Shostakovich - Fantastic Dances

I love the first one ... There's a lot of discrepancy about the opus number on this one. Originally published as Opus 1 (my sheets -- that I actually bought for a change -- say opus1), some editions say opus 2 or even opus 3 for some reason ... but accepted now as opus 5, nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Shostakovich - Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 No. 1 "March - Allegretto"

Shostakovich - Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 No. 2 "Waltz - Andantino"

Shostakovich - Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5 No. 3 "Polka - Allegretto"

 

Shostakovich

I've never heard these before that I can remember, so I can't provide any meaningful criticism. However, they sure sound like Shostakovich, and so I love them! Sounds to me like you played them well. It's good to hear you again.

 

Thx John. I love this guy too. Even this early music is sarcastic and witty. Thx to Chris and his ongoing P&F CS ... otherwise, I only knew about his orchestral goodies. That Babi Yar symphony is yummy!

 

Well, unless you've had a change of heart, you don't like Bach fugues either, so the fact that you don't like Shostakovich ones is hardly surprising. :wink: But I know you liked at least one of his preludes (Op. 34 No. 10). You said so!

Nice job, Nathan. I've never bothered to listen to these because I had the misfortune of running into the preludes and fugues first, and got lost in there. :lol:

 

Hi Nathan,

This was a first hearing for me too. I really enjoyed your playing. These pieces are all very nice, but I liked the waltz best of all. Oh, and you posted a title on the index page too--fantastic! (No pun intended... if you can believe that! )

 

Thx guys for listening!

I had no idea how much ole Dmitri had written for the pinanny! There's quite a lot of very interesting stuff outside of the P&Fs that are definitely worthy of note.

 

Seeing how much you submit in a short time, and these being trickier than they sound, I approached these with some scepticism... but they are pretty good really ! A fantastic style suits you well. Items 2 and 3 have the odd miss or near-miss but overall this is convincing playing - and much better than some of your recent Kabalevsky was listeing to. In particular no.1 comes off very well. These pieces could have come straight from Prokofiev's Vision Fugitives.

I just wish your instrument would sound a bit more like the real thing... The electronic buzz at 1:40 in no.2 is quite disturbing.

 

Hey Nathan, you've beaten me on those. I studied them last winter but wasn't satisfied with the tricky No.3 and gave up. I am going to try again this winter! You inspired me.
I'd prefer a more refined rendition (my taste) - your ebullient pianism doesn't seem attracted to the streak of quiet melancholy exuding from these dances. I found some solutions intriguing though. And there are some sparse (reading?) errors, but I think you know that.

 

Thx guys for listening.

Chris -- I can't apologize enough for those Kabalevsky's. I dunno what I was thinking when I listened. Anyway, I know you'll (along with everyone else) always keep me honest! Henceforth, I will slow down and make sure recording is worthy. "As God is my witness, I shall never go hungry again" ... or something to that effect! I'm just glad you haven't revoked my membership yet!

Alfonso -- I hope you post soon. That number 3 was a right bastard to learn/play. I'm really interested to hear another's take on these.

 

Oh ... and Chris, what sound at 1:40?? I don't hear anything ... maybe the squirrels got in your sound card again? :?

 

Well if you go on like that, I don't know ....

Oops, I meant 1:04. In fact, between 1:02 and 1:05 there is an unpleasant electronic oscillation of the kind you usually hear in MIDI recordings. Then again, that could be earwigs in my sound card (we don't have too many squirrels here and they would be too big to get in anyway).