CD: 3 B's

[tds]

what do you think of the following cd program?



Prelude in b minor                                                                    Bach/Siloti
Siciliano from a Flute sonata                                                      Bach/Kempff
Chorale Prelude in g minor 'Nun komm der heiden Heiland' BWV 659     Bach/Busoni


"Waldstein" sonata op. 53                                                          Beethoven


Variations and fugue on the theme by Handel op. 24                        Brahms


Total playing: Approx. 67'

tds

[ramseytheii]

I do't want to be too critical but I voted for standard.  These are all beautiful pieces for sure, but I think that is not enough to arouse interest in them as a program.  For me more and more it is about context, seeing that familiar piece like the Waldstein placed in a more unfamiliar setting.  When I see another CD with Petrushka and Pictures at an Exhibition I could fall asleep right in the record store.

To give an idea of what I mean, a Russian pianist named Felix Gottlieb put out an album a whil ago with the Brahms Handel Variations, surrounded by the original Handel suite played on harpsichord, and then modern harpsichord works by such composers as Denisov.  It's a terrific album, even though it was put out on some cheapo label and the liner notes are filled with typos.  I'm not suggesting that you play harpsichord, but why not mix it up a little more.

Or if you wanted to keep Waldstein and Handel Variations together, it may be wise to make your own Bach transcriptions of various pieces, and include those instead of the ones already done.  That would give a stronger suggeston of your personality, I think.

Walter Ramsey

[pianistimo]

dear tds,

i think ramseytheii is right.  i love the individual pieces in your program - but all together on a cd?  i think his suggestions are cool.  you can always make several cd's.  it sounds strange to 'copy' ideas - but i do the same when looking at programs to see how other artists put them together.  there's a method to the madness.  some things work because there is not too much similarity or striking difference.  a sort of 'middle of the road.' 

as i see it - the waldstein belongs with a few other works of beethoven and possibly some bach.  i think the bach and the beethoven work great.  maybe some chopin /lizst?

with the handel - ramseytheii's suggestion of baroque type music to go along - or ALL handel.  personally, i like a combo of a really great singer/pianist duo - and hear the vocal as well as piano works of a composer.  also, i'd love to hear the variations on harpsichord, too.

[cygnusdei]

What about substituting the transcriptions with one major, original Bach work? Maybe the Italian Concerto or the Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue?

On a side note, I have an Andras Schiff CD with the Handel Variations & Fugue, preceded by the original Handel suite (on piano ), and followed by the Reger Variations and Fugue on a Bach theme.

[tds]

folks, thank you for your response. at this stage i will refrain from commenting too much, but rather i will allow more time for more of you to voice your opinion or simply participate in the poll. yes, general concensus is what i really need. but surely, i will talk and let you know what i think at the end, right before i close this thread. best regards, tds

[tds]

poll result confuses me and many ghosts in the air: 25% of everything.

those who have not voted please do so now.

thanks. tds

[Kassaa]

How about something by Medtner instead of Brahms? It's less standard. Also, I like the idea of having one big baroque piece instead of three small ones. French Suite no. 5?

[jre58591]

youre forgetting 1 genre: modern/20th century/contemporary. no recital is complete without this.

[prongated]

youre forgetting 1 genre: modern/20th century/contemporary. no recital is complete without this.

...not necessarily...besides, this is for a CD, not a recital? Then again, a Bartok would make it 4 B's ^^

3 Burlesques op. 8c can fit in 7 minutes, making it 74' in all. Just not sure it'll fit in well with the other pieces in the program.

[jre58591]

why not boulez instead of bartók? that would give people an unexpected surprise, heh.

[prongated]

why not boulez instead of bartók? that would give people an unexpected surprise, heh.

...Boulez...blargh...his Structures are the kinds of stuff I don't quite want to see on my piano's music rack [along with Stockhausen's Klavierstucke etc.] I think I'd more happily settle with his conducting expertise more than his compositions

But if tds can/wants to do it...

ps. tds I think what you have is a good program, and I think that's how I voted. Musically interesting, albeit much on the serious side.

[tds]

keep voting dear streeters....