The Unknown Composer

Piano, Fortepiano and Harpsichord Music
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mballan
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The Unknown Composer

Post by mballan »

Occassionally you come across a composer whose music is either interesting, or very pleasant and enjoyable, but you can not find out anything about them - no dates, no country of birth or even work lists......so this thread is for those that fall into that category and deserve to be heard. Of course if members are able to provide information then I [or the moderators] can transfer the person to the appropriate thread.

And my first [in a hopefully under-utilised thread]:

Charles John. Suspect he might be English but haven't a clue except these three works are both interesting and enjoyable to play.

Malcolm
John C - Nocturne No. 2 Op 19.pdf
John C - Nocturne No. 5 Op 34.pdf
John C - Reverie Op 14.pdf
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Jean-Séb
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by Jean-Séb »

Interesting. He seemed to have lived in Paris where he was known as the virtuosist of intimacy, the pianist of ladies, baronnesses, viscountesses, etc. to whom he dedicated many Nocturnes and Romances sans paroles.
See for example this article dating 1852:
http://books.google.fr/books?id=_e4sAAA ... no&f=false
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by Timtin »

I assume Charles John Orth is totally unconnected.
http://www.free-scores.com/download-she ... p?pdf=7675
Jean-Séb
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by Jean-Séb »

Timtin wrote:I assume Charles John Orth is totally unconnected.
http://www.free-scores.com/download-she ... p?pdf=7675
Assumption correct! Mr Orth was born in 1867 in the U.S.A.
http://composers-classical-music.com/o/OrthCharlesJ.htm
long after Charles John was active in Paris as a fashionable pianist.
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mballan
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by mballan »

Well, no one seems to have yet discovered anything about our mysterious Stepan Esipoff........but here is a selection of five favourite pieces.

Malcolm
Esipoff S - Five Piano Pieces.pdf
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parag
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by parag »

Malc, I was always under the impression Esipoff was a pseudonym of Arthur Burnand aka Anton Strelezki. Dates appear to be 1859-1907... isn't there any information out there about Burnand?

Parag

Edit: Found a genealogy link (click All) http://www.tolliss.com/gedview/individu ... olliss.ged
Also attached is at least some mention of him...
mballan wrote:Well, no one seems to have yet discovered anything about our mysterious Stepan Esipoff........but here is a selection of five favourite pieces.

Malcolm
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Jean-Séb
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by Jean-Séb »

Interesting. I did not know that. A short obituary here :
http://books.google.fr/books?id=M_VLAAA ... gQ6AEwBDgK
I understand now why I found the same easy melodic vein in Esipoff and Strelezki little pieces.
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by ilu »

Jean-Séb:
Do you have more "Burnard", "Esipoff" or " Strelezki" more scores?
If someone is interested, I have 5 Piano Pieces -Esipoff-, and The Piano Album under Strelezki name, besides the scores posted today.

Thank you.

Ilu.
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by mballan »

parag wrote:Malc, I was always under the impression Esipoff was a pseudonym of Arthur Burnand aka Anton Strelezki. Dates appear to be 1859-1907... isn't there any information out there about Burnand?

Parag
Parag

Thank you...I had thought it was a pseudonym but didn't know to whom....mystery solved, I think.

Malcolm
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Re: The Unknown Composer

Post by parag »

Most welcome Malc... I have since seen several more references to Mr. Esipoff in connection with his pseudonyms. I thought the main idea of having a pseudonym was anonimity; please correct me if I am wrong.

BTW around 41 scores of Mr. Strelezki are to be found at the LOC website (this includes I think the pieces alluded to by ilu). I just checked and at least the files I have from there are pretty awful because they were pdfs created from smaller tiffs. The bitonal tiff files there are pretty deccent in case anyone wants to give it a shot. I plan on downloading the files when I get a chance; I only wish they had put up pdf files directly :roll:

Go here http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/sm1870query.html and search for Strelezki.

Best,
Parag


mballan wrote:
parag wrote:Malc, I was always under the impression Esipoff was a pseudonym of Arthur Burnand aka Anton Strelezki. Dates appear to be 1859-1907... isn't there any information out there about Burnand?

Parag
Parag

Thank you...I had thought it was a pseudonym but didn't know to whom....mystery solved, I think.

Malcolm
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