Eduardo Dutra, Preludio, Op. 32 in F#m

[rachfan]

Composed in 1940 by Eduardo Dutra (1908-1964?) and dedicated to his son, Farnesio, this beautiful and haunting late romantic “Preludio”, Op. 32 in F# minor leaves no doubt as to the fine talent and craftsmanship of this obscure Brazilian composer.  The character of this prelude is that of a lament.

Here's an interesting footnote: Eduardo's son Farnesio, 1921-1987, became a pianist, pops composer, and "crooner" who was famous and popular during the 1950s.  

Piano: Baldwin Model L Artist Grand (6’3”) with lid fully open
Recorder: Korg MR-1000
Microphones: Earthworks TC20 matched pair of small diaphragm omni-directional condenser mics in A-B configuration    

Comments welcome.

[goldentone]

The Preludio is a wonderful piece.  This is a very, very good recording, David, in fact I'd have to say it is your finest.  It is technically flawless or virtually so, and played with complete assurance and command. You are so comfortable at the piano, and it certainly translates to the ear.  If you can unearth more pieces from Dutra, I'll be eager to hear them.

[rachfan]

Hi goldentone,

Thanks so much for being willing to listen and comment on this piece by an almost unknown but wonderful composer.  And I appreciate your compliments on my playing as well.  Thanks!

During Dutra's lifetime his compositions were not published by the music publishers of the day.  So he retained his own manuscripts and produced private printings as needed.  After his death, his manuscripts and printed scores were either lost or destroyed.  As it stands now, we don't even have a partial listing of his works for piano that I know of.  Hopefully, in the future musicians and musicologists will rediscover these pieces in libraries, archives and private collections in Brazil.  In the meantime I'm afraid that one would need to assemble a team of an archeologist, a gold prospector, and a detective to search for it.  It's sad, as even this one prelude hints at the creativity of Eduardo Dutra.

Thanks again for listening to my recording.

[birba]

Really really beautiful!!!  I want to play it!!!  How did YOU get a hold of it?

[rachfan]

Hi birba,

This is a very rare piece of music.  I'm so glad you were adventurous enough to listen to a work of an unknown composer.  Most just pass it by because they don't recognize the name--meaning that it cannot possibly be of any beauty or value.  So thanks for pausing to listen!  I'll send you an email on it.

[pianowolfi]

Very beautiful and haunting, indeed! Thank you for posting this!

[rachfan]

Hi wolfi,

I'm glad that you enjoyed hearing this piece.  Thanks!

[ramseytheii]

Really lovely.  It sounds like very Latin harmonies...

I am also curious, how you got ahold of the music!  What a find.  I hope you can find more.

Walter Ramsey

[ramseytheii]

One thing I just noticed, if his music wasn't published, what does it mean "opus 32"? 

Walter Ramsey

[ted]

Thanks for posting this little revelation, David. It has an intense sentiment entirely suited to your technical approach and musical inclination. There are some wonderful moments in it. Its obscurity, and that of the composer, is  in general somewhat concerning, is it not ? Imagine the colossal heap of fine music, which must be either lost or lying around perishing in dark corners of the world, while we are all compulsorily bombarded with ubiquitous tripe day in and day out. You are doing piano music a sterling service on this forum; let us hope more people hear you.   

[rachfan]

Hi Walter,

I'm not sure.  Perhaps where Dutra was doing private printings, he simply kept track of his sequential works and assigned the opus numbers accordingly?  I doubt there would be any law against that.  If so, Dutra would be one of those composers whose opus numbers were truly chronological, as opposed to those composers whose works were instead numbered in the order in which they were submitted to the publisher (meaning that a young piece published late would have a deceivingly high opus number).  

David      

[rachfan]

Hi Walter,

I didn't discover the Dutra score, so can't take any credit.  Instead I received it in an email from a professional pianist who suggested that I might like to play it.  So I benefited from an unexpected bit of serendipity.  When Dutra died in 1964, most of his manuscripts and printed scores were lost or destroyed.  I say "most", because we do have Op. 32 right here as a tribute to the composer.  Perhaps if some musicians and musicologists in Brazil could initiate a search of the libraries and music archives, more of these pieces might surface.  There are probably Brazilian pianists with Dutra scores sitting right in their own sheet music cabinets.  And who knows what lies hidden away in the back rooms of old sheet music stores?  With a bit of publicity, maybe more scores could be found and duplicated from private collections and other sources.  Sadly, given the obscurity of the composer, none of this will be likely in my opinion.

David

[rachfan]

Hi Ted,

Thanks so much for your kind words!  I appreciate that.  Yes, if this little prelude is indicative of Dutra's talents and craftsmanship as a composer, then we should all worry about any lesser-known, yet wonderful, composer's works deteriorating day by day.

