According to Marek Toporowski, the French composer Hyacinthe Jadin (1776–1800) was the author of ‘the greatest masterpieces of the French literature for the fortepiano from the time of the Revolution.’ Dying in poverty from tuberculosis at the age of 25, Jadin nonetheless achieved much in his brief life, composing both orchestral and chamber music with a bias towards his own instrument of the piano, such as concertos and these sonatas with optional violin accompaniment. Several published collections have not survived – or not been recovered – including a further 12 sonatas for the keyboard.
In a previous album on Brilliant Classics, Toporowski produced a definitive modern recording of Jadin’s Sonatas Opp. 4-6 (96958). On the present collection he presents Opp. 1 and 3, along with his trio of Op.1 string quartets in the composer’s own arrangement for piano and violin.Toporowski finds a pre-Romantic sensibility in this music, with tantalising anticipations of Schubert, Weber and even Mendelssohn in Jadin’s heightened language of expression, which ventures far beyond the conventional forms of his contemporaries.
An important point of reference for Jadin was nonetheless the music of Haydn. The Op.1 String Quartets, as played here in the composer’s transcription, are dedicated to Haydn and contain very obvious references to this composer’s style, in particular to his refined modulations. Jadin was also active in Paris while Jan Ladislav Dussek was living in the French capital. As a later co-creator of the London school of piano playing, Dussek seems also have had a great influence on the young virtuoso. There are salient points of comparison between these sonatas, whether played solo on piano or with their optional violin part, and with the sonatas for the same forces written by Dussek and recently recorded for Brilliant Classics by Petra Somlai, Julia Huber and Miriam Altmann.
Jadin’s music has never previously been documented in so comprehensive and stylish a manner as this evolving series from Marek Toporowski, and the quartets receive their first recording in this arrangement, which will appeal to all collectors of Classical-era curios.
- Hyacinthe Jadin (1776-1800) was a French composer and also a brilliant pianist. He is primarily known for his piano sonatas, which are widely regarded as some of the most important works in the genre from this period. Jadin's music is characterized by its elegance, refinement, and harmonic sophistication, and his sonatas are particularly notable for their innovative use of form and structure.
- Jadin's sonatas are marked by their sense of balance and proportion, with each movement carefully crafted to convey a specific emotional or musical idea. His use of contrasting textures and harmonies creates a sense of drama and tension that is particularly effective in the sonata form with its contrasting themes and moods.
- This new recording presents Jadin’s sonatas for piano with the “accompaniment” of the violin, his opus 1 and 3. The violin plays “ad libitum”. The violin part is written very economically, and in most cases can be omitted; its task is merely to highlight selected moments and harmonic expressions; sometimes, to fill out the harmony; and always, to provide a certain ‘motivation’ to the pianist. Also included are transcriptions for piano and violin of 3 of Jadin’s string quartets, which he dedicated to Joseph Haydn.
- Played by Early Music and Period Instrument specialist Marek Toporowski, with violinists Robert Bachara and Zofia Wojniakiewicz.
- Toporowski already recorded for Brilliant Classics the Piano Sonatas Op. 4-6 by Jadin (BC 96958), to great critical acclaim.
