Nikolai Myaskovsky - Piano Sonata No.2 - Enzo

[emill]

Please allow me to contribute to the PS archives another piece from a much lessor known east Slavic composer Myaskovsky in order to add  to the pieces contributed by rachfan  (Catoire and Kosenko) and lately by visitor (Kosenko). This was played by my son Enzo during his recital here in Manila last May 2015.  Below is a short "thing" about the piece.
THANKS FOR LISTENING AND FOR ANY COMMENT.

"Myaskovsky's Second Piano Sonata got off to a very shaky start. Composed in 1912, it was frankly beyond the capabilities of its dedicatee, Boris Zakharov. He kept putting off the premiere, eventually presenting it (none too successfully) at the end of 1916. After one postponement an amused Prokofiev gently rebuked his friend: "It's a positively superb work, but mercilessly difficult, thanks to its chromatic and contrapuntal construction." And, in a diary entry from 1920, Prokofiev reported: "Learning the Myaskovsky Sonata. Its constantly shifting chromaticisms are terribly hard to remember."from"Myaskovfiev": www.youtube.com/user/Miaskofiev/feed

[visitor]

This is stellar!!!
What an incredibly powerful rendition. Of a horrendously and notoriously difficult work to understand and present (we already know the technical buy In is very high)

Emill, was share the sentiment w Enzo that I loved this and his artistry at the piano is amazing.  We would all become better musicians and audience members by broadening horizons and opening up to composers outside of the big common ones.

Myakovsky was an important figure in continuing to push the new Russian pre Avant Guard aesthetic forward ( evolving sound if Scriabin and also along w Alexandrov and Lourie among others).

Would love to see and hear Enzo do some of the Alexandrov and maybe Feinberg Stanchinskyor Roslavets or similar  works  Video-HD in the future. HOPEFULLY even some Eiges as well (see mu post about John Powell's recent recording in rep board on release of 1st time recordings of Eiges works for piano).

Again. Enjoyed this immensely and Thank you so very much for sharing this with us. This is what the board is all about and  thrilled to be able to excitedly watch this vs the 47,987th rendition of Chopin this , or (insert std. Composer) that. [Not that there is anything wrong w them, it's my beef that they cone usually at the exclusion of gems like this piece instead of a lot side and complimenting , so hope we continue to get all of them here)

BTW folks not familiar his circle should read the wiki, he was basically only 1x or 2x removed from heavy hitters in the composing eorld and he was quite well known in his time (like Kosenko), he is more a victim of time and a passive attitude than anything w regsrd to the almost shocking lack of general visibility in the piano and classical music scene today ).

[emill]

Hello visitor!

THANKS SO MUCH for your very generous comment. In the Filipino language we say - "nakakataba ng puso" - literally "it fattens the heart" of this father with JOY! thank you ... thank you

Like you I am hoping that more of the lesser known (east Slavic) composers are posted here.  It is really not a surprise that even among pianists, Myaskovsky, Catoire and Kosenko are of much lesser appeal. I really hope that Enzo's Russian teacher will continue giving him gems of pieces from lesser known composers for him to tackle; although I must say that now-a-days he cannot practice as much due to the demand of "music theory" classes which most of his classmates sort of "hate"!.   For a non-pianist like me, I did not realize that the theory aspects of music school could be that demanding to "compromise" practice time.

Again thanks and best wishes!

emill

[dogperson]

BRAVO!  Thanks so much for sharing and please congratulate Enzo on such an incredible job.  I can't imagine how difficult it was to memorize this and perform so well. 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

What a convincing performance. I didn't know this piece beforehand. There seem to be quite a few Dies Irae references around in the music! My congratulations to Enzo, and I'm pleased to see him branching out into repertoire such as this. (I second visitor's comments in this regard.)

[emill]

hello ronde_des_sylphes,

Yes, the composer uses and fits several "Dies Irae" effectively into the piece. As a non-pianist, I would say it was that, that "caught my ear". I am also happy that his teacher is  giving him pieces which are gems from lesser known composers. THANKS so much for the generous comment .... "nakakataba ng puso" ... "it fattens the heart of this dad!!

emill

BRAVO!  Thanks so much for sharing and please congratulate Enzo on such an incredible job.  I can't imagine how difficult it was to memorize this and perform so well.  

hi dogperson,
Sometimes the problem with non-pianist parents is that they cannot appreciate how much effort their children put into pieces.  As if all pieces were the same or the faster the piece is played, the more difficult it must be.  It takes a pianist to remind us!! THANKS for the generous comment.

emill

[swagmaster420x]

hi dogperson,
Sometimes the problem with non-pianist parents is that they cannot appreciate how much effort their children put into pieces.  As if all pieces were the same or the faster the piece is played, the more difficult it must be.  It takes a pianist to remind us!! THANKS for the generous comment.

emill

At the same time, parents can be overlooked for providing the right environment ... and the right musical genes.

[emill]

Hi,

In in our culture and for that matter most Asian cultures it is a given, a duty and an obligation to provide for the children's education to the MAX the parents can do. This likely stems from the importance people give to social standing, on many instances much greater than wealth or political standing. So that being a doctor, teacher, an artist may in fact garner much more respect in the community than the successful millionaire-businessman or the mayor of the town. An extension to this is that parents view their children also as an investment.  They expect children to "take care of them" in their twilight years rather than be dumped into a home for the aged.

But really, you're so right, a little recognition and appreciation from the children will definitely "fatten the parents hearts" !!!

[rachfan]

Hi emill,

Wow!  This is the first time I've heard this piece which is very difficult to say the least.  My hat is off to Enzo for selecting the music of a lesser known and somewhat neglected composer.  I was most impressed by Enzo's artful playing and the highly developed technique that enables him to perform superbly at that level.  It's an extraordinary and inspiring achievement.  Please convey my congratulations to him! 

David

[emill]

Thank you David!!  
It is always with some anxiety and anticipation, whenever we post, waiting for comments from particularly PS members ... and a relief, if accepted and appreciated.  That feeling of anxiety probably is universal for everyone posting here.  But I would bet, parent's anxiety is double that of the pianist!  MANY THANKS!!!

YES, Myaskovsky is much lesser known and yet he has some excellent and easily likable works even for the general concert going public. I particularly like his cello sonata no. 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLiWSUHTQIw) ... beautiful!!

[birba]

Wow, enzo, you've really come a long way.  I think what i enjoy most is your phrasing and direction of the musical line. Everywhere.  Making sense of much ado  about nothing.  No, i don't really care for this music.  But you actually do it great justice.  Your ability to bring out the melodic line amidst a sea of notes is top-notch.  I think your american experience has been more than wothwhile.  In every respect.

[emill]

Wow, enzo, you've really come a long way.  I think what i enjoy most is your phrasing and direction of the musical line. Everywhere.  Making sense of much ado  about nothing.  No, i don't really care for this music.  But you actually do it great justice.  Your ability to bring out the melodic line amidst a sea of notes is top-notch.  I think your american experience has been more than worthwhile.  In every respect.

hi Birba,

Thank you so much for your generous and kind comment.  It seems to have been only yesterday that your were posting teaching videos here on some of Enzo's attempts on some pieces. And now, just another year more and he will be finishing his piano performance course. I could not agree more with you that his American experience, though financially steep for us despite the generous scholarship (70% of tuition), is all worth it.  THANK YOU.

emill