Joseph Marx Complete Songs for voice and piano Vol. 1 (2CD)

The 20th-Century Song Foundation, under the artistic direction of Reinild Mees, plays a pioneering role in the rediscovery of songs from the first half of the twentieth century and has previously released recordings of the Complete Songs by Respighi, Schreker, Szymanowski, Elgar and Korngold. The double album Complete Songs for voice and piano Vol.1 is a continuation on this path; this time the rediscovery of songs by the Austrian composer Joseph Marx (1882 -1964).

Joseph Marx was one of Austria’s most distinguished composers, particularly renowned for his contribution to art song. Between 1901 and 1912, he composed the majority of his 156 songs – an extraordinary output, that established his reputation and laid the foundation for his international success. This double album features a selection of these beautiful songs, brought by soloists with international careers: soprano Katharine Dain, tenor Mitch Raemaekers, and pianist Reinild Mees. Some of the repertory on this album has never been recorded before, such as the nineteen unpublished songs performed here as world premieres.

The songs of Joseph Marx combine lyrical, expansive melodies with richly coloured harmonies and imaginative soundscapes. His music represents a unique fusion of late Romanticism and Impressionism, making him one of the leading representatives of musical Art Nouveau. Influences from composers such as Hugo Wolf, Gustav Mahler, Max Reger, Claude Debussy and Alexander Scriabin can be recognised, yet Marx developed his own distinctive compositional style. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who increasingly focused on speech rhythms and text declamation, Marx remained faithful to the expressive beauty of the vocal line. His songs emphasize melodic warmth and lyrical expression, while maintaining a close relationship between poetry and music.