Alfor's Rarities

[isokani]

Dear Alfor, I just performed the Alexandrov Sonata-Skazka Op.4 last night in a public concert. The score was posted (unearthed) by you in the old PP. I think this would be a Hong Kong premiere. Once I got the video, I would post it here and dedicate the performance to you, as a gratitude for your generosity for continuously posting so many rare and wonderful scores. Mega thanks to you, once again!

Best regards,
Koon

Great!! Eagerly waiting to watch the video!

As I cannot be sure when the video of my concert can be ready, I can only half-realize my promise at the meantime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFlqp3ROqE

Here's a private recording of my rehearsal just the night before the concert. It is not flawless from every perspective (playing, recording, piano, interpretation, etc). However, I still hope to pay homage to PP with my video: this is actually a collective effort - we all post here, we play the music from here, and we all learn a lot here.

Best,
Koon

Congratulations! Lots of great things in the way you play the piece. And a help for me since I'm about to learn it. Will play it here in London and in Germany later in the year.

[phikfy]

Congratulations! Lots of great things in the way you play the piece. And a help for me since I'm about to learn it. Will play it here in London and in Germany later in the year.

I would not dream that I can have the honor of such encouraging comments from such a prestigeous pianist like you, Mr. Powell. Thank you very much!
I look forward to your performance of this sonata which will bring true soul and essence to this wonderful piece, with all the nuances rendered and technical demand fulfilled. I wish you every success with your concerts.

Best regards,
Koon

[alfor]

Posted as an example of the piano music by the German-Italian Mr. Newcastle:
Mario CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO
"Alt Wien" Rapsodia viennese (the "viennese" more in heart and head of the composer than in the music; but C. must have been a good buddy of Arthur Benjamin!)

Castelnuovo Alt Wien.pdf

Aimez-vous Mahler? Alors, ici we have le plus rare Mahler arrangement**:
Gustav MAHLER
Nachtmusik aus der 7. Sinfonie (arr. piano solo by F.H. Schneider)

Mahler Nachtmusik S.7 cover.pdf

Mahler Nachtmusik S.7.pdf

**apart from my own arr. of the first mvt. of Symphony No. 6

[alfor]

How many pianophilians have found the time to read or play these last two scores??
Is it worth my time scanning scores, which apparently meet no actual need?
I could stop posting "obscure" scores and instead only post requested scores (so long as I have them or can get hold of them)?!

[Ferruccio]

How many pianophilians have found the time to read or play these last two scores??
Is it worth my time scanning scores, which apparently meet no actual need?
I could stop posting "obscure" scores and instead only post requested scores (so long as I have them or can get hold of them)?!

Dear Alfor,

I think it would be extremely immodest of anyone here to ask you to "waste" your lifetime for things like scanning. Of course, there are many better things to do in life than sitting beneath a scanner.

But on the other hand - I speak at least for my own - I got so many new ideas and even names of composers by your scan work, that I honestly would like to ask you to continue as previously.

Thanks for all the pieces !!

[fhimpsl]

Hi Alfor,

I for one look very much forward to your daily postings, and most of the fun is in seeing what new piano music you have uncovered. The more obscure the better...that's how we learn and broaden our understanding as well as repertoires!! I assure you that every day I take much pleasure in reading through (and almost always printing out a copy) of the scores which you post. I can't claim to have played them all...it is just a matter of not having enough time to do so. On your most recent two postings I found the Stephan Krehl piece to be fascinating and very worthwhile. Another composer totally unknown to me prior to your posting! Not being as much a fan of waltz transcriptions (hey, they can't be for everybody ) these are not as much for me as they are for many of the other PP members. But I printed the score out anyway, recognizing its importance and of course rarity.

In my humble opinion...your immense contributions in scanning and sharing with us all this wonderful music earns you what I would call an "artistic license." My vote would be for you to continue to post what you personally find most interesting and worthwhile to share with us. You've done an incredible job thus far, so I wouldn't change a thing.

