Collecting Carl Czerny

[Alex]

I felt the same way as Thalbergmad, when I first tried to sight read random Schumann piano works. For some reason it felt dark and bland. I can't explain why his music felt dark to me, it just did at the time. I thought it was humorless, drab, and not very pianistic. Then, when listening to his violin sonatas and string quartets with the scores, I was getting less and less interested in this composer. It wasn't until hearing his first symphony (and playing through the 2-hand transcription) that I began to get a different feeling from his works. I began to see the lighter, humorous sides more and began to enjoy his music. From there, it just got better as I understood his style more and more, which usually works that way for me. For me, greater familiarity breeds enjoyment in most cases.
As for Schumann's stance against Czerny, I completely understand his contempt for what Czerny stood for, which was to churn out a bunch of crap and making lots of money doing so. It's such a shame that Czerny certainly was capable of writing good music, and he even expressed disappointment in himself that he hadn't really stuck to the example he set with the Op. 7 sonata. Even some of his serious works don't always work as high art though. Honestly, I haven't heard a good piano concerto by him. I believe we have two examples now that have been recorded, one being the 4-hand one, and they are both highly formulaic and have lots of useless scale work. Even in his symphonies, particularly the finales, there is a certain unimaginative repetitiveness that crops up and can overstay its welcome. Fortunately, there are great works such as the Nonet, mentioned by Parag, and several of the piano sonatas (although I hold the first to the highest esteem). The symphonies are also pretty fun to listen to. I can say that I am a Czerny follower/fan, but not an avid lover. Just my thoughts on this oft-neglected composer!

I'm looking forward to listening to his string quartets, second piano trio (of which we have the score available!) and his songs, especially since songs are what have been occupying my time recently with composition.

[tobyjj]

Hello All,

I don't wish to get dragged into the Schumann debate - :-

I do want to ask, however, whether anyone has Czerny's Op.386 (8 Nocturnes), in readable sheet - I was very surprised at their elegance, (thanks to Isabelle Oehmichen's playing of them).

see:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZcBxGIXEw

I think there may have been a prior similar enquiry, but it may have been overlooked due to heavy alternative discussions at the time.

Hopefully,
tobyjj

[promusician]

Hello All,

I don't wish to get dragged into the Schumann debate - :-

I do want to ask, however, whether anyone has Czerny's Op.386 (8 Nocturnes), in readable sheet - I was very surprised at their elegance, (thanks to Isabelle Oehmichen's playing of them).

see:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZcBxGIXEw

I think there may have been a prior similar enquiry, but it may have been overlooked due to heavy alternative discussions at the time.

Hopefully,
tobyjj

everyone is finding it bro, no worry

[Paul]

Hello All,

I don't wish to get dragged into the Schumann debate - :-

I do want to ask, however, whether anyone has Czerny's Op.386 (8 Nocturnes), in readable sheet - I was very surprised at their elegance, (thanks to Isabelle Oehmichen's playing of them).

see:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZcBxGIXEw

I think there may have been a prior similar enquiry, but it may have been overlooked due to heavy alternative discussions at the time.

Hopefully,
tobyjj

Easily available in a reprint by Lemoine (see e.g. http://www.di-arezzo.de/Partitur/E-Musi ... 02417.html) so there is no scan floating around at the moment.

All the best

Paul

[tobyjj]

Hello Paul,

Thank you for that link.

regards,
tobyjj

[tracyross]

Here is Czerny's op. 368 no. 8, in case it helps.

Czerny%2C Carl - Op 368 No 8 Nocturne.pdf

-Tracy

[tobyjj]

Hello All,

I don't wish to get dragged into the Schumann debate - :-

I do want to ask, however, whether anyone has Czerny's Op.386 (8 Nocturnes), in readable sheet - I was very surprised at their elegance, (thanks to Isabelle Oehmichen's playing of them).

see:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZcBxGIXEw

I think there may have been a prior similar enquiry, but it may have been overlooked due to heavy alternative discussions at the time.

Hopefully,
tobyjj

Easily available in a reprint by Lemoine (see e.g. http://www.di-arezzo.de/Partitur/E-Musi ... 02417.html) so there is no scan floating around at the moment.

All the best

Paul

I just want to thank you again for the link. I followed up and purchased the book. I'm very happy with it. It is well printed, well laid out and the service from the web-site was smooth and trouble-free. A Thumbs up.

Thanks again.
tobyjj

[Jim Faston]

Could someone identify the work from which this piece entitled "Quiet Thoughts" is extracted. PDFed from from LOC scans. Thanks.

Czerny-Elson_Quiet Thoughts.pdf

I was able to answer my own question when I came across this little gem. (NMS) I corrected the page ordering in volume one for convenience. Enjoy.

Czerny_Album élégant des dames pianistes, Op804 vol 1.pdf

Czerny_Album élégant des dames pianistes, Op804 vol 2.pdf

Czerny_Album élégant des dames pianistes, Op804 vol 3.pdf

[Jean-Séb]

I had already seen these gems but I am glad that you recalled them and that you solved the mystery of "Quiet thoughts". Thank you.

[Alex]

Thank you for sharing, Jim. Are these pieces named after the (apparently) many female students he had? Or is it just arbitrary...?