Can anyone identify this piece?

[justinrp97]

A friend of mine asked for help in identifying this piece recorded by his friends late father.  Anyone know it?

[qpalqpal]

I have no clue... But definitely not Baroque or Classical. Can be past Romanticism

[outin]

Sounds like Beethoven to me...

[qpalqpal]

DEFINATELY NOT BEETHOVEN! If this was Beethoven, I would like him a lot more.

[outin]

Have you heard some of his later sonatas? I think this reminds me of one, but I have no idea which. Anyway, it sounds vaguely familiar, but I have no idea why. The playing style may be a lot different to what you would hear on a record.

But I'm sure we'll know soon, because the people on this forum will know...

[justinrp97]

I hope so!  I almost feel like the opening cadenza is a bit Liszt like.

[outin]

I hope so!  I almost feel like the opening cadenza is a bit Liszt like.

It's kind of fun trying to guess
It lacks the thick romatic texture, there's just quite a lot of pedal.

[outin]

Or then again, maybe Brahms/Mendelssohn? Because it just sounds so German to me. But my laptop has pathetic sound...

[cadenza14224]

It has Lisztian qualities.....but I can't tell for sure. It would be so much easier if automatic transcription existed in these instances....=/

[maestrowoojulee]

Might not be classical ! Sth like final fantasy? Lol

[synthifou]

Although the Romantic era is my weak spot with regards to piano repertoire, it sounds too playful to be German IMO.  So, I’m thinking it’s pre-1910 French, but probably not before 1850 (then again, take out the pedaling or play this on a harpsichord and it would almost sound like Scarlatti or Soler, but I think the chromaticism is too rich for this to be a possibility). 

From possible to least likely assuming a French composer:  Farrenc, Faure, and Delibes, then d’Indy, Chaminade, Dukas, and Chabrier.  Doubtful:  Gounod, Godard, and Dukas, but certainly not Vierne, Pierne, Satie or Alkan.  Boulez and Rameau are right out! 

In addition, it sounds more like it would be something such as an etude as opposed to a more substantial work such as a sonata.  I leave out any big names such as Ravel, otherwise someone would have probably already recognized it by now.

Also consider Albinez (Spanish) or Ibert (mid-century).

[redbaron]

What about Rimsky-Korsakov? The opening bars are a dead ringer for certain material in his piano concerto.

[counterpoint]

Sounds like it's coming directly from Hollywood 

[perfect_pitch]

Or then again, maybe Brahms/Mendelssohn? Because it just sounds so German to me. But my laptop has pathetic sound...

For some reason my money is on Brahms. It reminds me of the final movement of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 and the tonality and harmonies used aren't completely foreign to Brahms music.

[pianoman53]

Even if it was one of Brahms less successful pieces, I really think he would be to serious to write a gliss.. At least such a shallow one.
And the melody... If he would write a melody like that, he would write way richer harmony.

My money is on something like Piezonka - A composer no one has ever heard of, but who wrote effective pieces for beginners.
I very much doubt that it is Piezonka, but I can almost bet my life it's not one of the great ones.

[outin]

My money is on something like Piezonka - A composer no one has ever heard of, but who wrote effective pieces for beginners.
I very much doubt that it is Piezonka, but I can almost bet my life it's not one of the great ones.

I'm just wondering... if it sounds familiar to me, then it should be something well known...So I'm a bit surprised that you guys didn't know immediately. I assumed it just sounded different because of the way it's played.

Never heard of Piezonka. Why would someone record something completely unknown anyway?

[redbaron]

Why would someone record something completely unknown anyway?

Because they happen to like it as a piece of music...? This strikes me as a very strange thing to say. How on earth would people become familiar with new music if hitherto unknown pieces were ever recorded?

[redbaron]

This is categorically NOT a Brahms piece. That opening motif and chromatic line isn't his style anyway. Whatever it is, it's a very nice piece of music.

[outin]

Because they happen to like it as a piece of music...? This strikes me as a very strange thing to say. How on earth would people become familiar with new music if hitherto unknown pieces were ever recorded?

I assumed this is an amateur player... Professionals are another thing

[outin]

From possible to least likely assuming a French composer:  Farrenc, Faure, and Delibes, then d’Indy, Chaminade, Dukas, and Chabrier.  Doubtful:  Gounod, Godard, and Dukas, but certainly not Vierne, Pierne, Satie or Alkan.  Boulez and Rameau are right out! 

I listened to it with better speakers and it does have similar style than the Faure pieces that I know. I am not that familiar with French composers. So you could be right. It sounded much less German to me now

Things like this tend to bug me, so hopefully we get the answer...

[ktack]

Isodore Phillippe- Feux Follets

[qpalqpal]

THANK YOU@!!!!!!!!! THIS IS ON MY LIST OF REPERTOIRE TO LEARN!!!!!! Beautiful!!! But this recording here is the best on this thread

[qpalqpal]

Before we continue, everyone look here

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=45247.0

[justinrp97]

Awesome!  I knew someone here would figure it out.  I knew I heard the piece before.