medtner

[Ryan]

What are ppls opinion of this composer and has anyone played any of his piano music, it looks very demanding!!

[lallasvensson]

I love Medtner.
Night wind sonata, reminiscenza sonata are among my favourite piano works.

Besides sonata many miniatures and tales are lovely and not so demanding.

[comme_le_vent]

i love medtner too.
i have hamelin's 4cd set of the sonatas.
but my favourite work is on the composer-pianists cd , also played by hamelin, its the op31/no1 improvisation in b flat minor, amazing muisc, and if i had the sheet music to it, i would play it too.  

[eViLben]

He's really an underated composer definitly =)

[ramseytheii]

What are ppls opinion of this composer and has anyone played any of his piano music, it looks very demanding!!

His music is very emotionally and intellectually demanding, but he is one of those rare composers whose music you can study like a "Ladder"!  Like Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Schumann, Bartok, and not many others.  THere are easier pieces which will show you the way to play the harder pieces.  There are many sonatas, some very very very hard, some not so hard at all.  There are many short pieces, the same difficulty levels.  And so many beautiful, unforgettable character pieces!  I recommend everybody to go out and listen to his music right away.

Walter Ramsey

[jre58591]

medtner is a great underrated composer, as you can see from some of my previous posts, but....

why are you reviving ancient threads??

[tompilk]

either because he genuinely believes he is adding something great to the thread, or to let new members see or to get his post count up
Tom

[ahinton]

His music is very emotionally and intellectually demanding, but he is one of those rare composers whose music you can study like a "Ladder"!  Like Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Schumann, Bartok, and not many others.  THere are easier pieces which will show you the way to play the harder pieces.  There are many sonatas, some very very very hard, some not so hard at all.  There are many short pieces, the same difficulty levels.  And so many beautiful, unforgettable character pieces!  I recommend everybody to go out and listen to his music right away.

Walter Ramsey

Well said; I do agree. Why, though, do you suppose that Sorabji adored and promoted it as much as he did? Just curious...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

medtner is a great underrated composer, as you can see from some of my previous posts,

Not as underrated as once he was, fortunately; the sheer amount of his work that's now easily available on disc, sometimes in more than the one recording, would have been unimaginable just over a quarter century ago at the time of his centenary.

Best,

Alistair

[phil13]

either because he genuinely believes he is adding something great to the thread, or to let new members see or to get his post count up
Tom

Well, let's ask him and get this sorted out, because it's starting to look eerily similar to "classicarts" if anyone else remembers that fiasco.

Phil

[tompilk]

Well, let's ask him and get this sorted out, because it's starting to look eerily similar to "classicarts" if anyone else remembers that fiasco.

Phil

hahahaha yes i remember... we all voted for him to be banned - was he?
Tom

[phil13]

Not sure... I think he just left and never came back- or maybe he did in different form.

Regarding the subject, however...

I LOVE Medtner! His music is a real treat to the ears. Listening to 'Night Wind' right now, as a matter of fact.

(Jre, took 6 and 1/2 hours to download that file! Sheesh!)

Phil

[tompilk]

im sure youll find it worth 6.5 hours! did you get the sonata romantica? if so just listen to the last 3 mins of first into the second movement! amazing!
Tom

[phil13]

im sure youll find it worth 6.5 hours! did you get the sonata romantica? if so just listen to the last 3 mins of first into the second movement! amazing!
Tom

Yeah, I did. All of the files downloaded fine. Haven't gotten around to listening to it, though. I heard a little bit of each piece but until I listen to the whole thing, 'Night Wind' takes its rightful place as one of my most favorite sonatas. Ever.

Phil

[jre58591]

Yeah, I did. All of the files downloaded fine. Haven't gotten around to listening to it, though. I heard a little bit of each piece but until I listen to the whole thing, 'Night Wind' takes its rightful place as one of my most favorite sonatas. Ever.

wow, 6.5 hours. thats quite a suspenseful waiting period. well, im glad that the night wind sonata is finally starting to get the respect it deserves with more members here at this forum. it truly does not deserve to be overlooked. sonata romantica, imo, is a much better piece of music, for it is a bit more coherent and straightforward. the night wind sonata clocks in at about 32 min, which i feel is its only downfall.

[ramseytheii]

Well said; I do agree. Why, though, do you suppose that Sorabji adored and promoted it as much as he did? Just curious...

Best,

Alistair

Actually, I didn't know about Sorabji's relationship with Medtner's music.  Perhaps you can giv some more information?

Walter Ramsey

[phil13]

Is Hamelin's the only current recording of the 'Night Wind'? I know that other pianists have recorded some of Medtner's other sonatas, i.e. Sonata Reminiscenza, and that Gilels recorded the Op.22 G minor sonata, but what else is there?

