Etudes for Transcendental Technique

[danielsmith]

Does anybody know if there are any recordings of Liszt Etudes for Transcendental Technique  (the ones published in 1838, before the revisions in 1851)?

Thanks

[abj]

There is a CD of Janice Weber performing these. It might be hard to find though.

[retrouvailles]

If it's Liszt, Leslie Howard has recorded it.

[thierry13]

If it's Liszt, Leslie Howard has recorded it.

That's kind of sad.

[thalbergmad]

That's kind of sad.

It is in my opinion. The Weber recording is superior.

Thal

[richard black]

That's kind of sad.

No, just a bald statement of fact since Howard made a point of recording the complete Liszt piano music (er, assuming he's finished - I can't remember for sure whether he has or not!).

[thalbergmad]

He has finished and one could draw the conclusion that the task began to bore him judging by some of the playing.

Thal

[richard black]

one could draw the conclusion that the task began to bore him judging by some of the playing.

If that's true (I've only heard a very few snippets from it) I for one wouldn't entirely blame him. I can't quite imagine recording the complete output of _any_ reasonably prolific composer and loving every minute of it. I mean, even composers often say that they grow tired of some of their stuff! Complete recorded editions are fun in a way, I suppose, but mostly for the purchaser....

[thalbergmad]

The ones in which i fear he failed were mostly the operatic transcriptions. They often require some flair, speed and liberty taking, but they were too "straight" to interest me.

Thal

[antichrist]

howard's recording bad, especially wild jagd(first version)

[danielsmith]

Thanks everyone!

[lontano]

[one could draw the conclusion that the task began to bore him judging by some of the playing.]
If that's true (I've only heard a very few snippets from it) I for one wouldn't entirely blame him. I can't quite imagine recording the complete output of _any_ reasonably prolific composer and loving every minute of it. I mean, even composers often say that they grow tired of some of their stuff! Complete recorded editions are fun in a way, I suppose, but mostly for the purchaser....

And how many CDs are in the Howard set? Nearly 100 I'm guessing, almost certainly making it (quite possibly) the largest dedicated recording project of a single composer by a single performer ever accomplished. It would be remarkable if he didn't experience some sense of doubt, disillusion and remorse over the time and cost for undertaking the project, knowing that the major purchasers of the full set would be limited primarily to universities, major libraries, a few associations and probably not very many individuals. And considering how important (and frequent) selling recordings of Liszt of/by younger/better performers is, how could anyone believe their personal interpretation of such a massive catalog of such a popular composer could impress enough potential buyers that he could make a profit on the task? Certainly there are many pieces in the set that would never likely be recorded otherwise, which for scholars is of considerable value, but that only takes one so far.

How many people would really enjoy listening to Idil Biret interpret ALL of Chopin's music over the enormous and varied other talents out there who can do it better, or just more varied in performance style?

My thoughts.

L.

[ahinton]

And how many CDs are in the Howard set? Nearly 100 I'm guessing, almost certainly making it (quite possibly) the largest dedicated recording project of a single composer by a single performer ever accomplished. It would be remarkable if he didn't experience some sense of doubt, disillusion and remorse over the time and cost for undertaking the project, knowing that the major purchasers of the full set would be limited primarily to universities, major libraries, a few associations and probably not very many individuals. And considering how important (and frequent) selling recordings of Liszt of/by younger/better performers is, how could anyone believe their personal interpretation of such a massive catalog of such a popular composer could impress enough potential buyers that he could make a profit on the task? Certainly there are many pieces in the set that would never likely be recorded otherwise, which for scholars is of considerable value, but that only takes one so far.

How many people would really enjoy listening to Idil Biret interpret ALL of Chopin's music over the enormous and varied other talents out there who can do it better, or just more varied in performance style?

My thoughts.

L.

And largely very pertinent ones. Howard is, without doubt, a first-rate Liszt scholar but I have to agree that, this achievement purely as an achievement notwithstanding, far too many of the performances strewn across what is indeed now 99 CDs (including the introduction to the set and the two New Discoveries discs) leave rather a lot to be desired - so much so, in fact, that it is difficult not to regard the whole as some kind of unique reference library in which perhaps the most striking items are those which have yet to be recorded by anyone else; one might be forgiven for wondering if Hyperion have a dedicated Howard/Liszt room in the premises where they store their not inconsiderable stock...

Best,

Alistair