Bach/Liszt and Other Bach Transcriptions

[kc_gracie]

Hello everyone,

So, I feel like this is yet another post for me asking what people enjoy and suggest. For a bit of context, I have been practicing a lot of Bach and Liszt pieces over the past year (with some Scriabin mixed in). As such, I am considering building a repertoire of Bach and Liszt pieces. Whether this turns into a recital program is TBD, but I would at least like to have a solid group of pieces to choose from for this (I mean, realistically, I just want to learn new things, regardless of what comes from it).

For an idea of some of the pieces I have learned and have down well, I have worked on and memorized:

Bach/Busoni Chaconne
Bach/Busoni Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Bach/Corsellis Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor
Liszt Vallee d'Obermann
Liszt Pensee des Morts
Liszt Benediction de Dieu Dans la Solitude

While this may be boring for a program (not sure), I thoroughly enjoy each and everyone of the pieces. Playing them is so much fun and I have worked on all of these really hard over the past year and a half.

So, to my current point, I wish to learn more pieces by Bach and Liszt that could potentially work together (although not required). I am also very curious to learn of other transcriptions people enjoy other than those that are very well known, such as by Liszt and Busoni. I am very interested in works by Bach (such as chromatic fantasy and fugue, selections from the WTC, or beyond) as well as the Bach/Liszt transcriptions of the Prelude and Fugue in A minor and the Fantasy and Fugue in G minor. Furthermore, I really enjoy the Liszt prelude Weinen Klagen Sorgen Zagen (after Bach), the second of the two legendes, and his Ballade No.2. I am also becoming a fan of the Godowsky and Stradal transcriptions (even the lesser known ones).

So, to be short, any suggestions for other great Bach transcriptions that are less known and suggestions for new Bach and/or Liszt pieces to learn? Also, have any favorite transcriptions that are discussed or played less often?

Thanks in advance for any discussion!

-KC

[jacobson747]

Eugen D’Albert (1864-1932) was one of Liszt’s foremost pupils.  He transcribed several Bach organ pieces between 1892 and 1900.  These include:

BWV 532 Prelude and Fugue in D
BWV 537 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor
BWV 541 Prelude and Fugue in G
BWV 540 Toccata and Fugue in F
BWV 536 Prelude and Fugue in A
BWV 534 Prelude and Fugue in F minor
BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in D minor “Dorian”
BWV 582 Passacaglia (and fugue) in C minor

These transcriptions follow those of Liszt by having absolute faith to the Bach scores.

[felixblumenfeld]

You might wish to have a look at Hyperion's "Bach Piano Transcriptions" series at https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/s.asp?s=S_16, which includes but goes beyond Busoni.

[visitor]

There's a bunch someone mentioned the Hyperion release which is a good place to start
Here's one by Grainger

Heres kabalevksys take on one

Harold Bauer

Mary Howe

Grainger take which I think is one of the best and most creative I set aside till I can figure out if I'm just not capar w hand size to handle it since it requires a lot of 10ths so seeing if a agility solution works but dang it's good

( ´◡‿ゝ◡`)

[visitor]

(◡ ω ◡)

[kc_gracie]

Hello everyone.

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I actually started my search looking at the transcriptions by d'Albert (mainly the Passacaglia). After printed off and started looking at the score, I found the new transcription by Corsellis, which I prefer and maintains that kind of grand organ feel. However, I should revisit d'Albert as there are many others that are worth looking into. I also adore the Liszt transcription of BWV 543.

I have listened to a number of collections of Bach transcriptions, but I had no idea Hyperio had a collection. Certainly worth a look and listen. Thanks for the suggestion.

I hadn't heard the Kabalevsky transcription of the Dorian before. It like it very much. It also looks much more intimidating than some of the other transcriptions of this piece.

Visitor, thanks for the share. Certain and very nice collection of pieces. Do you have any suggestions for recordings of these? I had never heard of these works or composer/arranger before. Also, lol on the edits.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have some listening to do.

