Alfor's Rarities

[alfor]

RARE and only for the adventurous pianist (comments by fleubis, Frank, Ferruccio and isokani would be very much appreciated!)

Hermann KUNDIGRABER (Austrian composer, 1879-1944; for 35 years head of the Musikschule Aschaffenburg, Bavaria)
Variationen über ein deutsches Volkslied und Doppelfuge op. 11

Kundigraber Var. & Doppefuge op.11.pdf

Clearly influenced by Reger's Bach-Variationen, this works gives the impression that K. wanted to "overreger" the master. Some variations are excellent - in an easily accessible late-romantic style, while in others K.'s attempt to surpass Reger's range of virtuosity and deep religious expressiveness appears to be somewhat forced and cerebral. Some odd outbursts of modernity: for example Var. II 2nd stave or Var. XXIII Prestissimo.

[fleubis]

Wow, Alfor! The Kundigraber piece is something else. Indeed it lives with a very strong Reger imprint and the composer seems very intent on outdoing Reger in virtuosity as you indicate. Several of the variations have tempo markings which are...hmmmmm....shall we say ambitious? Also present are the rather ponderous thick textures also a Reger characteristic and not unexpectedly, a fugue. Some of the variations just seem to try to hard, like nr XIV. Sorry, Alfor, but I do not grasp the religious expressiveness you refer do, but this is probably my own shortcoming.

I actually like this piece better without the fugue and look forward to others weighing in on this very interesting piece.

[4candles]

I couldn't hope to attempt to play this, but it certainly looks very impressive on the page and, from my very limited understanding of German, some of the performance directions/tempi do seem quite ambitious.

Very interesting upload nonetheless. Thanks for posting Alfor!

[alfor]

To FRANK, the "Unashamed Romantic" (to quote Arnold Bax):

Hermann SCHOLTZ
Albumblätter 12 Clavierstücke op. 20

Scholtz Albumblätter op.20.pdf

(no TV, no cinema, no radio, no computers, no airplanes in the 19th century,
but pretty much "real" social contacts!!)

[alfor]

Appetiser (for copyright reasons I will delete this file on Saturday)

Henri SAUGUET
Trois francaises

1600+ alfor scans at http://www.mediafire.com/alfor

[bluthner]

Many thanks for the fascinating Kundigraber variations. The mood-swings from one variation to the next are quite remarkable. Does anyone know of any other Romantic piano fantasias or variations on this particular tune?

[fhimpsl]

Dear Alfred,

Vielen Herzlichen Dank for the Scholtz dedication; I am duly honored, and happy and proud to admit that I am indeed an unashamed, unabashed Romantic; so music like this tickles me to no end! The score is a wonderful addition to the Traumbilder and Variationen which you already posted for us. I can't wait to try these Albumblatter; they look very fine indeed.

On the Kundigraber, an extremely interesting score and very, very tough to play. The Reger influence is overpowering imho, and there does exist the possibility that Herr K. was trying to "out-Reger" the master. Some of the variations are a bit bizarre, (those hardest to play!) but the piece as a whole is
really solid and holds one's attention throughout. Another wonderful discovery! This one really took me by surprise.

Thanks and as always,

All Best,

Frank

[alfor]

...Does anyone know of any other Romantic piano fantasias or variations on this particular tune?

Interesting enough Kundigraber is using a version of this well-known German folksong, which was completely new to my. The version familiar to me is the following:

http://www.lieder-archiv.de/lieder/show ... ?ix=300454

[alfor]

Dear fleubis, 4candles, bluthner, Frank,

you are welcome! Thank you for comments and encouragement!

Best regards

alfor

[fleubis]

I just love the Sauget pieces, they are very enchanting, and very French.....too bad we have such a long wait for the bulk of his works to come out of copyright. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy this very nice set.