Godowsky - Triakontameron nos. 6 and 9

Can't listen to these right now. My new script on the server emails me new attachments allright but I forgot to deal with stuff that goes directly into the live directory.

From the Triakontameron items I know (about a dozen) these are the two I like least, they seem a bit bland to me. Nevertheless I'll be interested to hear how convincing you bring them.

 

Never heard these before, I trust you that you played them well. Some of the trills from The Pleading Troubadour remind me of a Chopin composition, which I cannot recall exactly.

thanks for sharing.

-jg

 

Nice playing, Monica. I'd perhaps feel them a bit more emotionally intense, but it's just my conception of Triakontameron. IMO, Alt Wien ("looking backwards with a smile through tears") epitomizes quite well the climate of this set.

 

Never heard them either. Quite interesting, especially #9. Your playing and phrasing is fine and comfortable, Monica.

 

Good quality work as always. No. 9 is very nice though even more attention could be paid to the many dynamic changes. Those leading up to the recapitulation are really well done, but elsewhere there seems too little contrast. Still, a convincingly lilting rendition. In no.6 I do not quite hear the little decrescendi within the bars, eg. bars 2 and 3. These chords, indeed the whole performance, seem a bit stiff and inflexible, so that the piece does not have the yearning charm it needs. There's so much going on in this music ! Having said that, I'd probably have done it much the same, and received the same comment.

 

Not everywhere. There's quite some variation on the second page, it goes: mf - p - mp - f - mf - p - pp - pp. Not that I could bring out all these subtle shadings.

Actually, one would typically play these with a little diminuendo even if it was not indicated. One of the first things I learnt in my adult lessons.

 

I like Godowsky's music, but I also find it somewhat obscure.
I never had patience to listen to Trikantomeron, so this is my first listening. :lol:

these are nice, anyway.

uh...
you think that just circling them everything is ok?
I'd like to have this ability. I'd circle Rachmaninov 3rd, then I'd play it. :lol:

btw: recently I have printed the score of Godowsky's piano sonata, which I like so much.
Have quit reading it at the very first page. :shock:

 

Hi Monica,

Very nice playing. I particularly liked the Enchanted Glen. I think you could still infuse it with even more romantic nostalgia. But it's still very enjoyable to hear.

On circling those dynamics: I'm with you. When I undertake a piece, I go through it with a fine tooth comb circling everything, coloring in cresc. and dimin. signs, tenuto marks, inner lines to be voiced, a translation for a seldom seen Italian term, etc. etc. I also enter useful fingerings where helpful. I find those flags indispensable, as otherwise I can get too focused on notes. Plus I like to mark up scores to analyze the structure as well as writing in pointers to insights for performance. I know some people keep their scores pristine as the day they bought them, but not me. While I draw breath and play the piano, I figure who has a better right to totally utilize and enjoy these scores than the pianist who owns them--me? I'm sure you feel much the same way about it.

David

 

Monica,

Add my name to the list of those who had never heard these before. Nicely done! I especially liked the Pleading Troubadour. Nice phrasing.

Ed

 

Same happens with me. :roll:

 

There are, but also those ones which seem less easy fit incredibly well under the hands. Godowsky really knew how to write to advantage of the pianist. Your present go at Triakontameron pushed me to look again at this set and after being done with my current Grieg LPs project I'm going to learn Nos.11-16-30. Some more could follow, I like very much this great collection. Do you already know which ones you want to take up next? It'd be great combining PS members efforts and complete the whole set. I think that beyond you, me and Chris, also Felipe may be interested and I'd rave for Andreas playing at least one number from Triakontameron.

 

I like Godowsky, but as previously said, I never heard Trikantomeron.
so you must choose which ones would be for me. :wink: