Is Godowsky Romantic?

[cabbynum]

or contemporary.
Would it be wise to use anything of his for auditions?

[visitor]

more accurate to say neo romantic, or post romantic - romantic. he is not 'contemporary' in style or sound or in chronology.

probably okay to advisable for audition in a romantic spot (for a a school probably better for graduate audition, prob not best for undergrad).

 (ie treat as you would say Percy Grainger, or perhaps Rachmainoff or early Scriabin, early Kosenko), etc.

[cabbynum]

Thanks! I am still trying to figure out what to play for auditions in regards to a contemporary piece.
I think I have settled on Schoenberg op.33A and B

[visitor]

Thanks! I am still trying to figure out what to play for auditions in regards to a contemporary piece.
I think I have settled on Schoenberg op.33A and B

Cool man, good luck! Yes a wise choice to stay away from the likes of these modern romantics since in auditions they are looking to gauge your aptitude and musical maturity to approach diverse styles and the demands it places on your skill. variety helps to showcase your versatility and baseline for improvement w/ further study.

:-)

Schoenberg is a safe mainstream composer to represent a new modern asthetic in early 20th century/post romantic post impressionistic era and should serve you well provided you execute to the standard.

[ahinton]

Of course! - but here we go again; how can a composer such as Godowsky who died almost 77 years ago be "contemporary" today?

Best,

Alistair

[quantum]

IMO it depends on what the purpose of the definition is.  If the particular audition defines xyz composer as being fair game in a category labeled "contemporary" then for all purposes xyz performed in such audition is contemporary, regardless if one's personal definition of "contemporary" is in agreement with it or not. 

[cabbynum]

I think the Schoenberg will go well with the rest of my program.
Bach WTC 1 pf 4
Beethoven op.31 no.1
Liszt Vallee doberman
Alkan le festin desope
And now the Schoenberg. I know my audition rep has changed a lot in the past but I have settled on this and will not be changing it.

[j_menz]

No doubt you've checked for where you're auditioning, but don't most places require a "virtuosic etude" of some description?  I know Festin technically counts, so I suppose....

BTW d'Esope, not desope. Apostrophes save lives, remember.

[cabbynum]

No doubt you've checked for where you're auditioning, but don't most places require a "virtuosic etude" of some description?  I know Festin technically counts, so I suppose....

BTW d'Esope, not desope. Apostrophes save lives, remember.

I've talked with many professors of different schools they all think it's a good choice and will be refreshing to hear something different. For the schools that require a Chopin etude I will be doing op.25 no.10

[j_menz]

For the schools that require a Chopin etude I will be doing op.25 no.10

I probably would have guessed that. 

Sounds like you're well advised and in control.

[ahinton]

IMO it depends on what the purpose of the definition is.  If the particular audition defines xyz composer as being fair game in a category labeled "contemporary" then for all purposes xyz performed in such audition is contemporary, regardless if one's personal definition of "contemporary" is in agreement with it or not.

But what purpose - other than undermining and embarrassing the conservatoire concerned - can possibly be served by a definition that is simply wrong? Godowsky died prematurely in 1938; which of us here was - or knows someone still alive who was - contemporary with Godowsky? It's not for conservatories and the like to "define" the word in any case and if a few of them seem unable or unwilling to understand its meaning they'd be far better to use instead catgegories such as "post-1950" or "20th century" or yet "21st century" which are unequivocal and unlikely to be subject to misunderstanding.

That said, to return to the question posed by the thread topic, the answer has to do with the nature of Godowsky's music and nothing to do with the years in which he was active as a composer, which is why in an earlier post I wrote "of course!"

Best,

Alistair