Yes, I do try to bring unknown works to this forum.  It's true that in the Piano Street archives I've probably done my share of standard repertoire recordings.  But currently I don't feel motivated to play the 1,856,431st rendition of a Chopin etude.  I don't criticize others wanting to do so, but these days I'm far more interested in blazing new trails into some of the dusty corners of the vast literature for the piano, especially those of the Late Romantics. And so many of these neglected, obscure or forgotten pieces not only have high merit, but are absolute gems.  It gives me a wonderful feeling to be able to help some of these long-departed composers in my own small way.

I too hope that more people will listen to pieces like this Dutra prelude.  Too often I think that both members and visitors here often look for the names of the Bach's, Beethoven's and Brahms's.  If they encounter an unknown composer on the list, they take it to mean that the music cannot possibly be of much value, and they rush past it.  Probably it'll never change, but it doesn't discourage or deter me from plugging along with my recording projects.  

David

[scottmcc]

absolutely beautiful playing!  I almost missed this recording, but I'm sure glad I found it today.  I'd love to see a copy of the score if that's possible (without violating copyright/IP of course).

[birba]

I asked first!    

[rachfan]

Hi scott,

I'd love to oblige.  But birba is right, and I explained the sad situation to him in an email earlier. Basically the problem is that I received the score in pdf format via email.  Instead of saving the pdf file in My Documents, (not foreseeing future requests for it), I simply opened the attachment, printed it off on the spot, and deleted the email.  So I no longer have the pdf file that would enable me to simply email it to you.  Also, I don't own a hand-held scanner, as I would never have occasion to use one (except in this instance  .)  And I'd feel awkward going back to the performing artist who originally sent it to me. Plus it's very hard to track him down.  Believe me, if I did have it I'd gladly give it to anyone asking, as it would further promote the music of a wonderful but forgotten composer. I really wish I could be more helpful on this.  

Frankly, I fully expected when I prepared and posted this piece that it would be largely ignored.  Many people tend to be looking for Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Debussy, etc., and when they encounter an unknown composer in the list, most  don't pause, believing it to be somehow inferior music.  Or at least that's my perception of their likely reaction.  I have to say that I'm amazed that this obscure piece has gotten as much attention as it has already. I'm extremely grateful for that!!!   I want to again thank everyone who has listened to it for being more adventurous. If I'm ever able to get the pdf again, I'll make a note of it here.  

[quantum]

Rachfan,

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful music.  It's a fine interpretation fully in tune with the essence of the composition's message.

It is wonderful that you bring us these little known gems.

[rachfan]

Hi quantum,

Thanks so much for your kind words!  Coming from you, it means a lot to me, as I very much respect and enjoy your artistry and recordings.  Yes, I love searching for pieces of extraordinary beauty, but that have inexplicably fallen by the wayside.  A piece such as this prelude is indeed a gem.

Thanks for taking a moment to listen to this music.  

[littletune]

It's really beautiful! It's one of those pieces where I can see pictures and things happening in my head while I'm listening to it... I like that a lot!
Well I know I don't have anything smart to say I just wanted to say I liked it a lot  

[rachfan]

Hi littletune,

Thanks for listening to this nearly unknown piece!  I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.  Regarding the "pictures" in your head, I've had a couple of people tell me that when they listen to me play, it's like watching a movie.   In Romantic and Late Romantic works, I admit that do my best to be expressive.

[samthegreat4]

This piece is in no way inferior to a Chopin or a Brahms.
You're playing is nice, and the sound is very good too.
Continue with bringing unknown works to the forum!

[littletune]

Hi littletune,

Thanks for listening to this nearly unknown piece!  I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.  Regarding the "pictures" in your head, I've had a couple of people tell me that when they listen to me play, it's like watching a movie.   In Romantic and Late Romantic works, I admit that do my best to be expressive.

Yes that's true! I didn't think about it first. It must also be the way someone plays not just what the piece is like that makes you see pictures and movies when you listen to it! I guess it must be both!  

[rachfan]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your thoughts on this piece.  I agree, it is a wonderful composition, and it's gained more notice than I would have thought possible.  It just goes to prove yet again that good music is good music! 

Yes, I've brought a large number of unknown or obscure pieces to the forum, and many members and visitors, like yourself, have really enjoyed hearing them.  It's true that people will always love hearing Chopin's Mazurkas, Brahms' Ballades, etc.  But they also delight in hearing something that is not only unfamiliar, but a gem as well.  It gives me a lot of pleasure to bring these "finds" to the forum.

I appreciate your support of this endeavor.

