Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28
Reduction for Two Pianos, Four Hands
By Alberto Ginastera

It is truly sad that this piano concerto has not become a part of the standard repertory for it is absolutley beautiful. If you like Bartok then you will like Ginastera who like Bartok, incorporated the native folks themes of his native country into his music. As for difficulty this...

piece is a monster to learn but incredibly fun to play. A virtuoso level is required. My major complaint about this edition is that the print quality and size of the score is not up to par with other Boosey & Hawkes editions. I was going to give it 4 stars but because of my love for this work I gave it 5 stars. For an excellent recording of this Concerto please check out Dora De Marinis CD with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestrah. It's only $1.99 on Amazon.com and it's a phenomenal recording.

Though some people may find this music too dissonant for their ears, this piece of music, which premiered in 1961, is absolutely amazing. While the writing can sometimes sound overtly serial, it is Ginastera's attention to infectious, ostinato-style Latin rhythm that has always attracted me. Developed almost entirely...

on a theme consisting of three chords, the microcosms that are manifested and displayed for the listener are so colorful and unique that one cannot help but wonder why it has not yet become a firm establishment in the modern repertory. All of Ginastera's works are strongly recommended.