Saturday, March 16, 2024

Grieg's own recordings May 2nd 1903 and the 2008 emulations by Sigurd Slåttebrekk

A while ago I stumbled upon this remarkable CD. In 1903, Edward Grieg recorded several piano pieces for a gramophone in Paris. Those recordings, included in te CD, form the basis of the “emulation” of these works by pianist Sigurd Slåttebrekk. On Grieg’s own 1892 Steinway at his home in Troldhaugen these works were recorded again, with Grieg’s own recordings as guideline. How tight he follows Grieg in his recording shows track 24, where Slåttebrekk’s and Grieg’s recording alternatively overlap. Seamless… Of the solo recordings that Grieg did not record, Slåttebrekk plays the 20 minute Ballade. It’s the highlight of this CD and the best recording I know of this piece. Two movements of the opus 7 e minor sonata are played in the truncated version Grieg recorded and, later on, the complete uncut sonata is performed by Sigurd Slåttebrekk.

There is also a recording of Grieg’s piano concerto with Michail Jurowski.


With this project, a website was made, that still exists. It contains articles, interviews and images surrounding the 1903 Grieg recordins and the emulations on the CD.


https://www.chasingthebutterfly.no/


I hope you will enjoy this playlist! 


Edward Grieg (1843-1907)


Played by Sigurd Slåttebrekk on Grieg’s Steinway in Troldhaugen, recorded in 2008:


Track 01 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6

Track 02 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 03 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 04 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6

Track 05 Gangar (Lyric Pieces, vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 2

Track 06 Sommerfugl (Butterfly) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 1

Track 07 Tempo de Menuetto ed energico (Humoresker), Op. 6, No. 2

Track 08 Brudefølget drar forbi (The Bridal Procession Passes) (Folkelivsbilder), Op. 19, No. 2

Track 09 Etterklang (Remembrances)(Lyric Pieces, Vol. 10), Op. 71, No. 7

Track 10 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~1. Allegro moderato

Track 11 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~2. Andante molto

Track 12 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 13 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 14 Ballade in G minor, Op. 24


Played by Edward Grieg, recorded in Paris, May 2, 1903:


Track 15 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6

Track 16 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 17 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 18 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6

Track 19 Gangar (Lyric Pieces, vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 2

Track 20 Sommerfugl (Butterfly) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 1

Track 21 Tempo de Menuetto ed energico (Humoresker), Op. 6, No. 2

Track 22 Brudefølget drar forbi (The Bridal Procession Passes)(Folkelivsbilder), Op. 19, No. 2

Track 23 Etterklang (Remembrances)(Lyric Pieces, Vol. 10), Op. 71, No. 7


Grieg and Slåttebrekk alternating:


Track 24 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6


Played by Edward Grieg, recorded in Paris, May 2, 1903:


Track 25 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6



Played by... Sigurd Slåttebrekk, piano

Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester

Michail Jurowski, conductor:


Tracks 26-28 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a minor op 16




https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2F70lSpGdjJwoulqHuDPfw?si=51925e15b3bf43c6
(HTTP link)




Saturday, March 9, 2024

Another hour of Baroque music

Earlier I posted a playlist with one hour of Baroque music and apparently, you liked it 😀

So here is an other hour of Baroque music, with three big and bold Baroque works. 


Fasch, Händel and Bach knew each other works and respected each other. The “grande” overture in g minor is played by the Belgian ensemble Il Fondamento. Their recordings are always a bit hit or miss to my opinion. But this Fasch recording is a hit. 


Händel’s 16th organ concerto is in fact an arrangement by the composer from the concerto a due cori in F major, HWV 334. That concerto borrowed material of the so-called Fitzwilliam Overture (HWV 424) and the opera Partenope (HWV 27). The organ concerto in this form was probably performed with the oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63) in 1747. 


The last work is Bach’s well known fist Brandenburg concerto in perhaps a lesser known performance, Jordi Savall leads le concert des Nations.


