Alfred Schnittke, Aphorism nr 2

[daniloperusina]

Hi! Opinions most welcome! This is from Schnittke's Five Aphorisms for piano, composed 1990. Great music, anyway! The subtitle of this movement is Allegretto. Thanks!

[furtwaengler]

I am familiar with Shostakovich's Aphorisms, by which Schnittke must have been inspired. From all I know, this is definitely Schnittke; his finger prints are all over it, and I'd love to hear the rest of the set. You play it very well, and do many things I will never, never be able to do (for my small hand size...I envy your reach!).

Thanks so much for posting, and drawing our attention to this music. I hope to hear more of your playing.

[birba]

Not something I would go out of my way to learn.  His later works are so obscure, at times.  But you play it very well.  And the ending was time-stopping.

[nikolasideris]

The work is great I think. I like Schnittke very much!

On your playing I don't have too much to say really, except that I feel you are a bit 'numb', a bit 'nervous', somewhat scared of taking the extra step. I don't have the score in front of me, but your performance seemed a tiny bit too calculated and precise.

Again I will repeat that without a score I can't really comment too much and the above are mostly assumptions, on a pieece I've never heard before.

In either way, thanks for posting and for sharing.

[daniloperusina]

Thanks, furtwaengler and birba, very flattering. Yes, there are a few minor 10ths to reach. Interesting about his later works being "obscure", I didn't see that, but it gives a perspective to the whole set that I like!:)
Nikolasideris, you don't have to like my interpretation, of course, but I didn't hold anything back. I wanted a great deal of rythmic and dynamic 'precision', and a carefully shaped sound, to make it 'speak', for me, alas. So there's concentration, but I wouldn't say 'numb' or 'nervous'. 'Banging' on the ff's, or rushing an "Allegretto" tempo was out of the question for me, but maybe that's not what you meant. Anyway, thanks for sharing your opinion!

[nikolasideris]

daniloperusina:

First of all I think I need to apologize, if I came off a bit harsh. It wasn't my intention at all! So sorry about that.

As I said in my earlier post I don't have the score so I'm filled with assumptions on what I'd like to listen or not.

Personally (and this is personal), I would prefer more liberty in the dynamics and the tempo (not go faster or louder necessarily, but more variation perhaps...). Again I can't be sure but this is just my gut feeling and nothing else.

For the record and to be clear: Since many years now I concetrated on composition rather than performance. Which has brought me to the point where I have nothing but respect for the performers! I value their personality and their input. I don't feel there is a right/wrong way to perform a work, but in the end it falls down to the preferences of the audience (and the performer of course).

[furtwaengler]

Personally (and this is personal), I would prefer more liberty in the dynamics and the tempo (not go faster or louder necessarily, but more variation perhaps...). Again I can't be sure but this is just my gut feeling and nothing else.

Hi Nikolas, I know you're not new to the forum, but your posts are new to me, and I welcome your insight. I think I found your website with samples of some of your music, in which there ought to be some interest.

In the case of this Schnittke recording, I think it is fair to point out your subjective opinions regarding dynamics and such are based on a youtube recording. Surely you've noticed how youtube tends to suck the life out of such things in other recordings! With that there is also something to be said for restraint, and if you knew the piece at all, perhaps you'd be more inclined to appreciate our friend's efforts.

Dave

[nikolasideris]

Dave you are more than right to feel my posts seem new. I've only had a dozen or more for more than a couple of years... I've been lurking but not posting...

Perhaps I'm coming off as the bad guy, but I do appreciate the effort, the talent and the practice that goes playing this Allegretto. I've no doubts. And I do know that sadly youtube sucks the energy out of everything... Again I hope I'm not insulting anyone and my opinion is nothing more than personal and subjetive, as you rightly say.

I will search around for the score, in which case I will probably agree with you about restrain (and I'm quite ready to take my words back! I don't mind being wrong, especially if I've already said my doubts on what I'm saying in the first place...)

[daniloperusina]

If you're interested, I'll try to scan and send you the score.

You don't come off as the bad guy, I wrote "opinions welcome".
I respect what your gut feeling tells you, and I take it that you don't find my performance convincing enough, as such, and that's fine, and I'm happy to discuss where I might be dissappointing in that respect.

I personally don't agree about the 'liberty', when it comes to this particular piece; it's so densely notated that I feel it wouldn't be Schnittke anymore if I digress too much from what's written. But of course you can't comment on that without seeing the score.
Is it vividly enough realized? That's what I think the question would have to be.
So let me know, and I'll see if I can send it.
Cheers!