JEAN-PAUL PENIN (b.1949): Paris 1930 - Valses.

Description: Known as a conductor who's premiered such works as Messiaen's La Ville d'En-haut and the Berlioz Messe Solennelle, Penin wrote this set of tone-poem-waltzes at a time the booklet notes deem it best to be kept secret. The conceit is that of a young pianist wandering around the Paris of 1930, each waltz bearing a geographical location as title (Belleville, Place des Fêtes, Tuileries, Orsay, Quai d'Orléans) with a 13th, and longest, piece at the end called Recontre. A kaleidoscope of moods, snatches of the music of French and other composers who lived in Paris popping up here and there, this should delight collectors of tonal 20th century piano music. Jean Dubé (piano).