Stromberg

With their project ‘The Duplex Coupler Grand Piano’, Florian Uhlig and David Stromberg breathe new life into a forgotten concept. The composer Emánuel Moór, whose works combine wonderful melodies and surprising harmonic twists, developed the ‘Duplex Coupler Piano’ that incorporated a double keyboard. With keys coupled at the octave, this enabled works to achieve special shades of sound. The unique instrument is featured in this recording by David Stromberg and Florian Uhlig of cello sonatas by Moór, Dohnányi and Richard Strauss.

The rediscovered composer Emanuel Moór (1863–1931) belonged to a generation of composers who grew up with the romantic music of Brahms, Schumann, Wagner and Debussy, but were then confronted with the new challenges of modernism around 1900. Reflecting his friendship with the famous cellist Pablo Casals, he composed numerous works for cello. This recording highlights various stages in that friendship with Pablo Casals. Moór’s Sonata No. 2 for violoncello and piano Op. 53 was written in 1901, before the two met. The Double Concerto for two violoncelli Op. 69, written for Pablo and Guilhermina Casals, was well received at the time. The Suite for four cellos Op. 95 was commissioned by Pablo Casals. From 1920 Moór also worked in instrument making. He developed a two-manual concert grand piano (duplex coupler Grand Pianoforte) and made modifications to string instruments.