Bells Anthony Romaniuk

• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107:
• 1 Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107: Bagpipe Music. Allegretto in G Major (No. 138 Vol. V, with Improvised Prelude) 02:07
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807:
• 2 English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: I. Prélude (Piano) 03:53
• 3 English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: I. Prélude (Fender Rhodes) 04:15
• Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918): Préludes, L. 117, Book 1:
• 4 Préludes, L. 117, Book 1: II. Voiles 03:31
• György Ligeti (1923 - 2006): Musica Ricercata:
• 5 Musica Ricercata: VII. Cantabile, molto legato 04:17
• William Byrd (1539 - 1623): The Bells, T 442:
• 6 The Bells, T 442 05:45
• George Crumb (b. 1929): Makrokosmos, Vol. II:
• 7 Makrokosmos, Vol. II: IV. Twin Suns 03:10
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Six Bagatelles, Op. 126:
• 8 Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: IV. Presto in B Major 03:30
• Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56:
• 9 Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56: III. Pê-loc. Andante 02:41
• Frederico Mompou (1893 - 1987): Musica Callada, Book II:
• 10 Musica Callada, Book II: XIII. Tranquillo 02:03
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Adagio in B Minor, K. 540:
• 11 Adagio in B Minor, K. 540 (With Improvised Prelude) 08:12
• Chick Corea (b. 1941): Children's Song:
• 12 Children's Song 02:15
• Federico Mompou: Musica Callada, Book I:
• 13 Musica Callada, Book I: V. Legato metallico 02:25
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28:
• 14 Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 04:37
• Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683 - 1764): Pièces de clavecin avec une méthode:
• 15 Pièces de clavecin avec une méthode: VII. Musette en rondeau (With Improvised Prelude) 03:37
• Anonymous: Het Gruuthuse-Handschrift II. 108:
• 16 Het Gruuthuse-Handschrift II. 108: Orlof, Vrauwe, Ende Ic Moet Gaen 02:32
• Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695): Fantasia Upon One Note in F Major, Z. 745:
• 17 Fantasia Upon One Note in F Major, Z. 745 03:11
• Johann Sebastian Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807:
• 18 English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: VI. Bourrée 04:41
• Anthony Romaniuk: Kora (Improvisation)
• 19 Kora (Improvisation) 03:40
• Improvisation on Der Leiermann:
• 20 Improvisation on Der Leiermann 02:41
• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, Op. 87
• 21 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, Op. 87 (With Improvised Prelude) 04:44
• Total Runtime 01:17:47

Info for Bells

An Australian who studied early music, harpsichord and fortepiano in New York, Anthony Romaniuk also has a passion for improvisation, independent rock and electronic music. This musical polyglot collaborates regularly with the violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja (Take Two, ALPHA211), the vocal ensemble Vox Luminis, the tenor Reinoud Van Mechelen and the cellist Pieter Wispelwey.

For his first solo album, he has spent ten years exploring almost ten centuries of music, which he has decided to play on four different keyboards: harpsichord, fortepiano, piano and Fender Rhodes. Fascinated by low sustained notes (known as ‘pedal points’, the descendants of drones) – hence the title Bells – Anthony Romaniuk exceeds the boundaries of classical orthodoxy, ranging from Mozart to Crumb. An incredible compendium of music and emotions that enables us to discover Rameau, Byrd, Beethoven, Debussy, Purcell in a new light. We go from Bartók’s Mikrokosmos to a fascinating medieval melody that he has harmonised like a jazzman. Thanks to the delicate timbre of the Fender Rhodes, we hear Bach quite differently, alongside Chick Corea’s magical Children’s Songs.

Anthony Romaniuk, piano, fortepiano, Fender Rhodes, harpsichord

Anthony Romaniuk
Keyboardist Anthony Romaniuk’s singular artistic voice stems from his relentless exploration of a vast range of musical styles.

A natural musical polyglot, his classical training is complemented by his improvising prowess, allowing him to traverse the borders between genres.

Jazz-obsessed in his youth in Australia, he studied classical piano in New York (Manhattan School of Music), spent several years specialising in early music (harpsichord and fortepiano in the Netherlands) and, post-studies, has continued his development across the realms of improvisation, Indy rock and ambient/electronic music.

As a classical recitalist, his repertoire includes music from Byrd to Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Brahms (often on historical instruments), to Ligeti, Crumb and contemporary music. He works regularly with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and tenor Reinoud Van Mechelen and is also a core member of Vox Luminis. Other noteworthy collaborations include working with cellists Peter Wispelwey and Nadège Rochat, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Danish rock group Efterklang.

He has played at many important concert venues in Europe, including Wigmore Hall (London), Salle Gaveau (Paris), Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berliner Konzerthaus, Bozar (Brussels) and at the Menuhin Festival (Gstaad), as well as frequent engagements in the US and Australia.

His debut solo recording “Bells”, released on Alpha Classics in 2020, showcases his approach to combining repertoire and improvisation, employing the timbres of four keyboard instruments, consciously pushing the boundaries of classical orthodoxy.

Booklet for Bells