godowsky transcription of weber sonata

[theprincess]

Hey, I was curious if anyone here has played or knows anything about the Godowsky transcription of the Rondo of the Carl Weber sonata op. 24, called perpetuum mobile. I am interested to know the level of difficulty and if there are any recordings available.

[thalbergmad]

Interesting that you should mention this rarity as i am torturing myself at the moment trying to play it.

The original is hard enough played to speed, then Brahms came along and turned it upside down making it more difficult, then finally Godowsky got hold of it and weaved his strange magic.

Difficulty level grade 352.

I don't know if it has been recorded. If you can wait 15 years, you are welcome to my efforts.

[theprincess]

Hey, thanks! I don't know what that grade of difficulty means, though, is there another way you could describe it?

[theprincess]

does anyone know what that grade level means? Like, what pieces are of a similar level? Or what are the highest and lowest levels that that grade fits into? I am trying to decide if I can learn it well enough if two months to perform it at a competition.

[theprincess]

so apparently this is a very rare piece. If anyone has any input at all I would greatly appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thalbergmad]

As with a lot of Godowsky's works, this is of extreme difficulty.

I have been working on it for 4 weeks now and expect to still be working on it for at least that again.

Without knowing your lever or what you have played before, i would not like to say if you could learn it in 2 months.

For easier Godowsky transcriptions, look at the Saint Saens-The Swan and his lovely version of Albeniz Tango.

Good luck