Sophie Lavoie

The Castle Album, Part 2: from Peches de Vieillesse (Sins of Old Age), Vol. 8

While best known for his operas, Gioachina Rossini (1792-1868) did compose other music, among which is the large collection, PÉCHÉS DE VIEILLESSE ("SINS OF OLD AGE"). Composed of 150 vocal, chamber and solo piano pieces, the collection is grouped into fourteen albums, with the ordering of the works in each album not reflective of the dates or sequence of composition. Written as salon music, intended for performance in the privacy of Rossini's own drawing room, the entire collection was sold by Rossini's widow following his death in 1868. Vol. 8, titled ALBUM DE CHÂTEAU (THE CASTLE ALBUM), was written for solo piano and includes twelve total pieces. Six of those works are available from the publisher across two books: M143291 and M143391. These constitute the pieces included in QR xvii. The remaining six pieces are from QR ii and QR x, and those are not available from the publisher. Included in Book 2: Valse Anti-Dansante, F; Prélude Semipastorale, A; Prélude Soi-Disant Dramatique, F#. Reprint edition.