Phil

[jre58591]

Is Hamelin's the only current recording of the 'Night Wind'? I know that other pianists have recorded some of Medtner's other sonatas, i.e. Sonata Reminiscenza, and that Gilels recorded the Op.22 G minor sonata, but what else is there?

Phil

i have boris berezovsky's, geoffrey tozer's, and hamish milne's recordings of this sonata. hamelin, by far, has the best interpretation, however. there may be other recordings out there of the night wind sonata though.

[ahinton]

Actually, I didn't know about Sorabji's relationship with Medtner's music.  Perhaps you can giv some more information?

Walter Ramsey

He wrote about it in his first book "Around Music" in 1932; he contributed to a symposium about Medtner years later. In his capacity as a critic, he reviewed Medtner from time to time (in the English journals The New Age and The New English Weekly principally). In UK, he was one of Medtner's most ardent and vociferous champions from the 1920s. His love of Medtner's work never waned - and he also held Medtner as a pianist in very high regard.

Best,

Alistair

[ramseytheii]

i have boris berezovsky's, geoffrey tozer's, and hamish milne's recordings of this sonata. hamelin, by far, has the best interpretation, however. there may be other recordings out there of the night wind sonata though.

I seem to recall Ponti has a live recording of it somewhere, but I could be wrong.  Possibly also Earl Wild.  It's worth looking into, although generally I don't like their Medtner   

I am surprised that you prefer Hamelin over Berezovsky, I much much prefer Berezovsky, both in studio recording and in a bootlegged live recording of his from Darmstadt about a year ago.  Also in thsi concert he played several Fairy Tales, and then his trademark Chopin Etudes alternating with the Godowsky etudes.  It was a funny concert because at one point in the second half, he asked the audience, which one am I supposed to play next?  And at the end, continued playing more etudes long after the printed program was over.

Walter Ramsey

[jre58591]

I seem to recall Ponti has a live recording of it somewhere, but I could be wrong.  Possibly also Earl Wild.  It's worth looking into, although generally I don't like their Medtner   

I am surprised that you prefer Hamelin over Berezovsky, I much much prefer Berezovsky, both in studio recording and in a bootlegged live recording of his from Darmstadt about a year ago.  Also in thsi concert he played several Fairy Tales, and then his trademark Chopin Etudes alternating with the Godowsky etudes.  It was a funny concert because at one point in the second half, he asked the audience, which one am I supposed to play next?  And at the end, continued playing more etudes long after the printed program was over.

Walter Ramsey

yeah ive heard earl wild's medtner. his interpretation of the second improvisation and the other pieces arent mysterious enough, which is what a lot of medtner's music is supposed to sound like. hamelin, regarding the night wind sonata, makes the sonata live up to its name more than berezovsky in my opinion, if you know what i mean. and would you mind uploading that concertr in darmstadt? i would be eternally grateful.

[al]

Does anyone have a score of the Canzona matinata op. 38 no. 4?  It seems quite manageable and I'd like to have a go, but the pdf i have is corrupt.

[jre58591]

Does anyone have a score of the Canzona matinata op. 38 no. 4?  It seems quite manageable and I'd like to have a go, but the pdf i have is corrupt.

op 38 no 4 is canzona fluviala. canzona matinata is op 39 no 4. ill post all of op 39,  for i dont have the files separated.

[al]

op 38 no 4 is canzona fluviala. canzona matinata is op 39 no 4. ill post all of op 39,  for i dont have the files separated.

That's the one. Thanks!

[jre58591]

here is medtner's sonata-skazka, as requested by phil. the pianist is hamelin. enjoy!

https://www.sendspace.com/file/2lfcmk

[phil13]

Thanks Lawrence!

BTW, I would agree that the transition into the scherzo in Sonata Romantica is chilling (for everyone else this is on a separate thread), but I find the change from the Introduzione to the 15/8 Allegro in 'Night Wind' even more chilling. God, what a fantastic piece of music!

Phil

[brewtality]

I think Berezovsky live Night Wind is better than the Hamelin studio. I have Tozer's Medtner concerti, they are alright I suppose, I don't think he has the technique for this repetoire. I will eventual have to get Medtner's own recordings. Just waiting for them to appear on Berkshire.

