New Powell Sorabji

[minor9th]

Has anyone heard Jonathan Powell's new Altarus CD of Sorabji's "Concerto per suonare da me solo, e senza orchestra, per divertirsi"? I'm eagerly awaiting my copy! Here's a description:

https://www.recordsinternational.com/cd.php?cd=02I062

[jre58591]

i only have a live recording of it, but man, what a piece! its definitely a good one for sorabji-haters or noobs, i would say. it may be a bit long, but its definitely more approachable than many of his other pieces, i would say. i cant wait to get that CD! i really hope he recs the OC soon, too.

[ahinton]

Yes - I have - because I was there while it was being recorded. To those that have not yet heard any of Mr Powell's recordings of Sorabji, I commend it unreservedly. To those that have heard some or all of them, I can only state that we are about to find ourselves in "jewel in the crown" territory. Please be a little patient, for it will, I promise, be more than well worth any wait!

I'm certain that he will record OC before too long, although I share the view of quite a few people in wishing that he'd done it already!

Best,

Alistair

[anodibu]

This cd doesn't seem very available yet. In fact besides the link mentioned in the first post, I couldn't find another site where they sell it.

I'm eagerly awaiting my copy!

Did they ship your copy yet or is it more like a preorder?

[minor9th]

This cd doesn't seem very available yet. In fact besides the link mentioned in the first post, I couldn't find another site where they sell it.

Did they ship your copy yet or is it more like a preorder?

Records International shipped it Friday. I should have it Monday or Tuesday.

[minor9th]

It arrived today--wow! It may take a few more listening sessions for the musical worth to set in (some of the melodic material does not seem especially memorable), but Powell's playing is beyond criticism. He negotiates what must be viciously difficult passages with apparent ease and astonishing clarity. There's much ravishing poetic playing in the quieter sections, too.

[ahinton]

It arrived today--wow! It may take a few more listening sessions for the musical worth to set in (some of the melodic material does not seem especially memorable), but Powell's playing is beyond criticism. He negotiates what must be viciously difficult passages with apparent ease and astonishing clarity. There's much ravishing poetic playing in the quieter sections, too.

I just got mine, too - I can only endorse 110% "minor9th"'s remarks about Powell's playing, which strikes me on this disc as being on a leel even beyond what he has so far achieved on all his other Sorabji CDs. A must for all pianists, surely?

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

I have heard Powell's live broadcast recording of this; and yes this piece is truly remarkable.

[indutrial]

I'm certain that he will record OC before too long, although I share the view of quite a few people in wishing that he'd done it already!

Best,

Alistair

Hey Alistair,

I'm going to guess that you've attended a Powell recital of the OC. If I'm not wrong in this statement, would you say that any of his performances were recording-worthy? I'm certain when he does record it for Altarus (my guess) that it will be fantastic. How good has it been so far?

J

[ahinton]

Hey Alistair,

I'm going to guess that you've attended a Powell recital of the OC. If I'm not wrong in this statement, would you say that any of his performances were recording-worthy? I'm certain when he does record it for Altarus (my guess) that it will be fantastic. How good has it been so far?

J

Then you're "going to guess" correctly; of his five performances of OC, I have attended three (Bath, London and New York), all of which were uttrly splendid and, frankly, not at all far off being "recording-worthy". He wants to perform it a couple more times before recording it, though.

Best,

Alistair

[iumonito]

Alistair,

Does Jonathan play the Opus Archimagicum?

[Etude]

If you've ever seen a manuscript of a multi-hour Sorabji work, you'll know why this wouldn't be possible at all without a typesetting.

[dnephi]

Is the Sonata #2 playable? I took a look and it seemed very hard but doable.

[ahinton]

Alistair,

Does Jonathan play the Opus Archimagicum?

As you may be able to deduce from "Etude"'s answer below and without any help from me, the answer (sadly) has to be no - or at least not yet or in the foreseeable future.

Best,

Alistair

[indutrial]

Is the Sonata #2 playable? I took a look and it seemed very hard but doable.

Tellef Johnson recorded this piece for Altarus and it sounds great.

[indutrial]

As you may be able to deduce from "Etude"'s answer below and without any help from me, the answer (sadly) has to be no - or at least not yet or in the foreseeable future.

Best,

Alistair

I recall reading on your fabulous archive page that Piano Symphony No. 4 was performed a number of times by someone other than Sorabji (the pianist's name totally escapes me), yet it had not been typeset. How did he/she manage to perform a piece of that length without something more readable than Sorabji's average set of sheets? I've seen a few of his different manuscript pages and one would have to possess magic eyes to discern a good portion of it.

J

[ahinton]

I recall reading on your fabulous archive page that Piano Symphony No. 4 was performed a number of times by someone other than Sorabji (the pianist's name totally escapes me), yet it had not been typeset. How did he/she manage to perform a piece of that length without something more readable than Sorabji's average set of sheets? I've seen a few of his different manuscript pages and one would have to possess magic eyes to discern a good portion of it.

J

That's a very good question! The pianist's name is Reinier van Houdt and he has indeed played that symphony several times. I attended the première, which he gave in Utrecht almost 4 years ago (Sorabji had also played the work but never actually performed it in public). Mr van Houdt had gone over almost every note of the enlarged photocopy of the ms. that we supplied to him, in ink and made other amendments and correction by hand in order to create a workable document for him to prepare his performance (we don't have a copy of this and the piece is now in the process of being typeset in any case).

Best,

Alistair

[indutrial]

Alistair,

Does Jonathan play the Opus Archimagicum?

Alistair,

I'm certain you're possibly one of the only people from this forum or the world who has looked over this large manuscript. Does this work transcend the artistry and involvement of the Opus Clavicembalisticum? If you could compare it to any other works of Sorabji's that have been recorded, with what does it share the most qualities. How is this titanic piece structured? What did Sorabji think of the work after he finished it and moved on to other pieces? When it is typeset (perhaps 10 years from now), I will definitely be curious to purchase a copy. I know I'm posing some broad questions, but I've never read anything constructive about this piece. Several people on this board have touted it as one of the hardest pieces ever, but I've never read a shred of elaboration.

[ahinton]

Does this work transcend the artistry and involvement of the Opus Clavicembalisticum?

One could aruge that it does: I would be more inclined to say that it represents the directions in which Sorabji continued to move from OC through the much shorter Toccata II and on to Sonata V.

If you could compare it to any other works of Sorabji's that have been recorded, with what does it share the most qualities.

I wouldn't, really. It could be said to embrace, among other things, a more developed perspective on the characteristics of Toccata I, Sonata IV and OC but there is inevigtably more to it than just that.

How is this titanic piece structured?

The layout is described in the book Sorabji: A Critical Celebration (ed. Paul Rapoport) without which neither you nor anyone else with as much evident interest in Sorabji should really be without!

What did Sorabji think of the work after he finished it and moved on to other pieces?

He very rarely spoke or wrote about his own works.

When it is typeset (perhaps 10 years from now), I will definitely be curious to purchase a copy.

I sincerely trust that it won;t take that long!

I know I'm posing some broad questions, but I've never read anything constructive about this piece. Several people on this board have touted it as one of the hardest pieces ever, but I've never read a shred of elaboration.

This entire "hardest piece" business is - to me, at any rate, largely tiresome and usually far less constructively informative than some might assume it to be, for a whole raft of reasons of which I have written previously; in the case of this sonata, it would seem especially inappropriate and unhelpful for anyone who has not actually spent a very considerable time practising it even to speculate about such matters...

Best,

Alistair

[indutrial]

This entire "hardest piece" business is - to me, at any rate, largely tiresome and usually far less constructively informative than some might assume it to be, for a whole raft of reasons of which I have written previously; in the case of this sonata, it would seem especially inappropriate and unhelpful for anyone who has not actually spent a very considerable time practising it even to speculate about such matters...

Thanks for the infomation. I will certainly seek out that book (when I have some money). I didn't mean to bring up the "hardest piece" business, but that's largely where I see mention of this piece, and that's regrettable.

As a non-pianist who studies Sorabji for his compositional values, the dexterity and difficulty of his pieces on the piano is completely meaningless for me to discuss. I am thoroughly impressed with the virtuosity and inner calm that is required for a brilliant player like Powell to navigate these works, but my greatest interest will always lie in the compositions themselves.

That being said, yesterday I phoned in my order for the new Powell CD that this forum originally discussed. Based on the buzz around this forum, it seems like it's going to be an incredible listen. I've not heard a thing from Powell that has given me a reason to doubt that he's one of the best matches for Sorabji's work.

[dnephi]

Sorabji Sonata #1 looks like a great showpiece, and given the reviews, is a masterpiece, is that right?  ~22 minutes.  Also rarely heard... Hmm.

Interesting.

[ahinton]

Sorabji Sonata #1 looks like a great showpiece, and given the reviews, is a masterpiece, is that right?  ~22 minutes.  Also rarely heard... Hmm.

Interesting.

It's a comparatively early work, inevitably immature but fine in its own right and evidently sufficient to impress Busoni when the composer played it to him in 1919. Rarely heard? - well, it has so far had at least 23 public hearings to our knowledge...

Best,

Alistair

[cygnusdei]

It's a comparatively early work, inevitably immature but fine in its own right and evidently sufficient to impress Busoni when the composer played it to him in 1919. Rarely heard? - well, it has so far had at least 23 public hearings to our knowledge...

Best,

Alistair

Sorry off topic, but would Busoni qualify as '20th century work'? I love the Chopin Variations and Fantasia Contrappuntistica.

[soliloquy]

Sorry off topic, but would Busoni qualify as '20th century work'? I love the Chopin Variations and Fantasia Contrappuntistica.

Wow.  Extremely off topic.  And no, definitely not.


All this talk about the Sonata No. 1 :O  I would say it is certainly my favorite piece by Sorabji that I have heard, along with the Solo Concerto and Prelude, Interlude and Fugue.  It's not as... dense... or polyphonic as say, the Opus Clavicembalisticum, but I would say it is certainly a lot more enjoyable to listen to as a piece of music XD  If one envisioned a particularly violent piece by Scriabin for three hands, the Sonata No. 1 would be as close as something could come XD


Also... Alistair... there is rumor concerning a certain Canadian-Philadelphian and Sonata V; is this just wishful-thinking-induced gossip, or is it top secret, or can you elaborate?    I would assume it is the first considering what this particular Canadian-Philadelphian has said of Sorabji's work in the past... but maybe he is getting bored of Haydn?


PS- would love a response from you in my "Top 10 Non-Piano Orchestral Pieces" thread in the off-topic forum Alistair.

[ahinton]

Also... Alistair... there is rumor concerning a certain Canadian-Philadelphian and Sonata V; is this just wishful-thinking-induced gossip, or is it top secret, or can you elaborate?    I would assume it is the first considering what this particular Canadian-Philadelphian has said of Sorabji's work in the past... but maybe he is getting bored of Haydn?

I know that it's rude to answer a question with another question, but what is the source of this rumour? I will also, however, answer it with an answer - which is that this would be the first that I have heard about it, so I think that the first of your possibilities is pretty much in the right area. After all, the piece isn't even typeset yet...

I'll get back to looking at your other topic when I have a moment - I'm abit pressed right now.

Best,

Alistair

[soliloquy]

I know that it's rude to answer a question with another question, but what is the source of this rumour? I will also, however, answer it with an answer - which is that this would be the first that I have heard about it, so I think that the first of your possibilities is pretty much in the right area. After all, the piece isn't even typeset yet...

I'll get back to looking at your other topic when I have a moment - I'm abit pressed right now.

