Pianophilia

Here is something different for piano duets...a pair of novelty piano solos by German writer Herbert Kuster. Enjoy!

All Best,

Frank

...and another piano duet, by German novelty writer Rio Gebhardt.

Frank

Thanks, Frank. You've really hit a sweet spot of mine with these novelty pieces. I so regret that we never had pieces like the Gebhard or Kuster to play in piano ensemble class. After the zillionth rendition of Mozart's sonata for 2 pianos, pieces like this would be a breath of fresh air. (That said, there is still something to be said for playing "masterpieces only"--which is what we really did.)

I want to call special attention Gebhard's pedal indication at the beginning of the piece: "Use the pedals sparingly except where specially indicated". Now these are real words to live by when we have classically trained pianists trying to play fully-notated jazz. Almost always you hear way, way too much pedal and it just sounds terrible, at least to those of us who know jazz.

For all two piano/four hand enthusiasts, here is a very ambitious work by Muriel Pollock, who started out as a ragtime pianist making piano rolls back in the 'teens, and years later became quite popular on radio and Columbia 78rpms playing dazzling 4-hands performances with her partner Constance Mering (another brilliant pianist). Enjoy!

Frank

Does anyone know where I might obtain a scan of the two-piano version of the Liszt Fantasie über Motive aus Beethovens Ruinen von Athen? I admit I have not spent much time trying to find it.
I need to play it, but do not have a copy. If there is no scan already made I guess I will try for an inter-library loan.

nms tttos

Grazie mille!

Something Russian and for two pianos.......but alas I can not find out any biographical information on the composer [completed stumped on this one].

A Mikhailov - Fantasia for Two Pianos Malcolm

Maybe Alexander Mikhailow 1887 - 1942

I am told that someone published accompaniments for a second piano to some of the Cramer etudes. It sounds goofy to me, but I have a friend who is very curious to find them. Anyone know what these are?