Schubert/R. Strauss - Kupelwieser Waltz

Dear friends, for some reason I don't manage to stay a regular visitor of the piano society. So I still hope to be welcome from time to time! Here is a little waltz that I recorded this evening. Hope you enjoy! (and any criticism always welcome, of course!)

Here is a bit of background info:
Charming little waltz by Franz Schubert which he played on Paul Kupelwieser's wedding in 1826. The music was never written down by the composer, but passed on from generation to generation by ear. Finally in 1943, Mautner Markhof (born Kupelwieser) asked the composer Richard Strauss, a friend of the family, to transcribe it. The composer rose galantly to the task, adding a few refinements of his own, as Schubert connoiseurs are quick to point out.

I have come to prefer videos to audio only, so here is the link for likeminded audiovisual folks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zyUVxZfMjU&fmt=18
(but an audio-only version is attached below)

All the best,
Tobias

Schubert - R.Strauss: Kupelwieser Waltz

 

Monica and Andreas, thanks very much!

Monica, for some reason Schubert is almost always a bit melancholic to my ears even in the seemingly happiest moments. But are you really serious that he was in love with the bride? Do you remember where you read that? If it's true, it's really tragic....

Andreas, may I give back some of the nice words. I have been coming back more than once to several of your nice videos. For example, I was listening to the Mendelssohn Duetto yesterday again. It's really beautiful! What a nice tribute to his beloved Cécile!!

 

Wow, good research, Monica! I didn't know about that and I don't question it because the tragic twist certainly adds another dimension!! Poor Franz.

 

well done.

-j

 

Thanks, juufa!

 

Perhaps not the most typical Schubert but nevertheless I liked the simplicity and your delicate touch to it.

 

Good to see you dropping in again Tobias ! Come back more often

A lovely nostalgic little waltz, splendidly performed. My only criticism is that I find it a bit on the slow side - as a rule, Strauss waltzes are not that slow. Then again, this is Schubert as much as it is Strauss so perhaps it was meant like that. Good sound though it seems to me to wobble a little bit - maybe the reverb is a tad too heavy.

 

Very poetic, Tobias! All the work done on Ständchen payed off here, your piano sings beautifully. Interesting story, the Kupelwieser Waltz. I found this on Google Books, something complementary to Monica's finding (there is also a reference to Schubert's Deutsch catalog).

 

Thank you

I saved this to my disk, so it's only proper that I thank you.
I was excited to see the "Strauss" in the topic title - I thought there would be something new. It's a beautiful piece, though, and the story behind it is enchanting.
Very nice recording.

 

Thanks StuKautsch, and also thanks alf, Chris and wiser_guy to whom I haven't replied.

Chris, I agree now that it drags a bit - should be a bit faster. Also, my teacher showed me to use less rubato - it must sound like a very simple melody which you just hear in passing by. Don't make it appear deeper than it is by adding to it (simple = beautiful).

Also, I note now the sound wobbling that Chris you mentioned, which is strange because I didn't add any effects. Need to check more carefully the settings in the future.

I look forward to listening to the new recordings of you guys asap, most of all can't wait for the Bach-Brahms Chaconne (kudos for recording that!)