Best,

Alistair

Ah, so it is top-secret


My source is a friend of a source

[ahinton]

Ah, so it is top-secret

My source is a friend of a source

That's right; so top secret, in fact, that no one at all knows about it other than your friendly sorcerer. There must be more than one Canadian Philadelphian, of course - just as there are probably a number of Québecois Pennsylvanians - but if we just lift the lid off that top secrecy for a moment and name a name - Marc-André Hamelin - then, as I indicated, even he doesn't know about it, so unless your top friendly secret source operates a sideline in Svengalism wherewith he/she can remotely make M. Hamelin do such things irrespective of his will, then I think that it is probably safe to say that the answer is no...

Best,

Alistair

[soliloquy]

That's right; so top secret, in fact, that no one at all knows about it other than your friendly sorcerer. There must be more than one Canadian Philadelphian, of course - just as there are probably a number of Québecois Pennsylvanians - but if we just lift the lid off that top secrecy for a moment and name a name - Marc-André Hamelin - then, as I indicated, even he doesn't know about it, so unless your top friendly secret source operates a sideline in Svengalism wherewith he/she can remotely make M. Hamelin do such things irrespective of his will, then I think that it is probably safe to say that the answer is no...

Best,

Alistair

I never said Marc-Andre Hamelin.    Now as to whether or not this certain friend of mine that's a friend of a source that knows Marc-Andre (assuming of course this is indeed the Canadian-Philadelphian of whom I speak) has telepathic and/or manipulative capabilities I would not know, nor would I know if my friend's source who is a friend of mister... shall we say M-A. H. to keep it inconspicuous... also has telepathic abilities and/or manipulative capabilities.  If you are indeed telling the truth and it is NOT simply top secret then I suppose we shall soon find out!  Perhaps it is even so top secret YOU don't even know about it?    THE INTRIGUE!

[ahinton]

I never said Marc-Andre Hamelin.    Now as to whether or not this certain friend of mine that's a friend of a source that knows Marc-Andre (assuming of course this is indeed the Canadian-Philadelphian of whom I speak) has telepathic and/or manipulative capabilities I would not know, nor would I know if my friend's source who is a friend of mister... shall we say M-A. H. to keep it inconspicuous... also has telepathic abilities and/or manipulative capabilities.  If you are indeed telling the truth and it is NOT simply top secret then I suppose we shall soon find out!  Perhaps it is even so top secret YOU don't even know about it?    THE INTRIGUE!

I still think that the fact that M-AH does not know about it is surely evidence enough for my negative answer - unless, of course, the "Canadian-Philadelphian" concerned is in fact someone else...

No "INTRIGUE" at all, then (unless, as I implied, the person concerned is someone other than M. Hamelin)...

Case - and enquiry - closed, unless another such ID emerges.

In the meantime, what do you (or anyone else) suppose might be the chances of returning to the thread topic of Jonathan Powell's latest CD?

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

It's a comparatively early work, inevitably immature but fine in its own right and evidently sufficient to impress Busoni when the composer played it to him in 1919. Rarely heard? - well, it has so far had at least 23 public hearings to our knowledge...

Best,

Alistair

I read that it didn't impress Busoni - or maybe I remember more. Do you have any statements by Busoni on this matter?

[ahinton]

I read that it didn't impress Busoni - or maybe I remember more. Do you have any statements by Busoni on this matter?

It did, actually, although he nevertheless had reservations about it; I do have the information but the best way for you to read it is to get Marc-André Hamelin's CD single of the piece where the booklet notes give the entire details on this.

Best,

Alistair

[soliloquy]

In the meantime, what do you (or anyone else) suppose might be the chances of returning to the thread topic of Jonathan Powell's latest CD?

Best,

Alistair

Honestly?

[ahinton]

Honestly?

Well, it is the thread topic, after all - and it would seem rather pointless for me to seek to encourage anyone to return to it dishonestly, if that's what you imply (not that I'm sure it is - and I apologise if I misuderstood your meaning here)...

Best,

Alistair