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Author Topic: Concertos in arrangement for piano + string quartet?  (Read 182 times)
fnork
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« on: June 25, 2007, 11:50:53 PM »

What piano concertos that are actually for a complete orchestra have been arranged for string quartet and piano?
A few off the top of my head:

Chopin - both concertos
Beethoven - first and 2nd concerto
Mozart - no 11,12 and 13, which can be played with string orchestra, would obviously also work well in string quartet arrangement
Bach concertos (except the ones which include flute, I guess)

Can you name any more concertos?
The reason why I'm asking is simple - when playing a concerto, it can be good to get a performance opportunity like this before playing the piece in a major concert with a complete orchestra. And of course, it's much easier to get several performance opportunities with a small ensemble, and even if the feeling is not the same as with having an orchestra behind you, I'm sure it's still a lot of fun  Has anyone played concertos this way?

Right now, I'm considering learning Mozarts 13th concerto for instance, which some string friends of mine just played in string orchestra version, so if I would learn the piece it would be no problem to create a string quartet and get some gigs. And I'm currently struggling with Rach 2, however, I don't think that's a piece you should play with string quartet - besides, I don't know if I'll ever be able to play it...
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mcgillcomposer
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« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2007, 12:26:08 AM »

Hey fnork,

Aside form the obvious (Bach concerti), I have played Haydn's D major concerto in this arrangement as well as Mendelssohn's g minor. It is certainly much easier to find performance opportunities with a version written for a relatively small ensemble. I have to admit, the Mendelssohn sounded a little weird, but it was a good experience nonetheless.
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fnork
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« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2007, 12:37:18 AM »

right, forgot to mention the bach concerti.

The thing is that sometimes I hear student concerts where they play concertos (prior to competitions, for instance) and the orchestral part is played by a 2nd piano. If it would've been a cello or violin concerto, it would work, but to listen to a complete concerto with 2 pianos gets somewhat boring... So if possible, I would opt for string quartet arrangements.
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mcgillcomposer
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« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2007, 12:45:44 AM »

I agree with you completely. I used to hate attending the piano concerto competitions at McGill for this very reason. It's funny, often the one playing the orchestral reduction was a better pianist than the soloist, not to mention that sometimes the reduction is just as difficult as the solo part!

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Asked if he had ever conducted any Stockhausen,Sir Thomas Beecham replied, "No, but I once trod in some."
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