Fantasy & Impromptu No. 3 In F-Sharp / Fantasia & Chorale No. 2 In A-Flat

Richard Nanes was a self-taught American composer and pianist known for his ambitious, late-Romantic style that often defied the prevailing avant-garde trends of the 1980s. Released in 1982 on his own Delfon Recording Society label, this record features two of his substantial piano works, Fantasy & Impromptu No. 3 and Fantasia & Chorale No. 2. Nanes established the Delfon label specifically to distribute his own compositions, ensuring his works reached audiences despite the limited interest from major classical music institutions at the time.

The recording captures Nanes’ virtuosic approach to the piano, characterized by sweeping, dramatic melodies and dense, emotive textures. While he was not a fixture of the mainstream classical establishment, his work garnered a devoted, niche following among those who appreciated his technical complexity and emotional intensity. His recordings remain notable for their independence, representing a rare example of a composer-performer maintaining complete artistic control over the production and distribution of his musical output.