Pianophilia

Now we're really in consonance land with the TARDOS suite with really nice well written intermediate material. I especially like the 3rd Andante movement with the interesting cross rhythms. Really strong early Bartok infleunce used to good advantage by the composer. Thanks for posting this one, Alfred.

To end the Hungarian Week:

KADOSA, Pál
III. Zongoraszvit op. 1 No. 3Extremely condensed style.

SZÉKELY, Endre
Sonata No. 3Modernistic "Pluck & Play".

The Szekely Sonata is just too much for me to play though but the snippets I did touch gave me some feeling for the piece. (The only prepared piano pieces I've ever played are the Makrocosmos by George Crumb, although many years ago I did enjoy some early John Cage). Anyway, thanks for the look into these rather obscure fairly modern Hungarian composers. There are definitely a few pieces worthy of resurrection. Thanks for finding and posting them, Alfred.

Dear fleubis,
thank you for all your recent feedback. Much appreciated!

To Frank (a.k.a. "Dr. piano roll") - now this is not for "Phantom Hands" but for your well-built piano paws from flesh and blood :

Philipp SCHARWENKA
Romantische Episoden op. 65 Heft I The temperamental first piece influenced by Chopin and Tchaikovsky. The shorter second piece a true
"Consolation" with a more agitated middle section. Of medium difficulty. Fall well under the hands.

Alternative scan (?)

Emile Robert BLANCHET
Sérénade op. 15 No. 2 P.S. The fact that Frederic Delius edited Bartok's Roumanian Dances leaves me somewhat puzzled.

Dear Alfred,

The Philipp Scharwenka Op. 65 Romantische Episoden is exactly my cup of tea; in fact it's the kind of score that I live for (you know I'm a hopeless and incurable romantic! .) I have never seen or had any prior knowledge of this opus. The pieces are absolutely gorgeous, imho. I think it's a shame that Philipp Scharwenka's works are so little known compared with those of Xaver S. The quality of the piano writing is top-notch, and the moderate difficulty level is perfect for me to get my hands around these days! (Btw, I sincerely thank you and dear fleubis, plus all the other members who expressed their concern about the neurological problem I've experienced with my hands. The situation is improving and I'm doggedly practicing as much as time allows so as to get back into the Romantic repertoire! )

This Scharwenka opus is just as satisfying to play as it is beautiful to hear...the wonderful attribute of the best written Romantic material, i.e. maximum musical effect with minimized pianistic effort! Thank you so much for posting this Romantic gem, as well as all the other wonderful discoveries you've shared with us, from Classical period to Modern. These postings all reflect your impeccable taste in piano music of all varieties!

With thanks and all best wishes,

Dein,

Frank

Dear Alfor, We have lovely, lush, well written Scharwenka by the relatively unkown Phillip who deserves to be much better known. The quality is very high and I had great fun playing through this lovely volume. We can hold out hope that Vol.2 of Romantic Episodes is out there somewhere.

A real joy for me is the Blanchet piece since we've not had any newly discovered pieces for some time. This is the one piece missing in my files from the Op.15 set and now I can get this whole set bound. At only two pages, there is a lot of music to bite into. I always thought his music to be rather 'densely packed' in terms of quality and just plain invention.

Dear Frank...I am very glad to hear that you are overcoming your neurological problems and that you are able to enjoy terrific music like this.

Two great postings to start the new week, Alfor.

Dear Frank, dear fleubis,

you are most welcome!! Keep alert: more unknown romantics and other material for this week!

best regards

alfor

P.S. It should read "Phantom Fingers".

alfor wrote:Emile Robert BLANCHET
Sérénade op. 15 No. 2

Blanchet Serenade op.15,2.pdf

Thanks very much for the Blanchet Alfor!

More for Frank (be assured that the postive vibrations of more than one person are going to Colorado ):

Salomon JADASSOHN
Vier Phantasiestücke op. 31 I really was surprised that "Mr. Canon" wrote such truly romantic, non-academic, non-contrapuntal (!) music!
(From a strangely stained but nevertheless well readible copy).

Thanks a lot for the alternative scan of Jadassohn, Alfor. It's a great set of pieces indeed. Still, I am even more grateful for Blanchet. Thanks for filling the gap in that opus. Keep 'em coming!