Four pianos

[richard black]

Does anyone know any music for 4 pianos played by any (feasible!) number of pianists? And is any of it actually worth playing?

[thalbergmad]

There are some nice pieces for 2 pianos & 8 hands, but i know of none for 4 pianos.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Gottschalk wrote one, but at the moment my mind is a blank.

Thal

[retrouvailles]

There is Simeon Ten Holt's Canto Ostinato for 4 pianos 8 hands, among other pieces he wrote (some are for more pianos and more hands). That came to mind first. There are also some pieces for 8 pianos, mainly arrangements of more famous pieces, by Samuel Adler and Richard Blackford.

[gerryjay]

 it's not specific for this instrumentation, but i'm wondering now is how would sound a version of In C by riley with 8 hands?

[retrouvailles]

it's not specific for this instrumentation, but i'm wondering now is how would sound a version of In C by riley with 8 hands?

I actually have a recording of that for 6 pianos, 12 hands, along with Reich's "6 Pianos". If only Riley's piece were more interesting in the first place.

[kitty on the keys]

Retrouvailles----Tell me more about that CD, or others for muliple pianos. I was playing in a group---2 pianos 8  hands. We also did some 1 piano 6 hands pieces--until 2 people had to move. Thanks.

Kitty on the Keys

[general disarray]

Does anyone know any music for 4 pianos played by any (feasible!) number of pianists? And is any of it actually worth playing?

Well, if you would consider transcriptions, you should check out the DVD "The Verbier Festival & Academy 10th Anniversary Piano Extravaganza" on RCA RedSeal with, among others, Leif Ove Andsnes (not naked, for a change), Argerich, Ax, Frank, Kissin, Lang Lang (who wishes he were naked), Jimmy Levine, Pletnev, Scheja and Angelich. 

They play:

 Bach's A minor Concerto for 4 pianos BMV 1065.
Rossini's "Semiramide Overture" (arr. by Czerny) for 8 pianos/16 hands.
"Ride of the Valkyries" (arr. by Richard Blackford) 8 pianos
Arthur Benjamin's "Jamaican Rumba" (arr. by Patrick Russ)) for 8 pianos
"Stars and Stripes Forever Suite", Morton Gold (arr. by Michael Rot) for 8 pianos
Gotschalk's "L'Union: paraphase de concert sur les airs nationaux" (arr. Patrick Russ) for 8 pianos.
Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" for 8 pianos (arr. by First Piano Quartet).

This DVD is a riot.  Worth buying.  Lang Lang almost levitates and astral projects.

[kitty on the keys]

Thanks!!! ---General Disarray----I will look into it.


Kitty on the Keys

[point of grace]

Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" for 8 pianos (arr. by First Piano Quartet).

a good one!

[kitty on the keys]

General Dissary-----i tried locating that DVD of the multiple piano concert----if you have the identification numbers of the RCA-red Seal--that would help me alot. Thanks again!


Kitty on the keys

[retrouvailles]

I think you can see most of it on YouTube. Or you might be able to download it off a torrent or something.

[richard black]

Thanks, folks. So there's not really a lot of stuff - may have to do some arranging! If anything comes of it I'll post results here....

[gerryjay]

I actually have a recording of that for 6 pianos, 12 hands, along with Reich's "6 Pianos".

hey retrouvailles!
thanks for your post. you're talking about piano circus cd, weren't you? i just did buy it and it's very cool. i love both works, and the guys rocks! thanks a lot again!

[retrouvailles]

Yes, that was the CD I was talking about. Great stuff.

[kitty on the keys]

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh----found the information on the Verbier Festival dvd.


Kitty on the keys

[kitty on the keys]

Hi retrouvailles----could you give me information on that CD of the emsembles. Thanks

Kitty on the keys