Sorabji's ”Concerto da suonare da me solo“

[ryguillian]

Does Jonathan Powell plan to record Sorabji’s “Concerto da suonare da me solo“? It was broadcast on radio France a month or so back and it's the most entertaining of the Sorabji works I've heard. While “Opus Clavicembalisticum” has interesting parts, I find the Concerto to be more interesting throughout and in general more—dare I say—furious. Parts of it are so violent that I feel like destroying something when I listen to it.

—Ryan

P.S. What exactly is a “concerto” for solo piano? I've noticed Alkan also uses these terms: “concerto” and “symphony” for solo piano. Perhaps I should compose an opera or string quartet for solo piano.

[mephisto]

P.S. What exactly is a “concerto” for solo piano? I've noticed Alkan also uses these terms: “concerto” and “symphony” for solo piano. Perhaps I should compose an opera or string quartet for solo piano.

A concerto for solo piano is constructed like a concerto for piano and orchestra. First there is a tutti section as in a normal concerto( if you look at the score Alkan`s concerto for solo piano you will see markings like tutti and solo). You are supposed to play the tuti section like an orchetra and the solo section like the solo part in a piano-concerto. Do you understand?

A symphony for solo piano is different. Do you know of Liszt`s transcriptions of Beethoven`s symphonies?
Let us pretend that Alkan wrote a symphony(a real one for orchestra). And later transcribed it for solo piano than you would have his symphony for solo piano. It is structured like a symphony and it isn`t extremely pianistic like Chopin but it is very orchestral in form and the way it sounds.
I know it was a very bad explenation, but it was the best I could give you.

[mephisto]

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[ryguillian]

Not a bad explanation at all; I had imagined it was something along those lines. Thanks.

—Ryan

[I Love Xenakis]

Yes!!  Along with the Sonata No. 1, the Sorabji Solo Concerto is my favorite, but then again there are a lot of works out there that I haven't gotten to hear since they haven't been recorded.


When is someone gonna record the Opus Archmagicum?  ><



Also I haven't gotten to hear the Sonata No. 2 yet =(

[minor9th]

I'd love to hear his Variations on Dies Irae. Or, for a total dream come true, his complete works!

[ahinton]

Yes!!  Along with the Sonata No. 1, the Sorabji Solo Concerto is my favorite, but then again there are a lot of works out there that I haven't gotten to hear since they haven't been recorded.

Yes, it is indeed a splendid work - and Jonathan Powell has already recorded it; it is due for release soon. Even the composer himself thought it to be sufficient ly representative of him that he is said to have declared "if I wanted to introduce anyone to my work, I'd play that". I have attended both of Mr Powell's public performances of this work as well as being in attendence at the recording sessions and can confirm that this forthcoming CD is well worth the wait. You are quite right to point out that many of Sorabji's works have yet to be recorded, but then many of them need first to be edited and presented in good typeset form so that they can be learnt more easily; fortunately, however, this process is well under way - the most recent addition to the burgeoning catalogue of editions being Alexander Abercrombie's 459-page edition of the Second Piano Quintet.

When is someone gonna record the Opus Archmagicum?  ><

Sorabji's fifth and last piano sonata (for those who do not already know); again - see above. The inevitable answer - however unsatisfactory it may be in itself - is "not until the work has been fully edited and someone then begins to learn it from that edition".  Such an edition is indeed in progress, however, although I regret that I cannot yet tell you when it will be ready, let alone when a performance / recording will be in the offing.

Also I haven't gotten to hear the Sonata No. 2 yet

The live performance in December 1998 by Tellef Johnson in New York's Merkin Hall (which I also attended) has been available for some time on the Altarus label (AIR-CD-9049).

Best,

Alistair