-KC

[lelle]

I also adore the Liszt transcription of BWV 543.

That one I absolutely love. I have a hard time feeling the pulse regarding if it's a well-known or unknown work to pianists/audiences. Sometimes it seems to me like it is fairly well known, other times it seems like it might be more obscure. Do you have any idea regarding the matter? It definitely deserves all the exposure it can get.

[kc_gracie]

Yeah, it is a great piece. Honestly, I will mostly likely start working on this piece soon. I had learned it years ago when I wasn't really ready for it and just played through it for fun. I would love to learn it again and have a more legitimate go at it.

I don't know if it is 'well-known' to a lot of general concerto goers, but I would imagine it is fairly well-known to pianists and performers. It is in that kind of weird area of regular but not so regular. So, hard to say. However, I have noticed many more pianists (even big names) playing it on recordings over the past several years, so it must be somewhat well-known (also correct me if I'm wrong).

Unfortunately, I feel like other great transcriptions are pretty neglected, like the fantasy and fugue in G minor that Liszt transcribed. Trifonov has a wonderful rendition of it on youtube (from a performance) and a few recordings of it exist out there, but it seems to be very rare (and I love this piece and it's amazing differences in the fantasy and fugue). Beyond that, I feel that many Stradal transcriptions are never played (or recorded to be more accurate). Until Vikingur Olaffson played the movement from the Organ Sonata No.4, I had never heard that piece before. I also find a wonderful transcription of the Organ Concerto in A minor that Stradal transcribed (in which Bach had transcribed from Vivaldi). To my knowledge, this has only ever been recorded 1-2 times and if hard to find. I also have a hard time finding performances of it on the internet. And then everything Godowsky did...rare.

Well, that was a bit of a tangent. It would be great if some of these lesser known gems popped up more often.

-KC

[visitor]

I rather like this , came across it in an old book I bought from an estate years ago

[lelle]

Yeah, it is a great piece. Honestly, I will mostly likely start working on this piece soon. I had learned it years ago when I wasn't really ready for it and just played through it for fun. I would love to learn it again and have a more legitimate go at it.

I don't know if it is 'well-known' to a lot of general concerto goers, but I would imagine it is fairly well-known to pianists and performers. It is in that kind of weird area of regular but not so regular. So, hard to say. However, I have noticed many more pianists (even big names) playing it on recordings over the past several years, so it must be somewhat well-known (also correct me if I'm wrong).

Unfortunately, I feel like other great transcriptions are pretty neglected, like the fantasy and fugue in G minor that Liszt transcribed. Trifonov has a wonderful rendition of it on youtube (from a performance) and a few recordings of it exist out there, but it seems to be very rare (and I love this piece and it's amazing differences in the fantasy and fugue). Beyond that, I feel that many Stradal transcriptions are never played (or recorded to be more accurate). Until Vikingur Olaffson played the movement from the Organ Sonata No.4, I had never heard that piece before. I also find a wonderful transcription of the Organ Concerto in A minor that Stradal transcribed (in which Bach had transcribed from Vivaldi). To my knowledge, this has only ever been recorded 1-2 times and if hard to find. I also have a hard time finding performances of it on the internet. And then everything Godowsky did...rare.

Well, that was a bit of a tangent. It would be great if some of these lesser known gems popped up more often.

-KC

Do it! The BWV 543 transcription is awesomely fun to play. I also think the other transcriptions from that set of six preldues and fugues are unfairly neglected, both the one in E minor and the one in c minor are quite awesome (and difficult).

It may interest you that Cortot's transcription of BWV 596 seems to be based off of Stradal's 2-hand transcription. The fugue (and the stupid cadenza) is missing, the Sicilienne has one section thats significantly different, and the Toccata has a few different stretches of bars that are different and a different ending, but otherwise they are nearly identical.

[visitor]

On topic of Bach Cortot , his transcription of the Arioso is very pretty ,not super common , I always liked it I have this piece transcribed by another composer I may look at it again after hearing this again