Mendelssohn Piano Concerto in A Minor

[maddenleaman]

I can't find any information on this piece, and I can't find the sheet music for it.  I'd like to learn it, but I can't do that without the sheet music.  Any help on that front would be appreciated.
Thanks.

-Madden

[kelly_kelly]

The only Mendelssohn piano concertos I have heard are in G minor (more common) and D minor. Are you sure you don't mean one of those?

[maddenleaman]

There is a piano concerto in A minor that Mendelssohn wrote in 1822.  I have a recording of it, but I can't find out anything about it.

-Madden

[thalbergmad]

It is an early work (1822) and perhaps close enough to the Hummel Concerto in the same key to be considered a kid sister or brother. Also has some relation to the Dussek Double Concerto Op63 which Mendelssohn was studying at the time.

There appears to have been only one public performance and then the work was forgotten. The manuscript was given by Mendelssohn's heirs to the Staatsbibliothek in 1878 and it was another 90 years until the first publication. A further edition was published by Breitkopf in 1997 which should still be available. The score reference number is EB8683.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

I forgot to mention that this concerto is vastly superior to the worthless trash written by another German composer in the same key some 20 years later.

Thal

[ahinton]

I forgot to mention that this concerto is vastly superior to the worthless trash written by another German composer in the same key some 20 years later.

How on earth did you manage to forget to do that? I am amazed!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

As i grow older, the more I seem to warm to Mendelssohn's piano/orchestra works.

5 years ago, I would have laughed at him for his lack of grandeur and power and criticised him for not composing something in a more majestic sweeping style. Now, I just love these works for what they are, but I still prefer Weber. I cannot see that changing.

Thal

[ahinton]

As i grow older, the more I seem to warm to Mendelssohn's piano/orchestra works.

5 years ago, I would have laughed at him for his lack of grandeur and power and criticised him for not composing something in a more majestic sweeping style. Now, I just love these works for what they are, but I still prefer Weber. I cannot see that changing.

I know that in what I'm about to write I'm temporarily diverging from the thread topic, but now that we can appreciate that you're self-confessedly rather better disposed towards Mendelssohn that once you were, what do you make of his two piano trios and his quartets (especially the last one, Op. 80) in the context of the kind of style to which you draw attention here? To me, the F minor quartet is different to but worth of Beethoven at his near-best (although I accept that it is something of an exception in Mendelssohn's output).

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

There is a piano concerto in A minor that Mendelssohn wrote in 1822.  I have a recording of it, but I can't find out anything about it.

OH YOU'RE KIDDING ME? You have a recording of a supposedly 3rd Piano concerto by Mendelssohn?

Any chance it could be uploaded somewhere...

(I know it might seem wrong to upload music - but I'm pretty sure this is a rarity)

[retrouvailles]

OH YOU'RE KIDDING ME? You have a recording of a supposedly 3rd Piano concerto by Mendelssohn?

Any chance it could be uploaded somewhere...

(I know it might seem wrong to upload music - but I'm pretty sure this is a rarity)

It's not a rarity. The unfinished (I forget who completed it) 3rd piano concerto by Mendelssohn (NOT the same concerto as the piano concerto in A minor) was recorded by Roberto Prosseda and is widely available. The piano concerto in A minor has been recorded by a number of people.

[redbaron]

I forgot to mention that this concerto is vastly superior to the worthless trash written by another German composer in the same key some 20 years later.

Thal

Worthless trash? Yeah right...

THAT concerto is a suprememly elegant piece of work and I don't even like Schumann.

[perfect_pitch]

It's not a rarity.

Really??? First of all... I've spent several web-sites trying to find a place to buy a recording of this third concerto... Naxos, Classicsonline, YouTube, itunes as well as several others.

Two... According to wikipedia - Roberto Prosseda actually recorded a third piano concerto in e minor... which key is it it??? (Just so I know what to look for)

[maddenleaman]

Thanks so much for letting me know about the Breitkopf & Hartel edition!  I didn't even think of them!

-Madden

[maddenleaman]

OH YOU'RE KIDDING ME? You have a recording of a supposedly 3rd Piano concerto by Mendelssohn?

Any chance it could be uploaded somewhere...

(I know it might seem wrong to upload music - but I'm pretty sure this is a rarity)

If you are looking for a recording of the 3rd piano concerto in E minor, Jennifer Eley made a recording that is posted on YouTube.  If you are looking for a recording of the A Minor piano concerto, go on YouTube or iTunes or Amazon.

[retrouvailles]

Really??? First of all... I've spent several web-sites trying to find a place to buy a recording of this third concerto... Naxos, Classicsonline, YouTube, itunes as well as several others.

Two... According to wikipedia - Roberto Prosseda actually recorded a third piano concerto in e minor... which key is it it??? (Just so I know what to look for)

Yes, Roberto Prosseda recorded the third in E minor. You can buy it easily if you look for it well enough.

[perfect_pitch]

OKAY, WAIT!!!

So is there two piano concerto's I haven't heard of?

If Prosseda did a recording of the e minor piano concerto, what the heck is this about an a minor piano concerto?

As for YouTube... I've spent almost half an hour looking for either of these piano concertos with no luck. I've found the Jennifer Eley e minor on itunes (2 movements right?!?)

As for the a minor - I've had no luck.

[cmg]

I don't have the time or energy to read this entire doctoral dissertation on Mendelssohn concerti, but Roberto Prosseda recorded with Chailly and the Gewandhausorchester on Decca Mendelssohn's world premier recording of Piano Concerto No. 3 in E minor.  It's a live performance, the piece is in parts reconstructed and it's nothing to get twisted about.  Go to www.deccaclassis.com to find it.

[Bob]

This is what New Groves says...

Piano Concerto, a, str, 1822, ? perf. Berlin, 5 Dec 1822; L2 ii/1

I take that's a string orchestra?  I'm not sure what the L2 ii/1 means.  Number of movements?  Or some cataloging system?  There's no opus number on it.

[retrouvailles]

OKAY, WAIT!!!

So is there two piano concerto's I haven't heard of?

If Prosseda did a recording of the e minor piano concerto, what the heck is this about an a minor piano concerto?

As for YouTube... I've spent almost half an hour looking for either of these piano concertos with no luck. I've found the Jennifer Eley e minor on itunes (2 movements right?!?)

As for the a minor - I've had no luck.

Ok, just to get it straight...

Mendelssohn has the two numbered piano concertos, plus those extra works for piano and orchestra. He has a piano concerto in A minor with string accompaniment only. He has a piano concerto in E minor, which was unfinished (finished by someone else) (he only finished two movements, but Prosseda recorded all three movements, obviously including the completed 3rd movement). Finally, he has two early concertos for 2 pianos and orchestra in E major and A flat major (which have multiple recordings). There is also a concerto in D minor for piano and violin (again, this one has multiple recordings). Are we straight now?

All of these pieces have multiple recordings, and you should be able to find them if you look hard enough.

This is what New Groves says...

Piano Concerto, a, str, 1822, ? perf. Berlin, 5 Dec 1822; L2 ii/1

I take that's a string orchestra?  I'm not sure what the L2 ii/1 means.  Number of movements?  Or some cataloging system?  There's no opus number on it.

Yes, it is for string orchestra. L2 ii/1 is a cataloging system, I would expect.

[perfect_pitch]

Thank you retrouvailles...

Finally sorted things out. I only just discovered the double piano concertos a month back, now there's even more *** joy   

God the first two movements of the e minor piano concerto by Jennifer Eley.

Searched through Decca and found the album for Prossedor, but can't seem to f***ing download the bloody album.

I'll fiddle about that some other time. Anyway, I'm going to listen to the Double Piano Concertos - they're fun.

[retrouvailles]

Thank you retrouvailles...

Finally sorted things out. I only just discovered the double piano concertos a month back, now there's even more *** joy   

God the first two movements of the e minor piano concerto by Jennifer Eley.

Searched through Decca and found the album for Prossedor, but can't seem to f***ing download the bloody album.

I'll fiddle about that some other time. Anyway, I'm going to listen to the Double Piano Concertos - they're fun.

Glad to know that I'm not the only one who likes the double piano concertos, especially the a flat major. What fun it is! I would love to learn the reduction with another pianist.

[perfect_pitch]

Okay - I must have these... If anyone happens to have a link for a reputable recording of both the Mendelssohn in A and the full 3 movements in E, then could they post it here.

I would like to buy them wherever they are. I have GOT TO HEAR THEM!!!!

[retrouvailles]

Here are links to CDs with each of those two concertos:

https://www.amazon.com/Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Piano-Concertos-Mendelssohn/dp/B0000016ME/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1295568144&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Mendelssohn-Discoveries-Rare-Piano-Works/dp/B002GJ3MRG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1295568154&sr=8-2

[perfect_pitch]

THANK YOU!!!  

I don't know WHY I didn't think to look on Amazon when I was first searching for them.   

[perfect_pitch]

Well good news is - I have ordered the a minor concerto...

but...

F@#$.... Can't download the finished 3 movement piano concerto in E by Prosseda...

I'm not in America so it won't let me download the MP3 disc... DAMNIT!!!! I HAVE TO HEAR THIS 3RD MOVEMENT... SERIOUSLY!!!

I'd almost consider pirating this disc to hear this... I have to hear this performance.

[martinrdb]

I have just been listening to this concerto on Youtube:

The last movement is particularly effective.