Favorite 'neoclassical' piano works

[indutrial]

Though I'm certain this discussion has come and gone before, I'm interested in discussing any works and composers who fall under the large and dubious blanket-category of 'neoclassical.' Examples range from Hindemith to Prokofiev to numerous Paris-based composers (Milhaud, Honegger, Tansman, Martinu, Poulenc, Auric). I'm coming off of a rather long hiatus from classical music and have been taking great pleasure in finding a lot more of these composers' works floating around on Youtube and coming out on CD.

A couple random examples...

Related to this, Eliane Reyes recently put out a great Naxos disc containing Tansman's 24 Intermezzos, a set of short works that he wrote right before WWII.

I'd be curious to hear any discussion of anything surrounding this vast, but not-often-mentioned bunch of composers/works.

[countrymath]

[indutrial]

Now I feel like someone sh*t in my ear.

[retrouvailles]

Nice to see you back again, indutrial. I've been listening to a lot of Honegger and Koechlin lately, but unfortunately not much piano music. I'm not sure how neoclassical Koechlin is, but I've enjoyed some of his piano works, and I would throw him in with that group you mentioned. His Les Heures Persanes is a great work. Honegger's Piano Concertino is a great work, also. Poulenc is a great favorite, and his Concerto Champêtre is a great overlooked work that can be for either piano or harpsichord and orchestra.

[thalbergmad]

I'm not sure how neoclassical Koechlin is

Neither am I old chap, but I would rate his Ballade Op.50 for Piano & Orchestra as a neglected masterpiece.

Not my usual cup of tea, but the piece haunts me.

Thal

[indutrial]

The boundaries of this loose categorization would certainly contain Koechlin and others like Roussel, many of whom taught or at least influenced the Les Six composers and others like Tansman. I'm not at all familiar with Koechlin's piano work, but I've enjoyed quite a bit of the chamber works he composed, including the Sonatina for oboe d'amore and a viola sonata that he dedicated to Milhaud (who actually premiered the piece on viola). Koechlin's work often gets favorably compared to the work of Bax and Ireland, both of whom I really like. Considering his direct linkage with Faure (who's been another favorite of mine for years), I should probably explore his work a bit more.

I probably shouldn't have specified 'piano' works, since most of these composers shine brightest through their chamber and orchestral works.

[pianowolfi]

Well I am really fond of Frank Martin, if that counts. I have played some of his Huit Préludes pour piano and I plan to come back to them one day and perform the whole set.

[sharon_f]

Stravinsky, Sonata

[gore234]

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[djealnla]

I listened to Martinů's Double concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani a few days ago (after having heard it once [and for the first time] over 6 years ago), and I really enjoyed it.

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to classify Hindemith as a neo-baroque composer, given the polyphonic nature of his music?

[indutrial]

I listened to Martinů's Double concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani a few days ago (after having heard it once [and for the first time] over 6 years ago), and I really enjoyed it.

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to classify Hindemith as a neo-baroque composer, given the polyphonic nature of his music?

For me, the whole notion of 'neoclassical' music simply serves as a decent blanket description for composition that unashamedly crosses old forms with new elements, even if the latter includes tons of polyphony/atonality/etc.... Whenever I think 'neoclassical', the term usually subsumes back-referencing to baroque/earlier forms as well. Lots of works by Milhaud, Martinů, Hindemith, Bentzon, Badings, etc.. (composers usually called neoclassical) fall into that latter description.

[gerryjay]

dear indutrial,
this discussion is very interesting, and have inspired several music thinkers. the best starting point is the book by Scott Messing (Neoclassicism in Music from the Genesis of the Concept through the Schoenberg/Stravisnky Polemic). then, for some counterpoint to his view, i must suggest Joseph Straus' Remaking the past, and the outstanding article by Richard Taruskin Back to whom?.

enjoy!

[retrouvailles]

Speaking of Bentzon, I have really grown to enjoy his Partita, Op. 38, which could make a great coupling alongside any of the Bach dance suites or even alongside some Hindemith. I have usually found a lot of Bentzon's music cold (just my personal opinion), but not this work by any means. It is a work that definitely deserves more performances.

[indutrial]

Speaking of Bentzon, I have really grown to enjoy his Partita, Op. 38, which could make a great coupling alongside any of the Bach dance suites or even alongside some Hindemith. I have usually found a lot of Bentzon's music cold (just my personal opinion), but not this work by any means. It is a work that definitely deserves more performances.

I'd like to hear more of his 'neo-baroque' works (e.g. The Tempered Piano cycles, inventions, suites) played by others besides himself. My favorite Bentzon works that I've heard are his chamber sonatas (clarinet, trombone, cello, French horn, all the different saxophones). In that media, I find him to be just as inventive and interesting as Hindemith, Milhaud, and others who attacked a wide variety of different instruments.