bach-busoni chaconne in d minor (live)

[rob47]

some mistakes (and a hilarious memo slip around '12) but i was happy with it in the end

[birba]

And you should very well be happy with it!  I enjoyed it immensely.  Beautiful tone and sense of phrasing.  This is a very difficult piece to hold together musically.   It's not played often these days.  Those mistakes take absolutely nothing away from the grandeur you presented.  I'm not sure about the memory slip you mentioned.  I wasn't following with the music.  I'm going to listen again and follow it note for note.  What edition did you use?  and what was the rest of the programme?  Wonderful performance.  Bravo.

[rachfan]

Hi rob,

Bravo!!  That was a marvelous performance!  Back in the 50s and 60s this piece sometimes served as the opening piece of recitals, especially those that we would call "chronological programs".  But was this chaconne ever controversial!  The Bach purists used to sneer saying "Where Bach left behind a rich piano literature, why would an artist ever play a violin transcription!?!" or equivalent.  Two famous pianists at that time, Rubinstein and Michelangeli (they didn't care what anyone thought ), loved the piece and programmed it despite the critics, and they persisted.  The piece is not heard as frequently now.  So it was good to hear you upholding that tradition!

David 

[pianowolfi]

Fantastic performance, Rob!
I admit that I have a bit of a problem with this transcription, as I strongly prefer the original violin piece, but your performance puts it into the best light!

[hakki]

Bravo!! Wonderfully played.

The only slight thing I can say is that, I would prefer a more controlled playing of the fast passages near the very end of the piece.

I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.

regards,

[pianoplayjl]

Congratulations-the applause at the end was very well deserved. I just want to say that your playing had my full attention from beginning to end, regardless of the length of the piece and the audio quality tis excellent. Didn't sound like you had a memory slip. Had you not mentioned it, no one would have noticed, perhaps apart from some Busonic fanatics. Well played, once again. I felt a bit emotional in some parts, something I would not have felt in Bach music.

JL

[rob47]

thank you everybody for taking the time to give this a listen

birba: it was a dover edition of busoni/bach transcriptions (chorale preludes, toccata and fugue in d minor, and c major and the chaconne i think). the memory slip @ 12 minutes is the correct figuration just played on the completely wrong register and completely wrong notes;it is probably unnoticeable without the score but ehhhhhhhh.  thanks again for your kind words

rachfan: thanks for listening and what a great bit of info that is.  haven't listened to rubinstein play this in many years and will now

wolfi: i definitely prefer the violin version also and tried my absolute best to configure this performance into something which affects one the same way as the violin version

hakki: agreed that the final page and a half is out of control compared to the first page and a half for example.  it's something im trying to change as a pianist: being more consistent in everything

pianoplayjl: your comments are too kind thank you very much sir or madam

sorry for not responding right away

best wishes,

Bernhard


lol just joking

best wishes,
-rob

[pianowolfi]

I think you are very cool, and you have a huge heart/much love, and humour!   I admire your artistship! (is that even a word lol?? )

[richard_strauss]

Great performance! I've played the Brahms transcription for the left hand, but I really wanna play this one. On a completely unrelated note: why does someone always have to cough in the middle of an inspired performance? 

[rob47]

hey all

i noticed other members recently posted their recordings of this work so i thought i would shamefully bump my own 
also because i'm bored and was listening to it earlier today

anyway i'm still half way happy with this recording i guess, and am thinking of re visiting it

would love any and all feedback, thanks

hope you're all well
-rob

Great performance! I've played the Brahms transcription for the left hand, but I really wanna play this one. On a completely unrelated note: why does someone always have to cough in the middle of an inspired performance? 

in fairness this recital was in january in canada

[rob47]

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuump

i'm super srnunk i ra n into a violinst from the TSO (torotno) on my way home alst night nad talked about this piece of music


mostly i otld him howm uch i love prokofiev ciolin concert o 2nfd mvt in g minot s oooooooooo good

[emill]

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuump
i'm super srnunk i ra n into a violinst from the TSO (torotno) on my way home alst night nad talked about this piece of music
mostly i otld him howm uch i love prokofiev ciolin concert o 2nfd mvt in g minot s oooooooooo good

Aside from what seemed like you have lost a good bit of control typing what you had in mind, the mention of how much you love Prokofiev's ciolin concert o ( is that violin and cello?) and how you "shamelessly" bumped your 4 year old post .... 

I AM BLOWN OUT OF MY SEAT .... personally there were breathless moments!!!!!!  BRAVO !!!!!

[marijn1999]

Horrible. Don't take me wrong. The piece, not your playing, the playing is absolutely wonderful.

BW,
Marijn

[pantonality]

While there is much excellent playing in this I have to take issue with your interpretation of one section. You blow through this section so easily that it's emotional impact is lost. On the violin it's particularly difficult, but for me it's the emotional climax of the piece. Check out the twenty seconds that start at 10:10 of this video to hear what I mean.

There has been some speculation about the impetus behind this piece (and also the Fantasia in G minor for organ). The organ piece was first mentioned as being played when Bach auditioned for the post of organist in Hamburg November 1720, Bach's first wife Maria Barbara had died suddenly in July of that year while he was away on business with his boss. The chaconne has also been linked to this sad occasion, so this is not music to play lightly nor with virtuosity. It is difficult because the emotions expressed are difficult.

This article mentions the Fantasia being composed in 1720
https://www.allmusic.com/composition/fantasia-and-fugue-for-organ-in-g-minor-great-bwv-542-bc-j42-57-67-mc0002358946
This article links the chaconne to the death of Maria Barbara.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6888973

Steve

[birba]

Fascinating.  "While he was away on business with his boss".  And to return home and find his wife had died while he was away.  It's so wierd to read about this god in such a human aspect.  Puts everything in another perspective.