[rachfan]

Hi littletune,

Yes, you're right.  A composer's very fine composition (the score) presents a performance opportunity to the pianist.  By forming an interpretation, using technique to overcome the difficulties, and bringing musicianship and artistry in playing the work, in the end it is truly a collaboration between the composer and the pianist.  The composer offers the "map", but the pianist gives the listener not the map, but the territory represented by that map.

[omar_roy]

Very beautiful, and I like that you have a very good pulse without too much rubato.  Not overly sentimental.

Excellent work as always.  I too would like to know where to obtain the score for this piece.

[littletune]

Hi littletune,

Yes, you're right.  A composer's very fine composition (the score) presents a performance opportunity to the pianist.  By forming an interpretation, using technique to overcome the difficulties, and bringing musicianship and artistry in playing the work, in the end it is truly a collaboration between the composer and the pianist.  The composer offers the "map", but the pianist gives the listener not the map, but the territory represented by that map.

Wow what a great explanation! Cool !!   

[rachfan]

Hi littletune,

I'm glad you found the illustration helpful. 

[richard66]

But Rachfan, if you value this score I would get it scanned somewhere and saved. I am sure you can find someone near you who has a scanner. I would feel panicky if I had a score which might rip tomorrow and I might never be able to secure another copy of it. Or maybe even a photocopy...

[rachfan]

Hi Richard,

Problem solved.  I went back to my original source who kindly sent me fresh pdfs, which I then distributed via emails to everyone who had requested a copy of the score.  So once again everyone is a contented and happy camper here! 

[rachfan]

Hi Omar,

Sorry for my delayed response.  I do want to thank you for your kind comments about my playing of this piece.  I appreciate it. 

Did you receive the pdf of the score OK?

[jimbo320]

Bravo. Very nicely done. I saved it for my collection. I would like a score too....

[rachfan]

Hi jimbo,

Thanks for the compliments!  If you'd like, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send the pdfs to you.

[furtwaengler]

Hi David, Congrats on another great recording. As for the piece, it's like a dance with a dark destiny. It takes the breathe away really, seemingly by design. It's well worth the attention.

[rachfan]

Hi Dave,

Nice to see you back at the forum.  Sounds like you've been very busy of late!

Thanks for the kind words on my playing.  I think this piece is very unusual for three reasons: 1) Obviously the composer and his music are nearly forgotten. 2) With Dutra being Brazilian, as listeners we're probably far more conditioned to something like Villa Lobos' style--which this piece clearly is not. And 3) The the profound rendevous with the dark destiny you describe is so beautifully and exquisitely crafted by Dutra.  The piece is a trifle, but still a real gem.  I wish we could have more of his music, but alas the odds of finding it are a long shot.

David

[furtwaengler]

I've been reading back through this thread, and this quote jumped out at me:

This is a very rare piece of music. I'm so glad you were adventurous enough to listen to a work of an unknown composer.  Most just pass it by because they don't recognize the name--meaning that it cannot possibly be of any beauty or value.  So thanks for pausing to listen!

Eduardo Dutra. A completely unfamiliar composer, has a little prelude uploaded on a forum, and in 19 days the thread has been viewed over 460 times, the recording downloaded 130 times, and has generated up to this point 34 replies. Tell me in the live of this forum as you know it, what has had a similar impact and generated such an enthusiastic reception as this? In my time I can only think possible of Marik's Chopin Ballade no. 4, and at that I'm not sure. All that said, this is a phenomenal achievement, a legendary contribution, and a true testament to the astonishing talent which must have been present in this Eduardo Dutra. And just a 2 minute glimpse. Is it possible we've touched the fringe of something truly special here? I think it is quite amazing!

Dave

[scottmcc]

I've been reading back through this thread, and this quote jumped out at me:

Eduardo Dutra. A completely unfamiliar composer, has a little prelude uploaded on a forum, and in 19 days the thread has been viewed over 460 times, the recording downloaded 130 times, and has generated up to this point 34 replies. Tell me in the live of this forum as you know it, what has had a similar impact and generated such an enthusiastic reception as this? In my time I can only think possible of Marik's Chopin Ballade no. 4, and at that I'm not sure. All that said, this is a phenomenal achievement, a legendary contribution, and a true testament to the astonishing talent which must have been present in this Eduardo Dutra. And just a 2 minute glimpse. Is it possible we've touched the fringe of something truly special here? I think it is quite amazing!

Dave

i agree that it is indeed a very impressive achievement.  question though: can anyone find that old "best of the audition room" thread, resurrect it, and put this piece in?  I tried looking for it the other day but I couldn't find it.  it was by lostinidlewonder and should have been made a sticky but for some reason that didn't happen.

