Liszt - Prelude and fugue on the name of B-a-c-h S260

Dear All,
Some years ago I discovered this piece played by a young pianist in a recital I had the chance to attend. I found it so beautiful that I decided to (try to) play it. Liszt wrote four versions: a first one for organ, a second for piano. Then, more than years after, another one for organ (with more notes !) and its replica for piano (also for virtuosos only). The one I am presenting here is the second version, difficult enough for me .
All the piece is built on a 4-notes motive, Bb-A-C-B (in the English notation), B-A-C-H in the German one (and si bémol - la - do -si in the French one). This very chromatic theme could only generate a very chromatic, almost atonal piece. As a matter of fact, there are very few triads (accords parfaits) in the piece, but mainly diminished-seventh chords (not sure of the translation: I mean chords built with minor thirds intervals between successive notes). It gives a dark, dramatic tone to the whole piece, until the end where eventually tonality is back. As usual in Liszt, a succession of storms and very calm moments. Tiring but very agreable to play. Makes the piano sounding as an organ in a cathedral ! Thanks for listening and commenting.

 

Hi Francois, sorry I don't have enough time at the moment to give this large work more than a cursory listen.

It's overall decent but I did find the opening lh octaves after 0.33 disturbingly fallible. Of course, they are not written in an easy manner. I regretted the absence of the interlocking octaves from 6.15, but I presume that is a facet of the version you are playing from. The version used at 8.45 also seemed less effective. I suspect a little more pedal might agreeably beef up the sonorities in places. A creditable performance with fire in it - this is not easy music.

 

Hi Francois,
that´s a great achievement! Have my sincere congratulations to it. (I don´t know, if I would still be able to play such a virtuoso piece, though I have played some Liszt in my youth. At least I wouldn´t have enough time to practise on such monumental works at this moment). It took me a quite long time, but at last I found your version under S529/1 on imslp. May be you could describe that a bit more precisely in your introduction.
You play all very properly and expressively.
My only nit-picks are the following:
b.20-23: for my taste that should be played at least with bit of pedal (though I like your clear and precise playing of octaves at many other places very much!)
b. 49ff: more ff, martellato
b. 70,71: some minor slips, same in b. 291, but that´s hardly to prevent in virtuoso pieces like this one.

 

Thanks Andrew. You're right, these octaves are not properly done. I could have played them more slowly, but I think this is not compatible with the general motion of the piece. And to put pedal makes the slips even more audible. Yes the second version is more brillant, but I think it was wise for me to stick to the first (by the way, I didn't find any recording of this one on the Net...).

Hello Andreas, thank you for your carefull listening. As usual your nit-picks are laser sharp ! I'm going to play this piece in concert next saturday. I'am afraid it will be even less clean but I'll do my best... Have a good evening,

 

I wish you much success and pleasure with that piece in your concert. I would be really excited, if I should play such a virtuoso piece in a concert, but I have done it already. The cleanness of your octave technique is really remarkable. I think you will do that very good.
Have a good day, too.

 

Thanks, Andreas ! Your support is appreciated

 

Hello Administrators,
I think it is time to upload this piece. I cannot remember how to do it (even when I am logged as an administrator, I don't see any button giving me the ability to edit the composer nor the artist pages). Thanks for your help !

 

Hi Francois,
I will give you a short instruction later in a pm. I think as an admin you should be able to help with uploading and also upload your own pieces. Otherwise it makes no sense, usn't it?!

 

I have given you an upload-description in a pm. Try to upload your recordings yourself, please!

 

Thanks Andreas. It is uploaded yet,

 

Hi François,
as I wrote you, I ask me why didn't you tell me, that you already had the help by Richard? I really have better and other things to do than to waste my time with to give a description for nothing.
Regards
Andreas

 

Sorry, this message was not specially intended to you, but to Richard. Since he did not answer on the forum, I wrote him a personnal E-mail, he answered, we fixed the issue and I forgot to come back to the site to say that the problem was solved. By the way, I don't find the attendance growing again since the renewing of the site. We have to do something to ressuscitate the poor old PS, otherwise we will have to go elsewhere !

 

Hi Francois,
but what could we do? I don't see any possibility at tis moment to improve something. Everyone has the possibility to take part here and if the interest is low, it is so and we have to accept it. Nobody is forced and we will not to have to go somewhere else as long this site financially is supported.
And maybe the interest in recording classical piano music generally has decreased? It always has been just a handful of people having interest in that.
But if there is an interest to discuss this matter again, we should not do it here in submission room, but in the General Forum.

 

Ok, I already proposed to chase new members on other piano sites. I haven't done so yet, though...