The Unknown Composer

[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

[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

[Timtin]

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

[Jean-Séb]

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.

[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

[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...

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

Malcolm

[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.
Jean-Séb

[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.

[mballan]

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

[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

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

Best,
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

Parag

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

Malcolm