Taken from the liner notes:
In 1939, Prokofiev sketched three of his late sonatas, Nos. 6, 7 and 8, often referred to as “war sonatas.” The sixth was completed in 1939 and was broadcast on Radio Moscow in a premier by the composer. The Great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter writes in his memoirs: “I was amazed with the singular clarity and constructive perfection of his music, I never before heard the like. With boldness the composer broke with romantic ideals and imbued in his music the stormy pulse of the 20th century.” The first and fourth movements are the most powerful emotionally. The first starts with a rhythmic and angular three-note descending scalar figure in thirds, outlining both the A major and A minor modes. This motive serves as a unifying element for the entire movement, continuously interacting and with other themes and surrounding them in extreme registers of the piano. The second movement displays a light and typically ironic scherzo quality, while the third is a slow, deeply lyrical waltz. The fourth movement, entirely energetic and explosive, brings back one of the main thematic ideas of the first movement, as well as the initial motive, which is boldly stated in the final conclusion, in a way that give the sonata a cyclical character.
Pianist Andrew De Grado performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. Born in New Jersey, he started his piano studies at the age of 4 and began giving full solo recitals by age 12, including an appearance at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York City.
Andrew’s impeccable ear and feeling for the music he performed made him a much sought-after collaborator for dozens of highly respected artists, including cellists Nathaniel Rosen and Steven Isserlis, bassist/composer Edgar Meyer, and pianist/conductor Ian Hobson.
Also, Andrew collaborated with violinist Joshua Bell in numerous performances in the United States including Hawaii at the Maui Community Arts & Cultural Center, as well as abroad. Far East tours included major concert halls in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Seoul. In Japan, the tour included Symphony Hall in Osaka, Telephia Hall in Nagoya, and Casals Hall and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. In 1993, he and Mr. Bell traveled to Italy to perform recitals in Rome, Genoa, Sardinia, Bologna, and Milan. In 1996 they performed in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and another recital in Japan. In 1998, both Mr. De Grado and Mr. Bell’s Spain tour began with a performance in the Music National Auditorium in Madrid, which was to be followed by additional concerts in the City of Oviedo and Bilbao, Spain.
Other credits include performances at the Phillips Art Gallery and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago Cultural Center. Andrew gave several performances on WNYC's “Young American Artists” series and NPR's “Performance Today.” He appeared three times with Mr. Bell on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.
Andrew De Grado was the recipient of many honors, among them, a Fellowship and the Performer's Certificate “in recognition of outstanding musical performance in Piano” from Indiana University. Also, he was a prize winner at the Helen Hart International Piano Competition and the Washington International Piano Competition, as well as twice winning Indiana University's Concerto Competition.
Andrew received his Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Kean University in Union, New Jersey, where he studied with Carol Ferri. He received his Master of Music degree, Cum Laude, in piano performance as well as the highly coveted Performer’s Certificate, from Indiana University, where he studied with Zadel Skolovsky, Michel Block and Menahem Pressler. Previously, he was a teaching assistant to Menahem Pressler while in the doctoral program at Indiana University School of Music. He also studied in New York City with Genia Robinor. Mr. De Grado was a member of the faculty for the String Academy at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. Beginning in 1991, he was Professor of Piano at the University of Illinois School of Music in Urbana-Champaign.
Andrew George De Grado was on tour in Madrid, Spain with Joshua Bell when he suffered an allergic reaction, went into anaphylactic shock, and then into a coma, where he remained until his death on February 4, 1998. He was 37 years old.
Andrew DeGrado, Live Recordings Volume 2, In Memoriam, Centaur Records, 2005, CRC 2770. This sonata was recording at the University of Illinois on March 19, 1997, Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois.
I miss my teacher and his playing. His death was a tragedy and effected me greatly. Although I have always loved the name Andrew and Andres, I feel proud to have named my son Andrew in his honor.
Dena Kay Jones