EDIT:  I found it!  yay!  https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=34278.0

don't worry, I've put this piece in.  others should contribute more of their favorites--there's lots of great music circulating here lately that deserves mention.

[rachfan]

Hi Dave,

Yes, I must admit that I'm surprised at the interest this little piece created!  I sent the score to a number of members here who requested it, as well as to pianists on other websites.  I think that the artist who sent me the score knew that if I ever recorded the piece, others would really enjoy it.  He was right!  The positive response re-energizes me to continue looking for very beautiful but overlooked late romantic music.  There is so much extraordinary music out there that does not deserve to be gathering dust.  

I hope that musicians and even musicologists will make an effort in Brazil to find more of Dutra's works.  If his entire collection is truly found to be lost, then it will be a huge tragedy indeed.  Playing this piece was like being able to barely crack open a door for the slightest glimpse into the world of Dutra.  Let's hope that someday the door can be fully opened.

David

[rachfan]

Hi scott,

Thanks so much for nominating this Dutra piece for the "Best of Audition Room" thread.  If Eduardo Dutra could be here, he'd be very pleased, I'm sure!  I very much appreciate the compliment on my performance too.

David

[emill]

Hi David,

In the tradition of YT ... allow me to say it is a NICE piece.
But above all, the exchange of comments here is most valuable to my
music "education". THANKS for posting this.

emill

[rachfan]

Hi emill,

I appreciate your listening.  Where it's literally rare music, as most of the composer's works are either lost or destroyed, Enzo might enjoy hearing this nearly forgotten piece too.  I'm also glad you're benefiting from the comments in this thread.  Thanks for stopping by!

David

[Derek]

Wow, that piece was really good! I've listened to a couple of other obscure late romantic pieces you've posted and enjoyed them also. I don't go into the audition room that much because as you point out it might contain the six hundred trillionth recording of the pathetique or what not, but this is much more interesting. I think the phenomenon of people passing over dead obscure composers is similar to passing over modern obscure composers, wouldn't you say? It's funny how bound people are by what "everyone else" thinks =)

[rachfan]

Hi Derek,

Thanks for listening to this unknown prelude, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it.  Yes, when you explore remote and dusty corners of the piano literature, there are some real jewels there awaiting discovery.  I get so hooked on this stuff that I seldom play any standard repertoire these days.  As for those who pass over lesser known composers, well, they don't know what they're missing!  The phenomenon you describe is sometimes referred to as the "herd mentality".  For me, it's feels great to break away from the herd to explore new possibilities in the repertoire. 

I appreciate your thoughts. 

David

[thalbergmad]

Most just pass it by because they don't recognize the name

Some of us (including me) pass the ones we do recognize and only listen to the ones we do not.

I am certainly glad I did this time.

Simply stunning.

Thal

[rachfan]

Hi thal,

Your point is reassuring.  I was chatting with a person on another forum tonight who said he cannot bear to hear the millionth version of the "Pathetique", so prefers to hear my recordings of the music of obscure and nearly forgotten composers.  I must admit that I'm fascinated by music like this to the point where I no longer play standard repertoire pieces.  I have a queue of recording projects honoring these wonderful Late Romantic composers.  I'm glad you stopped to listen to this Dutra piece!

And thanks so much for your compliment.  Coming from you, it means a lot to me!

David

[thalbergmad]

I was chatting with a person on another forum tonight who said he cannot bear to hear the millionth version of the "Pathetique", so prefers to hear my recordings of the music of obscure and nearly forgotten composers.  

This is most definately my stance. Although I played the well known works in my youth, I can no longer be bothered to keep them in my repetoire and use what practice time I have to explore the forgotten ones. Continuing to listen to the same works is now completely beyond me, so that it seems I rarely listen to our contemporary virtuosi unless they are playing something I have not heard.

The downside of this is one sometimes has to play through a haystack to find a pearl, but I usually find the effort worth it. Your efforts here are no doubt going some way to illustrating that there are a vast plethora of works that have not been recorded, or perhaps not even played since their conception, that deserve a hearing.

Anyway, I am off to play some Cusins.

Thal

[birba]

"Cusins"?!  Please translate into Amerikana, please.

[thalbergmad]

I was referring to Sir William George Cusins old chap.

English romantic and ex keeper of the Queens Music.

Thal

[rachfan]

Egad, does that mean that the King had no music?

David

[birba]

GRRRRRR!  you have a way of making a guy feel so DUMB...
Found him in Wikipedia.  Interesting...  what's his music like?

[thalbergmad]

Not really got to grips with it yet, but it gives me a Menelssohn/Sterndale Bennet vibe, with some Weber seasoning.

Thal