Bortkiewicz - Prelude Op.40 No.6

[chris28120]

Hi,
Here is a personal recording of awesome Prelude N.6 Op.40 by Bortkiewicz :

It's not perfect but all comments are welcome to improve my interpretation.

[m19834]

Yes, this is a very cool prelude !  I've not knowingly listened to Bortkiewicz before, so thanks for the introduction.  I suspect that you feel as though you are connected to this music and that you are really feeling what you perhaps think is the main character of the piece, but --even though I can see it inside of you-- all of that in detail is not quite making it outta your fingertips.  The main thing I would say is that there could be more dynamic contrast between hands and sections of music ... everything has more or less the same shape and sound right now. Also, memorizing it would help you listen more closely to yourself (and listening more closely to yourself would help you memorize it) and to what you are playing, to really help bring some of the qualities of this prelude to life.  

[rachfan]

Hi Chris,

It's great to hear some Bortkiewicz here!  You've obviously done much work on the piece, and it shows. It's probably still a work in progress for you, but you've brought it a very long way. You play it with much feeling!  I think No. 6 is the best prelude of Op. 40.

I agree with karli's assessment that there probably could be more attention to dynamics and shading. I've always thought of this prelude in F#m as being a duet between a baritone and soprano. The image I get is that the soprano is heartbroken and tearful, while the baritone does his futile best to console her. The difficulties in this piece are clarifying the melody in the right hand which also plays accompaniment. The other issue is the constant voice leading, as the baritone and soprano sometimes interrupt one another or finish one another's statements.  So there's intertwining but also some hand-offs there between the voices.  Thus, carefully managing the polyphony which takes on Wagnerian vocal textures becomes paramount here.  

By the way, you've entered a club.  There are very few of us that know of the long-neglected and nearly forgotten late romantic piano literature of Sergei Bortkiewicz, and who have taken it upon ourselves to champion his extraordinary music.  Hopefully it'll become better known.

Incidentally, I too have recorded this piece, which you can hear by clicking on Index to Audition Room above and scrolling down to Bortkiewicz, if interested.  Thanks for sharing your very nice recording with us.  

 

[chris28120]

Thanks a lot, Rachfan and Karli, for your very kind and very useful comment.

I'll try to play this prelude without score and to work on dynamics.

Rachfan, your image of a discussion between a baritone and soprano is very interesting and your record of this piece is great. They help me both to feed my interpretation. Thanks.
I've saw you have recorded some other pieces of Bortkiewicz and I'm quickly going to listen them.

PS : Sorry for my so bad english 
 

[goldentone]

Hi Chris,

Your feeling is evident, and I believe you bring out the romanticism of Bortkiewicz.  Between Rachfan (who knows his Bortkiewicz) and Karli, I dont' have anything to add for improving it.  Thanks for sharing. Good work.   I really enjoyed listening.

[swansonjw]

Gorgeous music gorgeously played...do you know where I can obtain the sheet music for op. 40?  I found a few other compositions of his but not op. 40.  Thanks

[hansscherff]

I believe his Op. 40 is still under copyright, so i do not think you can get it for free. You can buy it in a decent shop though, i think the publisher is Simrock. I have the Op. 33 and Op. 13 preludes, haven't listened to the Op. 40 yet, will do so when i am not at work