Amy Marcy Beach (1867-1944)
Deux Pièces, op. 54
Prélude et Fugue, op. 81
Fantasia Fugata, op. 87
A Hermit Trush at Eve, op. 92 n° 1
A Hermit Trush at Morn, op. 92 n° 2
Cradle Song of the Lonely Mother, op. 108
By the Still Waters, op. 114
Improvisations, op. 148

Katia Spluga, piano

The album “Present Reflections” offers an anthology of Amy Beach’s piano works, showcasing her remarkable compositional talent and stylistic range—from expressive virtuosity to deep interpretative intimacy. This distinctive quality is due not only to her extraordinary gift but also to several factors: the profound cultural shifts she experienced between the late 19th and early 20th centuries—bridging late Romanticism, the emergence of the avant-garde, and the advent of jazz—and her unmistakable emotional expressiveness. Despite the strict, self-imposed discipline of her compositional process (she was entirely self-taught), her style remains deeply personal and authentic in every work. Looking back in time, beginning with her later compositions, one can observe a radical evolution in her writing. These works are not only a significant contribution to American piano literature but also a testament to the transformation of an era—one that slips away from the present to become almost immediately part of the past. In this way, Present Reflections becomes a mirror of today’s world, reflecting the epochal changes of which we are all a part. Mrs. Beach’s incredible talent, which enabled her to emerge as one of the greatest composers of her time, tells the story of both women and men—transcending the limitations imposed by society and leaving behind a musical legacy that deserves not only rediscovery but celebration. (Katia Spluga)