Bartok 2nd concerto

[franzliszt2]

Is it really worth it?

I am toying with the idea of learning it...just becasue at this moment and time I have an urge....but is it actually worth the amount of time it will actually take? Hs anyone here played it before?

I really love some of it....and really don't like some of it....but I have a strange desire to play this piece....I prefer the 1st concerto, but don't feel like learning it right now.

What is the general opinion of Bartok 2nd?

[dnephi]

1. World-class professional pianists have told me that they (and their pianist friends) cringe when they think of the hairier passages. 

2. It's also considered by many to be the ultimate concerto.  These pianists of whom I speak have all performed the concerto and thoroughly enjoyed the music.

3. It's my third favorite 20th century piano concerto.

4. It's too difficult now, I'd wager, but down the road, I'd recommend it.

[rob47]

You should make sure someone at your school knows the orchestra part.

you: "will you accompany me on my concerto?"

them "Ya sure, what piece?"

you: "Bartok 2n piano concerto"

them: (takes hammer and smashes fingers) "Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you I have an injury and can't."


But ya, next to "Miraculous Mandarin" the 2nd n 3rd movements are my favourite things dude wrote

[franzliszt2]

1. World-class professional pianists have told me that they (and their pianist friends) cringe when they think of the hairier passages. 

2. It's also considered by many to be the ultimate concerto.  These pianists of whom I speak have all performed the concerto and thoroughly enjoyed the music.

3. It's my third favorite 20th century piano concerto.

4. It's too difficult now, I'd wager, but down the road, I'd recommend it.

I wouldn't consider it to be the ultimate concerto. I have read through the score, and if course it is very difficult....but it is very much a mental thing. There are lots of notes, and very difficult rythms, but these just take time. I wouldn't say it was as physically challanging as many other concertos.

I don't think it would be too difficult, it will just take a lot of time. The reason I think it would be good to do now, is because I am a student, and it is very wise to learn these types of pieces whilst still a student. If an orchestra says can you play Mozart, or Schumann, or Grieg, or Ravel or something at short notice, I would say yes...BUT there are many pieces that take a lot of time, like Rach concerto's, Brahms, Bartok 2, etc.... so I think it is wise to learn them whilst still a student, becasue they will come in handy. Also I have the time to spend on these things right now, becasue I am not living the life of a touring pianist.

You should make sure someone at your school knows the orchestra part.

you: "will you accompany me on my concerto?"

them "Ya sure, what piece?"

you: "Bartok 2n piano concerto"

them: (takes hammer and smashes fingers) "Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you I have an injury and can't."


But ya, next to "Miraculous Mandarin" the 2nd n 3rd movements are my favourite things dude wrote

hahahaha that is very true! The same is true with Prok concerto's and Ravel concerto.

[mikey6]

I'd say give up and learn the Busoni! 

[arensky]

I have the time to spend on these things right now, becasue I am not living the life of a touring pianist.

That's exactly right. Even if you don't finish perfecting it, you will have it's foundation laid when you have the opportunity to perform it in the future. It's an awesome piece, you'll learn a lot from working on it no matter what the future may hold.

The opening of the second movement is one of the most stolen pieces for film scores ever; I hear those muted string harmonies in many films, always slightly altered of course.

[m]

What is the general opinion of Bartok 2nd?

Not sure what is the general opinion of that... neither do I care  .
IMO, this is one of the major concerti of the 20th century. Very difficult to learn and memorize. I love it, but... I cannot do it. If you can--all my support and all the kudos to you.

Best, M

[franzliszt2]

I'd say give up and learn the Busoni! 

 

[mephisto]

I love this concerto deeply (all three movement), and since you are young I would recommend you to learn it. Good luck

[michel dvorsky]

It's a wonderful concerto, but I myself wouldn't dream of touching it for a looong time.

Better off leaving it to the Richters, Weissenbergs, Ogdons, and Cziffras...

[dnephi]

It's a wonderful concerto, but I myself wouldn't dream of touching it for a looong time.

Better off leaving it to the Richters, Weissenbergs, Ogdons, and Cziffras...

Kocsis is my favorite, but I love all of those that I've heard! 

I also like his nickname a LOT.

[thierry13]

Kocsis is my favorite, but I love all of those that I've heard! 

I also like his nickname a LOT.

Whose?

[michel dvorsky]

Kocsis is my favorite, but I love all of those that I've heard! 

I also like his nickname a LOT.

Yeah, Kocsis is a really excellent pianist too.

[retrouvailles]

Andsnes and Kocsis both have amazing recordings of this piece. I would suggest not even touching this piece for a long time. There's nothing worse than hearing a half-assed rendition of this piece, or the 1st piano concerto, for that matter. However, because the 1st isn't played as much, it doesn't suffer from the abuse and torture of amateur pianists nearly as much. If only the 2nd weren't abused as much.

[michel dvorsky]

I don't understand what the motivation is for someone -- whose skills none of us can readily assess -- to advertise their consideration of difficult repertoire.

If you actually have the technique and intelligence to play Bartok 2, you wouldn't really be asking people who you haven`t met whether or not they think you are ready to play it.

[retrouvailles]

If you actually have the technique and intelligence to play Bartok 2, you wouldn't really be asking people who you haven`t met whether or not they think you are ready to play it.

Amen, brotha. That's something I firmly believe in regarding any piece. If you need to ask people if you're ready for something on a forum, you aren't read and/or it is better to wait.

[dnephi]

Amen, brotha. That's something I firmly believe in regarding any piece. If you need to ask people if you're ready for something on a forum, you aren't read and/or it is better to wait.

Am I ready for Fur Elise? .

But I think that's a fair question, in some exceptional cases.  If it was something obscure, like a Medtner concerto, whose difficulty is not widely known, it could be excused. 

[retrouvailles]

But I think that's a fair question, in some exceptional cases.  If it was something obscure, like a Medtner concerto, whose difficulty is not widely known, it could be excused.

I don't think so. The person asking the question should look at a score, listen to a recording, and judge for themselves. Nothing beats that. I've played my share of obscure music, and never have I once come to the forum asking if I am ready (go ahead and search my posts).

[franzliszt2]

Hold on...I am pretty certain that I could play this piece, and I am sure most people who have heard me play would agree.

I have looked at the score, and have decide dthat it will take time, and was asking if anyone had played it, so they could tell me if it is worth spending the time on it, when I could easily learn a lot of other repertoire that I could perform at will. I am going to get asked to play Bartok 2???

I never asked if I was ready, becasue I am sure I have the technique to play this piece, and my teacher agrees. The problem is will it be useful at my age. I think it will, becasue I am currently full time at a conservatoire, so my life is practicingm, and playing the piano, so it is probably a good time to learn Bartok concerto no2. Learning things like Liszt sonata, Ravel Gaspard, Schubert wanderer fantasy etc... when I was young payed off so much, because I can programme them now in concerts because I have revised them many times. The same would probably work with Bartok 2, I learn it now...and will never get asked to play it for a few years, but at least when I do get asked, I will have a lot of experience with it from my student years.

Where did I say "Am I ready?" I know exactly what I can and cannot play.

[thierry13]

Where did I say "Am I ready?" I know exactly what I can and cannot play.

Thats what I was going to say. Dvorsky is completly stupid, and/or didn't read your post at all. I'd say it's worth spending time on, and it sure looks great on a repertoire list!

[poiuytrewq11zc]

I've heard this concerto many times, but encourage everyone to listen to this stunning interpretation of the third movement!