Bortkiewicz, Prelude, Op. 33, No. 5 in A

[rachfan]

This prelude of Sergei Bortkiewicz is another drawn from the Ten Preludes, Op. 33 published in 1926.  Like No. 3 that I most recently posted, No. 5 is also a one-page trifle, but pleasant to hear.  I think its sound is quite Mendelssohnian, much like a Song without Words. 

Piano: Baldwin Model L Artist Grand (6'3")

Recording: Digital

Comments welcome.

[goldentone]

This is quite hymn-like, Rachfan.  It has quite a different character than the others.  I'm not sure I'd recognize it as a Bortkiewicz. 

Your piano sounds good.  Thanks for posting.

[rachfan]

Hi goldentone,

That's exactly what I thought too!  In the Mendelssohn Songs without Words, there are a few hymn-like numbers.  I'm sure that if I had done a "guess the composer" question on this, some would have definitely guessed Mendelssohn.  What is so unusual about this is that Mendelssohn is not credited as being an influence on Bortkiewicz.  Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Tchaikovsky and Wagner are instead generally the composers mentioned in that regard.  So I think this piece is a real novelty.