Kapustin

[madvillain]

I just discovered this wonderful conposer, tell me what you all think!

[retrouvailles]

I've played and listened to his music for years. He represents both the lineage of Gershwin and the lineage of the Russian composer pianists like Rachmaninoff and Medtner. It's some of the toughest music to learn, but some of the funnest to play in performance. And what's better is the audience's reaction to it. His substantial works are wonderfully crafted, also. The second sonata is in sonata form and sounds like a jazz improvisation (almost).

[franz_]

you only discovered him now??

[djealnla]

Rachmaninoff and Medtner

What do they have in common with Kapustin?

[ahinton]

What do they have in common with Kapustin?

Well, even though there is arguably quite abit that they don't have in common with him, they're all Russians, all pianists and all composers who wrote extensively for their own instrument; will that do for starters?

Best,

Alistair

[sharon_f]

I love Kapustin. And not all of his music is difficult, There is a wonderful Sonatina that is accessible to the younger student.

[chomikchomik]

Impromptu op. 66 Cho... Kapustin. 

[andante_con_moto]

I am considering adding a Kapustin etude (No 1 or 6, one of the 'easy' ones) to my recital program at the moment actually. They are amazing. (His Op. 40 Concert etudes) have a listen if you haven't heard them.

Here is a link to the composer playing No. 1

and

No. 6 (sounds easier than it is)

&feature=related

All are very different in character, I'd recommend a listen to them all!!

[asiantraveller101]

Yes, wonderfully refreshing to listen to his works. I also discovered his works recently. Love the jazz idioms. His Etudes are very popular now. I ordered his Bagatelles and Preludes a few weeks ago; to start "small", not sure if I can tackle the etudes!
Have fun with his music!
 

[retrouvailles]

What do they have in common with Kapustin?

Of course I wasn't saying that they had anything in common stylistically. I was saying that they continued the Russian composer-pianist lineage, just in a jazz style. You're a smart person. Surely you should have noticed this?

[djealnla]

Of course I wasn't saying that they had anything in common stylistically. I was saying that they continued the Russian composer-pianist lineage, just in a jazz style. You're a smart person. Surely you should have noticed this?

You said that he represents a lineage. I thought that there was more to it than just such a vague similarity. "Just in a jazz style"? Does Lady Gaga represent the lineage of Charles Ives, but just in the style of dance/pop music?

[ahinton]

You said that he represents a lineage. I thought that there was more to it than just such a vague similarity. "Just in a jazz style"? Does Lady Gaga represent the lineage of Charles Ives, but just in the style of dance/pop music?

I think that, whilst that may arguably sound like a pertinent question in itself, it doesn't really address what is a greater linkage (if not actual lineage) between Kapustin and those earlier Russian piano masters than there could possibly be between Ives and Gaga by anyone's imagination or shortage thereof.

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

You said that he represents a lineage. I thought that there was more to it than just such a vague similarity. "Just in a jazz style"? Does Lady Gaga represent the lineage of Charles Ives, but just in the style of dance/pop music?

Now now, let's not split hairs. You know what I mean. I don't have the time or energy for an argument.

[lostinidlewonder]

I've always noticed with playing Kasputin that the notes are actually very pleasing to the hand and easy for me to master, it's the rhythmic techniques he utilizes that requires quite a lot of work and experience. I simply can't believe that this guy lived Ukraine/Russia the jazz he writes is just so opposite to the culture of this music. He is like a black sheep, how did he manage the cultural repression he had to live with and grow into such an amazing jazz composer (in my opinion often an improvement or more innovative than the jazz piano legends)? The story behind that must be as amazing as his music.

[djealnla]

You know what I mean.

I don't. I insist that the two can hardly be seen as spiritual fathers of Kapustin.

[madvillain]

you only discovered him now??

yeah I'm still new to piano music

This etude is wonderful, and the pianist is great!

[retrouvailles]

I don't. I insist that the two can hardly be seen as spiritual fathers of Kapustin.

Well, I will elaborate a little, then. He fits into that Russian composer-pianist mold because he writes music that is brilliant and sounds difficult, but it fits very well into the hand and is far from being impossible (still difficult), despite the complexity and density of the textures. That is where I was going with my comparison, which I honestly didn't think was that crazy.

[charvin]

Major approve. He's become a standard for virtuoso piano work.

[ahinton]

I don't. I insist that the two can hardly be seen as spiritual fathers of Kapustin.

I'm unaware that anyone was going quite as far as to suggest that. Rakhmaninov enjoyed listening to Gershwin and Tatum, Medtner almost certainly loathed anything to do with the jazz of his time, but let's not get too wound up about Kapustin the "jazz composer" in any case (I'm sure that he would not want that himself!) because there's more to him than just that. I endeavoured to point out the similarities between the three which are hardly to be ignored or dismissed even though they clearly do not extend into the realms of spiritual paternity; furthermore, the differences between Rakhmaninov and Medtner are themselves not inconsiderable. One significant difference between Kapustin and the others is that he seems almost entirely to have eschewed the medium of song, his repertoire consisting mainly of orchestral and band pieces, concertos for solo instruments with orchestra, chamber music and, above all, piano music; songs for voice and piano are, on the other hand, a major feature in the output of both Rakhmaninov and Medtner.

Best,

Alistair

[djealnla]

Rakhmninov

I'm not familiar with this composer.

Nevertheless, I appreciate your and "retrouvailles"' contributions.

[ahinton]

I'm not familiar with this composer.

Nor I - and googling and checking Wiki doesn't help. But then I'm also unfamiliar with the oft-mentioned Elliot Carter either...

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

Elliott Carter's name isn't spelled differently because there are variations in the transliteration of his last name, but rather because people just don't want to check to see how it is spelled. Rachmaninoff (Rachmaninov, Rakhmaninov, etc) is a transliterated name and is free to be spelled a ton of ways, as long as the sound that comes out is the same.

[ahinton]

Elliott Carter's name isn't spelled differently because there are variations in the transliteration of his last name, but rather because people just don't want to check to see how it is spelled. Rachmaninoff (Rachmaninov, Rakhmaninov, etc) is a transliterated name and is free to be spelled a ton of ways, as long as the sound that comes out is the same.

I do know all of that! (as I suspect you already realise) - and one sees "Kasputin" all too often as well, which is potentially embarrassing for other reasons altogether...

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

I know that you know all of that. It's there for anyone else who has no idea why Rachmaninoff is allowed "misspellings", whereas Carter does not.

[ahinton]

I know that you know all of that. It's there for anyone else who has no idea why Rachmaninoff is allowed "misspellings", whereas Carter does not.

Fair enough - except, of course, that, the "misspelling" of Rakhmaninov in this instance was a consequence neither of transliterative convention or ignorance but a mere typo, of which I am all too often guilty!

Best,

Alistair