is the Stravinsky. I take back every snide joke I ever made about playing "Blackbird Gavotte" with one hand behind your belt on "the squeeze box". These guys are MASTERS and IF you can get ahold of a copy, new or used, I strongly urge you to do so.

Igor Stravinsky - Petrushka (1947 Version)
01. Scene 1
02. Scene 2
03. Scene 3
04. Scene 4
05. Igor Stravinsky - Tango (Tempo di tango)
Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition
06. Promenade
07. Gnomus/Der Gnom
08. Promendage
09. The Old Castle
10. Promenade
11. Tuileries
12. Bydlo
13. Promenade
14. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
15. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
16. Promenade
17. Limoges-The Market Place
18. Catacombae (Sepulchrum romanum-Cum mortuis in lingua mortua)
19. The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba Yaga)
20. The Great Gate of Kiev

320 kbps mp3; sorry, no booklet available.

Part One
Part Two