I hope you will enjoy the (just over an hour) playlist! 



Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758)


Tracks 01-07 Overture Suite for Three Oboes, Bassoon, Strings and Continuo in G Minor, FWV K/g 2 (between 1740-55)

Il Fondamento 

Paul Dombrecht, conductor.

Recorded 2004


Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)


Tracks 08-15 Organ concerto HWV 305a in F major (no 16), arranged from HWV 334 (1747)

Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment

Bob van Asperen, organ and conductor.

Recorded 1996


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)


Tracks 16-19 Brandenburg concerto in F major BWV 1046 (before 1721)

Le concert des Nations

Jordi Savall, conductor

Recorded 1991





https://open.spotify.com/playlist/18pm5Rbcxzlc06VCqVO9tA?si=c246625812ce438e
(HTTP link)



Sunday, February 25, 2024

The Vox classical years.

In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, Vox classical was a famous budget classical label. The label kickstarted the career of Alfred Brendel and attracted well known artists as Otto Klemperer, Lili Krauss and Riccardo Ricci. This violinist recorded in 1977 with harpist Susanna Mildonian the concertante For harp, violin and orchestra by Louis Spohr. 

Mozart, Haydn and Salieri pupil Johann Nepomuk Hummel had more succes with his earlier works that with his later works, still this charming rondo form June 1831 deserves to be better known. 


In 1909 Guiomar Novaes was one of the two foreign students that were atmitted to the Paris conservatory. Out of 387 applicants she played for a jury that included Debussy, Fauré, Moszkowski and Widor. At the age of 57 she recorded Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto with 

the Vienna symphony orchestra under Otto Klemperer. 


The spouses Mary Louise Boehm and Kees Kooper recorded in July 1974 the piano and violin concerto by Johann Peter Pixis. (No, not Pixies, alas ;-)) I could not find much info about when this concerto was composed, but it seems to be a reworking of Pixis 6th piano trio from 1839, dedicated to Clara Wieck. 


I hope you will enjoy this playlist! 



Louis Spohr (1784-1859)


Tracks 01-03     Concertante For harp, violin and orchestra (1806)

Riccardo Ricci, violin

Susanna Mildonian, harp

Orchestra of radio Luxembourg

Louis De Froment, conductor

Recorded 1977


Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) 


Track 04-05     "La Galante" (Rondeau), For Piano, Op.120 (1831)

Martin Galling, piano

Recorded 1969


Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) 


Tracks 06-08     Concerto No. 4 For Piano And Orchestra In G Major, op 58 (1805-1806)

Guiomar Novaes, piano 

Vienna symphony orchestra,

Otto Klemperer, conductor

Recorded 1952


Johann Peter Pixis 1788-1874)


Tracks 09-11     Double concerto for violin & piano in F# minor (1839)

Mary Louise Boehm, piano

Kees Kooper, violin

Westphalian Symphony Orchestra

Siegfried Landau, conductor

Recorded 1974





https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2GCrxVu4BTS0ZtjBN2GKR3?si=2330fbe2619b400e
(HTTP link)



Friday, February 16, 2024

Valentina has left the building

You extend your well-wishes to others: fulfillment, happiness. Yet, occasionally, a raven swoops through an open window, its cry echoing ‘nevermore, nevermore.’ I’ve been a devoted fan of Valentina Tóth ever since she joined a Dutch radio station’s forum and shared her captivating live recordings. Her performances are vibrant, evoking the joy that Marie Kondo might describe. I eagerly acquired her two CDs featuring music by Hungarian composers, anticipating perhaps a rendition of Bartók’s Second Concerto or Prokofiev’s Third. However, for Valentina, the classical world failed to ignite that same spark of joy. As a child, she graced musical stages, but dissatisfied with the trajectory of her life as a classical pianist, she ventured into drama school and blossomed into an award-winning comedian. Now, she tours the Netherlands with her highly acclaimed show, and interviews reveal how this shift has amplified her happiness. Still, a raven circles my thoughts, its mournful cry echoing ‘nevermore, nevermore...’ Well, I can share the recordings. My favorite track? The Christmas pastorale by Dohnányi, performed with unparalleled brilliance—surpassing even Zoltán Kocsis and the composer’s own rendition. Enjoy! 😊


Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960)


Track 01 - 07 Ruralia Hungarica, Op. 32a (1923)

Track 08 - 12 Humoresken In Form Einer Suite, Op.17 (1907)

Track 13 Pastorale In A Hungarian Christmas Song (1920)

Recorded 2018


Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945)


Track 14 - 27 14 Bagatelles  Sz.38 Op. 6 (1908)


Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)


Track 28 - 34 Seven Piano Pieces  Op. 11 (1910-1918)


Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945)


Track 36 - 38 3 Hungarian Folksongs From Csík, Sz.35a (1907)

Recorded 2012, 2013


Valentina Tóth, piano




https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6NVsPzclcyNxxO32kxnyGy?si=c09798f9fd034deb
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Wednesday, February 7, 2024

1 hour Baroque music playlist on Spotify

So you want a playlist with one hour Baroque music on Spotify? Here is a curated playlist!

First, let’s explore the melodious lute concerto by Johann Friedrich Fasch, a German composer who, just before Bach’s arrival, founded a ‘Collegium musicum’ in Leipzig. This initiative paved the way for an orchestral concert culture in the city. Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, the (only!) teacher Georg Friedrich Händel ever had, remains an intriguing figure. Unfortunately, I couldn’t trace the specific New Year’s Day for which the cantata “Preiset Mit Mir Den Herren” was written, but I hold great admiration for this exceptional work.

Now, let’s delve into Handel’s famous harp concerto. Interestingly, the manuscript cover reads “Concerto per il Liuto e l’Harpa.” That “e” is crucial—it signifies “and,” not “or.” So, was it a misprint, or was it genuinely intended for both harp and lute to play? In this recording by La Divina Armonia, we find the latter to be the case.

Georg Philipp Telemann, known for his “faithful music master,” issued a musical magazine containing pieces for home enjoyment. Among the 1728 monthly issues, there was a partita for harpsichord. Pay attention to the third movement titled “Rondeau” (track 17). Could Mozart have been influenced by this piece? It almost foreshadows his aria “Batti, Batt bel masetto.” Feel free to hum along with the melody!

Lastly, let’s transition from the Baroque era to classical music with Jakob Friedrich Kleinknecht’s 1748 trio sonata for two flutes and continuo. Remarkably, Kleinknecht worked in Bayreuth a century before Wagner. Enjoy the playlist! 🎶


Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758)


Track 01-03 Lute Concerto, FWVL: D1, between 1735 and 1745


Richard Stone, Lute & conductor

Tempesta die mare, Philadelphia Baroque orchestra

2012


Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (1663-1712)


Track 04-11 Preiset Mit Mir Den Herren (Festo Novi Anni)


Constanze Backes, soprano

Capella Frisiae, chorus

Accademia Amsterdam, Ludger Remy conductor.

2009


Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)


Track 04-11 Concerto For Lute And Harp In B Flat Major, Op 4/6, Hwv 294, 1736


Luca Pianca, Archlute

Margreth Köll, Harp

La Divina Armonia, conductor

2007


Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)


Track 15-19 Partia à Cembalo solo, TWV 32:1

From: Der getreue Music-Meister, Lektion 1-3, 1728.


Roberto Loreggian, harpsichord

2016


Jakob Friedrich Kleinknecht (1722-1794)


Tracks 20-22 Trio sonata in D major, op 2, 1748


Aysha Wills, traverso

David Westcombe, traverso 

Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, cello 

Artem Belogurov, harpsichord

2019




https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KmgsBaiHy9YDxrHBqTJW5?si=22fe0ca968474435
(HTTP link)