Lubomir Pipkov (1904-1974) was a Bulgarian composer whose prolific output decisively contributed to the development of professional music in his native country. Following youthful studies in Sofia, Pipkov attended the École Normale de Musique in Paris from 1926 to 1932, where he studied with Yvonne Lefébure, Nadia Boulanger, and Paul Dukas. However, the Op. 78 and Op. 81 groups of short pieces dating from his final years frequently evoke Prokofiev’s acerbic keyboard miniatures or Bartók’s teaching pieces. The influence of traditional Bulgarian folk songs and dances deeply informs the composer’s systematic use of irregular rhythms.
For the 16 pieces comprising Spring Caprices, Pipkov mapped their metric structure according to a “Period Table of Metro-Rhythms”, yet you don’t have to know that to enjoy the music. The pieces are varied in character and tempo, abounding in melodic freshness and tangy harmonic twists, from the angular and energetic Intermezzo to the Chant’s touching austerity. One can say the same about From 1 to 15. By contrast, Ancient Dance features two boisterous outer sections bracketing a slower, more lyrical sequence.
Pianist Dobromir Tsenov imbues each and every selection with idiomatic perception, striking a natural balance between vocally informed and percussive phrases, and perfectly capturing the music’s divergent moods. The pianist’s extensive and scholarly notes further demonstrate his deep commitment to this repertoire. Well worth hearing, notwithstanding the slightly dry and drab sonics.