All Best,

Frank (a.k.a. Dr. H)

[alfor]

Dear Alfor,

I think it would be extremely immodest of anyone here to ask you to "waste" your lifetime for things like scanning. Of course, there are many better things to do in life than sitting beneath a scanner.

But on the other hand - I speak at least for my own - I got so many new ideas and even names of composers by your scan work, that I honestly would like to ask you to continue as previously.

Thanks for all the pieces !!

Dear Ferruccio,

thank you for your encouragement! - It was not "fishing for compliments"! I in fact would appreciate more comments on the music (as for example by fleubis and a certain "Ferruccio" ); whilst I do not need any thanks merely for my scanning job!

So I probably will go on posting as long as I have "emptied" all libraries within my reach...

Music shall be enjoyed and so I hope many of you will find the time to at least test my scores!

Best regards

alfor

[alfor]

Hi Alfor,

I for one look very much forward to your daily postings, and most of the fun is in seeing what new piano music you have uncovered. The more obscure the better...that's how we learn and broaden our understanding as well as repertoires!! I assure you that every day I take much pleasure in reading through (and almost always printing out a copy) of the scores which you post. I can't claim to have played them all...it is just a matter of not having enough time to do so. On your most recent two postings I found the Stephan Krehl piece to be fascinating and very worthwhile. Another composer totally unknown to me prior to your posting! Not being as much a fan of waltz transcriptions (hey, they can't be for everybody ) these are not as much for me as they are for many of the other PP members. But I printed the score out anyway, recognizing its importance and of course rarity.

In my humble opinion...your immense contributions in scanning and sharing with us all this wonderful music earns you what I would call an "artistic license." My vote would be for you to continue to post what you personally find most interesting and worthwhile to share with us. You've done an incredible job thus far, so I wouldn't change a thing.

All Best,

Frank (a.k.a. Dr. H)

Dear Frank (Dr. H.),

thank you!! See my answer to Ferruccios post!

All Best,

alfor

[Ferruccio]

Dear Alfor,

I think it would be extremely immodest of anyone here to ask you to "waste" your lifetime for things like scanning. Of course, there are many better things to do in life than sitting beneath a scanner.

But on the other hand - I speak at least for my own - I got so many new ideas and even names of composers by your scan work, that I honestly would like to ask you to continue as previously.

Thanks for all the pieces !!

Dear Ferruccio,

thank you for your encouragement! - It was not "fishing for compliments"! I in fact would appreciate more comments on the music (as for example by fleubis and a certain "Ferruccio" ); whilst I do not need any thanks merely for my scanning job!

So I probably will go on posting as long as I have "emptied" all libraries within my reach...

Music shall be enjoyed and so I hope many of you will find the time to at least test my scores!

Best regards

alfor

Dear Alfor,

you understood, what I wanted to say. Thank you.
And I indeed see your point. Of course, you are doing your scanning job before all for the music and our discussion about it. This is what all of us (I think) thank you very much.

Sometimes though, there is not enough time in the evenings after a musician's day work, to have a really deeper look into scores to have to say "important" things about the music in them. No-one wants to discuss seriously without good thoughts.

So please don't think, no-one is interested in the music your are giving us !

[fleubis]

Alfor, I greatly look forward to your daily postings. I play almost everything you post, the only exceptions being some children's pieces and some of the very avant-guard atonal music. My interest lies primarily in pure piano music rather than transcriptions, however you have found many outstanding transcriptions that have really gotten my interest, much to my surprise.

Your postings are not going into a bottomless well, as it were, since as you have found out recently, professional pianists are putting your discoveries on the concert stage and many amateur pianists continue to seek out new material beyond the standard repertoire. I don't think I'm alone in wanting to hear some of these resurrected scores in concert instead of Chopin's heroic polonaise for the 1000th time. Life is short, and there are pianos out there with music desks waiting for new material.

My hope is that teachers out there are finding these scores you have unearthed and teaching them to students. I am doing so.