Here is an old recording I made in may 2012 of "In the Kraton", number 10 of Leopold Godowsky's Java Suite. The piece was composed in Chicago in 1925. The piano was my Gabriel Gaveau grand, from about the same time as the composition, which I finally got rid of last year.

The Kraton is a splendid Javanese palace in Yogyakarta, the former residence of the Sultan Hamengkoeboewono. It inspired the composer to write some of his finest music, at least in my opinion. This exotic piece of filigree is solemn, repetitive, ethereal and mesmerizing, its many layers and cross-rhythms creating an almost hypnotizing effect. Before recording I spent almost a year on this piece, and still it came out far from perfect. I will not list all the ways my recording is flawed... but I think it can be enjoyed nonetheless. At least I am still fond of it when I listen back. I don't think the many flubs distract so much from the music, which gloriously seems to survive my rather cack-handed treatment. Or so I hope 😊

Chris Breemer, piano
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