Pianophilia

Franz Xaver NERUDA
Praeludien und Fugen op. 78
No. 2. Preludio C dur Fuga c moll

This 2nd Neruda fugue is certainly a more traditional one and pretty easy to follow. I find it interesting that his unrelenting chromaticism seems to seldom extend beyond a 7th chord which help make the thick textures more tolerable...(at least to my romantically attuned ears) just compare this to Reger's fugues. I'm liking different parts of both of these pieces you've posted so far, Alfred.

Happy, blessed Ascension Day!

Franz Xaver NERUDA
Praeludien und Fugen op. 78
No. 3. Preludio f moll Fuga F dur

This 3rd Neruda Prelude & Fugue is the one I like best so far, the prelude is a great offset to the rollicking fugue. This is a well matched set. Thanks for this, Alfred. I'm really curious to see how he ends this set of 4.

Thank you for feedback, dear fleubis!

Franz Xaver NERUDA
Praeludien und Fugen op. 78
No. 4. Preludio H dur Fuga H moll

And finally we come to the 4th and final Op.78 fugue. I do find this the least appealing of the set of 4. This particular prelude is uncompromising in its chromaticism while not especially interesting, gives great insight into his harmonic world, so I find it more fun to analyze than to play. My choice of the 3rd prelude and fugue as the best of the set. Thanks posting the complete set, Alfred.

Franz Xaver NERUDA
Praeludien und Fugen op. 78
No. 5. Preludio D dur Fuga d moll

fleubis wrote:And finally we come to the 4th and final Op.78 fugue. I do find this the least appealing of the set of 4. This particular prelude is uncompromising in its chromaticism while not especially interesting, gives great insight into his harmonic world, so I find it more fun to analyze than to play. My choice of the 3rd prelude and fugue as the best of the set. Thanks posting the complete set, Alfred.

Alfor really fooled us!!! There are twelve of them! Thanks for the pieces.

Regards.

12 you say! Well, I am gratified to know that Neruda did not leave the form on the rather weak nr 4. I find No. 5 very inviting and I especially like the prelude which is offset by a nicely conceived fugue, the pair of which, IMHO, is a big improvement over Nr. 4....Thanks for continuing the series, Alfred.

Many thanks Alfor for the new scan of the beautiful Frank Bridge Poems. It's amazing to see how early (around the outbreak of the 1st World War) Bridge started exploring such refined, chromatic harmony, and in the context of three such beautiful mood pictures. It was good also to hear them on your uploaded MP3. I have a CD of them somewhere, but its good to hear Parkin's performance as well. Maybe this will be final push I need to get down and learn them at last!