Émile Naoumoff’s music for piano solo

This essay consists of an annotated guide to published and unpublished piano works by Bulgarian composer-pianist, Émile Naoumoff (b.1962). Approximately 150 of his brilliant solo piano-written compositions have yet to be performed by professional pianists and have only received rare performances. This project is intended to bring Naoumoff's solo piano compositions to the forefront of concert repertoire internationally and aims to increase appreciation for his art by revealing insights into the life and creative process of this twenty first century composer-pianist.

During the selection process for the recording project, the focus was on finding works from a broad range of genres, with contrasting moods, refined tone quality, distinct melodic material, along with demanding technical brilliance. The emotional intensity of Naoumoff's musical language made his solo piano compositions an ideal choice for the recording project. The compositions incorporated within this project consist of twelve solo piano pieces that represent a unique blend of five stylistic influences: His formative years (1960s); the traditional Bulgarian folkloric style (late-1960s to early-1970s); Neoclassical style (early-1970s to mid-1980s); the French Romantic and Impressionistic style (mid-1980s to 2010); and Improvisatory style (2011-present).

I have decided to present pieces that express and highlight these characteristics and are appropriate for any type of piano recital and aesthetically pleasing to the general audience. To showcase Naoumoff’s influential styles within this thesis, the recording project includes Menuet (Minuet) (1969), Requiem (1969), Nocturno (Nocturne) (1970), Pastorale (1970), Danses Bulgares (Bulgarian Dances) (1972), Four Inventions (1972), Burlesque Brillante (Brilliant Burlesque) (1974), Quatre Préludes (1988), Valse pour Nadia (Waltz for Nadia) (1996), Seven Sisters Ballade (2012), Flowing Souletude (2015), and Bulgaria 1300, Theme and Variations (2016).

Lastly, this project consists of a biography of Naoumoff, providing insights into his background as a rising musician, an examination of his philosophical and theoretical views, and a discussion of his compositional style, which is driven by form, melody, rhythm, and texture. Additionally, Naoumoff's creative contributions are also discussed in this thesis, as well as indications of where the composer intends to take his art in the future. Along with this thesis, I had the privilege of interviewing and documenting Naoumoff about his life from childhood to present, his musical journey and achievements, and his reflections on playing and composing piano compositions throughout his career. This interview will be beneficial and insightful to the public and to the piano community to learn more in-depth about a successful living composer-pianist, Émile Naoumoff.