Martin Roscoe presents the complete recording of Ernő Dohnányi's piano works in three parts. The third volume comprises compositions from Dohnányi's later period—a time when he established himself among the leading artists of his generation. After studying at the Budapest Academy of Music, Dohnányi embarked on a successful career as a pianist and conductor, which took him throughout Europe and the United States. During his life, he divided his time between Budapest and Vienna, but regularly spent his summers in Gmunden, Austria.
In Hungary, Dohnányi devoted himself to patriotic works. One of the best known is "Ruralia hungarica," based on Hungarian folk songs and consisting of seven piano pieces; he later arranged parts of it for orchestra and other instruments. Another key work is "Variations on a Hungarian Folk Song," which underscores his predilection for the theme-and-variation form. The "Three Pieces" also reflect elements of Hungarian music, even though they were composed before his return to Hungary.
The repertoire is complemented by the suite "Gavotte and Musette" in the style of historical dances, as well as arrangements of waltzes by other composers such as Johann Strauss and Léo Delibes. Dohnányi's virtuosity as a pianist and his creative power as a composer are particularly evident in these works, which were among the highlights of his concert programs.