The Spectral Waltzers 1.-3.

František Chaloupka - The Spectral Waltzers 1.-3. (2024)

From the cultivated sound of a concert grand piano to the historic Janáček piano to the so-called “broken piano” - each of the three Spectral Waltzers for piano, organ or any other keyboard instruments (2022) were recorded in three different spaces in Brno, Czech Republic - Janáček Academy of Music & Performing Arts, Leoš Janáček Memorial and Káznice, the infamous penitentiary. The nine tracks constitute a dramaturgic arc of an approximately hour-long album performed by Miroslav Beinhauer.

"In the spring of 2022, during my artist residency in Swiss Alps, I composed "The Spectral Waltzers 1.-3. for piano, organ or any other keyboard instruments". Since there were witch trials in Poschiavo some centuries ago, I called the ensemble version of these compositions, which premiered in New York last year, The Witch Waltzers 1.-3.", adds the composer.

Along with the music album, video recordings of the compositions were also published online.

Special thanks to Janáček Academy, Leoš Janáček Memorial & Káznice Brno.

The album was supported by SoundCzech, Year of Czech Music 2024, Arts and Theatre Institute.

Piano: Miroslav Beinhauer

Sound engineer: Michal Indrák

Video, photo: Alexandr Soška

Cover design: Karol Kacerová

Music by František Chaloupka

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