Dvorak Piano Music

[redbaron]

General opinions on Dvorak's piano music?

[redbaron]

I see you obviously don't care for it at all...

[poiuytrewq11zc]

Someone in my piano class performed a Slavonic Dance by Dvorak at our last recital. I was definitely a fan of the rich harmonization and the orchestral feel. However, Dvorak was not really a piano composer. You will not hear an orchestra perform Chopin (unless they're playing a concerto with a soloist of course) and you will rarely hear a pianist perform Dvorak. It is "rare" piano repertoire that is quite the treat.

[quantum]

You will not hear an orchestra perform Chopin (unless they're playing a concerto with a soloist of course) [...]

Have you seen the ballet Les Sylphides?

[drkilroy]

What about Humoresque in G-flat?

Best regards, Dr

[redbaron]

It's supposed to be quite unpianistic though I haven't played any of it so I can't comment. Having just listened to his complete piano works I think that some of it deserves to be performed more. The Humoresques are quite captivating. As a body of work I don't think it's as interesting as the piano music of other composers such as Mendelssohn or Sibelius and it is fairly hit and miss but some of the harmonic progressions are absolutely delightful and quite unlike anything else.

[drkilroy]

Actually I know the tune of the humoresque before knowing it is Dvorak's piece for piano and I thought it is for strings!

Best regards, Dr

[aintgotnorhythm]

I have a couple of piano transcriptions, Slavonic Dance no 13 and the New World Symphony, both of which are great fun to play. In fact, when I learnt the dance I somehow didn't realise it was a dance and played it more as an andante piece, it was a great surprise when I heard the up-tempo orchestral version!