Arensky piano trio in Dmin Op. 32

[al]

I've been listening to this recently, it's really quite good.  I'm starting at a Saturday school thing in September and I'm going to see if I can do this with my chamber group.  So, has anyone played it?  What's the difficulty like (for all the instruments)?

[arensky]

I've been listening to this recently, it's really quite good.  I'm starting at a Saturday school thing in September and I'm going to see if I can do this with my chamber group.  So, has anyone played it?  What's the difficulty like (for all the instruments)?

Played it? Hey man, I wrote it! Seriously this as a beautiful piece, comprable in difficulty to the Mendelsohn Trios. The difficulty is spread out pretty equally among the three parts, I guess the piano part is the hardest, but it's very idiomatic, and a nice change from the usual trio suspects, Beetnoven, Mendelsohn, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky. I think the three of you will really enjoy my trio...

My piano pieces and my Concerto are great too!

[stevie]

absolutely LOVE this piece, amazing music!

the theme of the 1st movement is so incredibly beautiful, one of the best melodies ever, IMO.

[al]

Thanks for your replies - it's good to see there are people listening to Arensky; most pianists I know have never heard of him   
Can someone tell me where I can find the sheet music to this piece online?  I'm pretty sure it's public domain by now.
Also, does anyone know of a publisher currently printing his 24 morceaux characteristiques?  I can't find it in any shops, including the big online ones.  I checked all the publishers' websites I know, and I can't find a mention of it.

[stevie]

i have really wondered what his etudes sound like, i aquired the sheets ages ago and they look very interesting!

[joell12068]

My piano pieces and my Concerto are great too!

I like your second piano trio, violin concerto, and Egyptian Nights ballet also !!!

[orlandopiano]

The only Arensky music I've played is the op.15 Suite for two pianos.  Not the best music, but it's a good prep. before tackling the two Rachmaninoff suites.

[arensky]

The only Arensky music I've played is the op.15 Suite for two pianos.  Not the best music, but it's a good prep. before tackling the two Rachmaninoff suites.

HHMMMPPPHHH!!!!!(loud yoda noise) Not the best he say??? We see how he write, this OrlandoPiano!  I think Orlando no write good; Orlando hide in cyberspace, he scared now....

orlando be careful..........heheheheheheheheh HAH!!!!

Prep for Rachmaninov? HAH!!! I prep the little Rachy for the world, teach him all he know...

getyougetyougetyougetyougetyouorlandoHAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(just kidding Orlando)

[arensky]

Go to ArkivMusic.com, Stephen Coombs has recorded an album including the Characteristic Pieces(for al) and the Etudes op.41(for Stevie) .

My first encounter with Arensky was the Trio in d minor, his most famous piece, there's another trio and I found a record of the Piano Concerto, which has a unique quasi-Medtner form and is very beautiful. A student of mine returned from visiting her parents in Russia with several volumes of music, including an album containing Arensky's Romance op.53#3, a lovely piece. She subsequently studied and performed this. As did I, in a group with two Medtner pieces, Fairy tale in F minor from op.26 and the Idylle from op.7. But yes, his music is hard to find; two of the Characteristic Pieces  op.36 are in Dover's Islamey and Other Favorite Russian Piano Works volume, and Kalmus publishes  3 Pieces op.something, didn't buy it for some reason. Let's start a trend! He's a good composer, and particularly a good piano composer! 

Thanks for your replies - it's good to see there are people listening to Arensky; most pianists I know have never heard of him   
Can someone tell me where I can find the sheet music to this piece online?  I'm pretty sure it's public domain by now.
Also, does anyone know of a publisher currently printing his 24 morceaux characteristiques?  I can't find it in any shops, including the big online ones.  I checked all the publishers' websites I know, and I can't find a mention of it.

i have really wondered what his etudes sound like, i aquired the sheets ages ago and they look very interesting!

                             You are both wiser than the Orlando HAH!!!!!!

[stevie]

culd you desribe the etudes? are they worth buying/playing?

i really like the piano concerto too, but i think the fantasia on russian themes is even better, a really awesome piece

[orlandopiano]

You are both wiser than the Orlando HAH!!!!!!

Never said Arensky's other music wasn't worthy, but I've only played the Suite, and it's nothing special.  I like his violin stuff.

[arensky]

Never said Arensky's other music wasn't worthy, but I've only played the Suite, and it's nothing special.  I like his violin stuff.

I'm joking!   You're right, the Rachmaninov Suites are better pieces than the Arensky.... if you like the violin stuff you might enjoy the piano pieces too.....

[arensky]

culd you desribe the etudes? are they worth buying/playing?

i really like the piano concerto too, but i think the fantasia on russian themes is even better, a really awesome piece

Don't know this fantasia, is it a concerto piece? Don't know the etudes either, but I think I'm going to buy the Coombs record; go to Arkivmusic.com, that's all I know about right now.....

[m]

Don't know this fantasia, is it a concerto piece?

In English it's called Fantasia on Russian Folksongs, although in Russian it is Fanatasia on Themes of Riabinin (or Ryabinin?). It is a piece for piano with orchestra and is quite short (about 10', IIRC).

Arensky was one of the most prodigiously gifted Russian composers, and a true master of miniature. Unfortunately, alcohol, women, and love for entertainment kept him way too busy from disciplined and consistent work, and probably resulted in his early death. 

His Suite no. 1 for two pianos is terrific. If you are able to find, check out the Waltz with Garold Bauer and Ossip Gabrilovitch. It is truly astounding performance in the best traditions of salon music making, full of grace, elegance and air, and with highest taste so often missing in the piece.

[arensky]

In English it's called Fantasia on Russian Folksongs, although in Russian it is Fanatasia on Themes of Riabinin (or Ryabinin?). It is a piece for piano with orchestra and is quite short (about 10', IIRC).

Arensky was one of the most prodigiously gifted Russian composers, and a true master of miniature. Unfortunately, alcohol, women, and love for entertainment kept him way too busy from disciplined and consistent work, and probably resulted in his early death. 

His Suite no. 1 for two pianos is terrific. If you are able to find, check out the Waltz with Garold Bauer and Ossip Gabrilovitch. It is truly astounding performance in the best traditions of salon music making, full of grace, elegance and air, and with highest taste so often missing in the piece.

Only ten minutes!!?? I need more pieces like that(Gershwin's I got Rythym Variations is another), they fit well into orchestral programs; any good recordings out there?

Yes, he was a party boy but evidently also very religious; poor guy, he must have been confused and torn up all the time; a shame, all his music I've heard is very good.

Yes the Bauer/Gabrilowitsch Waltz is a wonder; such beautiful tone and style, and they sound like one big piano. So nice..

[stevie]

the fantasia is on the coombs concerto cd along with arensky's concerto, and perhaps my favourite piano concerto of all - the bortkiewicz no1.

the fantasia is actually a very emotional work, maybe not the most complex piece, but it has a really grand climax with huge arpeggios in the piano and the main minor key theme played FF in the orchestra, i love that sound.