[zhonhern]

Does anyone have the scores to Forgotten Melodies Cycle I, Opus 38 or know where to find them? My fascination with Medtner has only just began, after picking up a recording of opus 38 and 39 by Irina Ossipova. I like how the different pieces in Opus 38 are thematically unified to be played as a set - i initially lamented how Sonata Reminiscenza is so entrenched in the minor key but came to appreciate it after hearing the cycle as a whole - the major keys are left to other movements and as a form of resolution in the final movement. The use of only the minor in the sonata sets a consistent tense atmosphere for a 1st movement in a larger cycle - much like how an overture sets a particular mood for an opera. 

It is a very satisfying listen - though emotionally draining. I can't help but wonder, if Medtner were to give listeners nice-sounding melodies in major keys where it matters, especially after all the gained momentum/built-up tension in eg. Sonata Tragica/Reminiscenza, it would have been very gratifying for the average listener/he could've been much more popular than he is now. But that wouldn't be Medtner anymore, lol.

[mephisto]

I think Berezovsky live Night Wind is better than the Hamelin studio. I have Tozer's Medtner concerti, they are alright I suppose, I don't think he has the technique for this repetoire. I will eventual have to get Medtner's own recordings. Just waiting for them to appear on Berkshire.

Berezovsky`s live night wind. Where can I get that?

[ramseytheii]

Berezovsky`s live night wind. Where can I get that?

I have a recording from Feb 2005 in Darmstadt, but it is not in mp3, so I wil try and figure something out and upload it.  Give me a few days, or if anyone can offer advice on how to convert the file, please do!

Walter Ramsey

[brewtality]

It's probably the same one I have. I think Iamcanadian posted that for us on SDC ages ago, doubt the link still works even if you could find it.

[jre58591]

I have a recording from Feb 2005 in Darmstadt, but it is not in mp3, so I wil try and figure something out and upload it.  Give me a few days, or if anyone can offer advice on how to convert the file, please do!

just uplaod the file as-is, and i will reupload it as a converted file. and please use a site such as sendspace.com or sharebigfile.com to upload the file. this is a very convenient and easy way to upload files. thanks in advance!

[hodi]

why are you reviving ancient threads??

why not ? 

[jpowell]

Berezovsky`s live night wind. Where can I get that?

I believe he has made CUTS!!

While I have much respect for Berezovsky (I think several of his recordings are really superb), I can't really stand for this. I hope it's not true, but fear it is ...

[thierry13]

I believe he has made CUTS!!

While I have much respect for Berezovsky (I think several of his recordings are really superb), I can't really stand for this. I hope it's not true, but fear it is ...

Maybe he had memory blanks?

[mephisto]

I believe he has made CUTS!!

While I have much respect for Berezovsky (I think several of his recordings are really superb), I can't really stand for this. I hope it's not true, but fear it is ...

I have now been able to listen to it, and it appears as if he did indeed make some cuts. I'll try to listen again to be absolutely sure.

[rachfan]

I love Late Romantic and Neo-Romantic music best of all, and greatly admire Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Bortkiewicz in particular.  I've listened to numerous recordings of Medtner's music, as I'm most eager to like it.  I have his sonata scores here as well.  If I could totally enjoy some of his music, it would open up new repertoire possibilities for me. 

One thing I find that seems characteristic of his compositions though is that he's very stingy with a melody.  Reminds me, for example, of that bare fragment of a suggestion of a melody that Brahms used in his first Rhapsody.  And like Mendelssohn, he seems to nearly always prefer rapid tempos.  Another hallmark seems to be that he writes a lot of filigree material for the right hand as well as the left, such that no matter the actual form of a composition, it tends to sound like an etude.   I've heard some of the sonatas and fairy tales, but not the other character pieces--perhaps that's where I'm missing an important dimension of Medtner.  Finally, I've also come to believe that Medtner's music is very much an acquired taste.  I doubt that anyone would dispute that this music is not as readily accessible as that of Rachmaninoff, Scriabin or Bortkiewicz.  Thus, it can be hard to warm up to this music, never mind take an instant liking to it.

I don't make these comments to be at all critical or disparaging.  Far from it.  Medtner's pieces "have their moments" to be sure.  I would agree he has great imagination too.  It's just that one has to invest a lot more time into deciphering his idiom through repeated hearings.  This may account for the fact that Medtner has never caught on with audiences in a big way--or many pianists for that matter--over the decades to the extent that some of his peer composers have.  So for me, appreciating Medtner remains a work in progress. 

Mine is probably an uncommon view here in this forum, but that's OK.  We're all different in our perceptions.

[mephisto]

It appears as if Berezovsky makes at least to cuts in his performances. I have no idea why he makes them , or if it even was his intention to make them.

[freddychopin]

I love Medtner's three piano concertos. You can listen them on volume 2 and 8 of the Hyperion Piano Concertos serie. Great serie by the way! https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/collection_page.asp?name=RomanticPC