Fantasia Contrappuntistica

[ian_j]

I'm in the market for a recording of Busoni's Fantasia Contrappuntistica but I am looking for recommendations - I know Ogdon has recorded it and at least two performances are available on Altarus. Which is best? Is the Naxos disc with Wolf Harden any good? Christopher O'Riley on Centaur?

I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

[ralessi]

I have only heard this one, and a short bit of the Ogdon recording...  IMO, this is a fantastic recording, Christoper O'reily has produced many things.  but, you can NEVER go wrong with Ogdon, he is the Alpha and the Omega.  Hope you enjoy!

https://www.megaupload.com/?d=3UWJTFX6

Cheers!
Ricky

[ian_j]

Thanks for that Ricky - I haven't listened to it yet but I will tonight - thanks.

[ryguillian]

I believe Ogdon recorded Fantasia contrappuntistica more than once; I’ve only heard one of his recordings and I found it to be rather inaccurate, etc., similarly muddy to his recording of Opus clavicembalisticum, a piece written in a not entirely dissimilar style.

Anyways, there’s a recording of this piece for two pianos on Naxos that is much better than the Ogdon recording I’ve heard. Busoni himself admitted that the Fantasia contrappuntistica was a “disproportionate task for ten fingers”.

Ryan.

[prometheus]

OC is to  Fantasia Contrappuntistica as  FC is to Die Kunst der Fuga (or Der Kunst die Fuge )

I have Demidenko. I really like how he plays some of the organ transcriptions. But I can't comment on his FC since I didn't hear anyone elses.

[ahinton]

I believe Ogdon recorded Fantasia contrappuntistica more than once;

He did indeed - and both recordings are now available on Altarus (AIR-CD-9070[2] and AIR-CD-9074).

Busoni himself admitted that the Fantasia contrappuntistica was a “disproportionate task for ten fingers”.

Ryan.

For once is his sadly all too short life, Busoni was wrong. I really do believe that the "edizione definitivá" of the Fantasia Contrappuntistica - especially as adapted in just a couple of brief instances by John Ogdon from the two-piano version - is that meisterstück in the nearest possible to an idealised version.

On another subject - albeit a closely related one - can we have our Sorabji forum back now (or at least as soon as possible), please?...

Best,

Alistair

[pies]

I've heard many recordings of Fantasia Contrappuntistica; my favorites are by Harden and Madge. I have yet to listen to either of Ogdon's recordings. I'd appreciate it if someone uploaded one or both 

[iumonito]

OC is to  Fantasia Contrappuntistica as  FC is to Die Kunst der Fuge

Either I am missing a pun in German or your logic is suspect.  OC and FC are mapped out with the same structure (OC following FC, but with significantly magnified content).  FC and OC do not at all correspond structurally (even if you could make a conceptual connection) with KdF, right?

On the other hand, KdF is an unfinished work, so maybe you have additional information about a source Busoni may have followed by which he intended or believe to be following Bach's design?  I'll have to get my KdF out tonight to the lab for testing.   

[prometheus]

Oh, I am sorry. I don't mean it in a music technical way. But in an inspirational way. Busoni looked at the KdF and wrote FC. Sorabji looked at the FC and wrote the OC.

Of course they are still very similar in music.