In this video, American pianist Andrew Tyson performs the Gavotte from Bach’s Violin Partita No. 3, arranged for solo piano by Rachmaninoff in 1933. Tyson follows Rachmaninoff’s lead and uses the existing music as a canvas for ingenious voicings and unexpected expressive nuances.

This uninhibited composer-arranger mindset associates Tyson with Golden Era pianists such as Ignaz Friedman, who had a similarly unstinting embrace of creative liberty while still respecting the essential spirit of the composition.

In this video, American pianist Andrew Tyson performs Schubert’s well-known Sonata in A Major, K. 664. Tyson’s vision of this piece is strikingly beautiful, full of vivid characters, yearning Romanticism, and deft fingerwork.

Although D. 664 is often called the “Little” A Major to distinguish it from D. 959 (Schubert’s large, four-movement Sonata in A Major), the emotional scope contained in its three short movements makes it a masterpiece of the period. The poised and deeply expressive melodies are as wonderful as any of Schubert’s great lieder for voice and piano, while the form and musical texture are often reminiscent of string quartet writing. It was most likely written in 1819 during Schubert’s summer sojourn at the foot of the Austrian Alps. The winsomeness of this sonata is a clear testament to the beauty of the mountain landscape and its charming young dedicatee, Josephine von Koller.

In this video, American pianist Andrew Tyson performs one of Scarlatti’s most popular works, the lilting and expressive Sonata in D Minor, K. 9. Tyson’s playing is breathtakingly colorful and original, constantly highlighting this sonata’s debt to Spanish guitar music and the pastoral style.

Made famous through performances by many great pianists – such as Gould, Lipatti, Michelangeli, and Pletnev – this sonata was published in 1739. Of Scarlatti’s 555 keyboard sonatas (yes, really), this was one of only 30 whose publication was overseen by the composer.

In this video, American pianist Andrew Tyson performs Chaminade’s Theme and Variations, Op. 89. Tyson brings out the subtlety and charm of this work, easily dashing off virtuoso figures and perfectly balancing complex textures and to ensure the melody is clear as a bell.

Less a formal set of variations than a continual pianistic elaboration on two themes, this work is a refreshing reminder of the once-vibrant culture of salon music. Cécile Chaminade’s music was very popular in her time and is currently experiencing a revival by record labels and pianists.