Ysaÿe 'Poems'

[Alan Howe]

...for various stringed instruments and orchestra:
http://www.mdt.co.uk/ysaye-eugene-harmonies-du-soir-jacques-kantorow-musique-en-wallonie.html

From MDT's blurb:

Over time, the memory of Eugène Ysaÿe (Liège, 1858 Brussels, 1931) the brilliant virtuoso gradually supplanted that of Ysaÿe the composer in the public consciousness. It should be reminded that Eugène Ysaÿe created in his poems for string instruments a totally new and original genre, distinguishing himself by a competence in writing and a harmonic richness that were far removed from the purely virtuosic merits of his early compositions.

These poems are therefore thoroughly deserving of rediscovery. The French conductor Jean- Jacques Kantorow, Ysaÿeʹs great specialist, leads the Liège Royal Philharmonic and soloists through works for violin and orchestra, for cello and orchestra, for two violins and orchestra and for string quartet and orchestra.

[mjkFendrich]

Great!

The two cello poems - never recorded before - are also due to be released on a competing CD from Hyperion with A.Gerhardt later this year,
as already announced in another thread of this forum.

[Alan Howe]

The CD is a great wallow - the idiom's somewhere between Chausson (think Poème), Schoenberg (Verklärte Nacht) and Delius. Recommended for late-night listening...

[mjkFendrich]

I hope this CD will arrive soon from MDT without too much delay at the German customs office,
accompanied by the new EM release of the Stanford  & Milford violin concerti.

[FBerwald]

I was just going through the imslp list and decide to see how many Poems Ysaÿe wrote....

1.  Poème élégiaque, Op. 12 [Poème No. 1] violin
2.  Au rouet, Op. 13  [Poème No. 2] violin
3.  Chant d'hiver, Op. 15  [Poème No. 3] violin
     Meditation Poeme, Op. 16 [not numbered.... but Op. 21 is called No. 4] cello
4.  Extase, Op. 21  [Poème No. 4] violin
5. ?
6. Amitié, Op. 26 [Poème No. 6] for 2 violins
7. Poème nocturne, Op. 29  [Poème No. 7] for violin & cello.

Which is Poem No 5? And are there any more poems?

[Balapoel]

I'm not sure, but I can't find any info on several opus numbers for Ysaye (opp 1-8, 17, 30, and 34).

[mjkFendrich]

Ysaÿe's 5th Poem should be Exil Op.25 for string orchestra without basses.