Medtner: Alla Reminiscenza, Op. 38 No. 8

Also recorded on the big Steinway this afternoon. Unfortunately I was unable to get a recording in which the bass doesn't swallow the treble at the climax. Also I missed a couple notes in the RH there. Also there's a key in the upper register which buzzes noticeably every time it's played. Hmph. This piece deserves better!

 

This is lovely as well, and shame indeed the treble is partly drowned by that powerful bass.
The beginning sounded a bit tentative (perhaps intentionally so) but the final page was really impressive with these large inexorable steps in the bass. The tricky 3-to-8 rhythm sounded far more comfortable than in the first recording. Great class !

 

Yes, after some experimentation with tempo (based on your earlier suggestion) I decided I prefer a slow, halting opening. "As a reminiscence," after all. Then again, I seem to always err on the side of slow tempi.

Anyway, too bad about the state of the Steinway. Properly voiced, with that bass, it'll be great -- in general, but also for Medtner in particular. I'll have to figure out who to ask about getting it looked after. Meanwhile I'd say this take isn't quite publishable.

 

Oh don't be daft... this is eminently publishable. You should not have any quibbles about having this on the site.

 

Heh, well, let's just say I felt badly including this track on the CD I just made for my parents. Not on a par with the others. But if you really think it should go up, fine, I'll just try to replace it with a better version in a few weeks.

 

Good news -- tomorrow night I should be able to get back into that space where I did Op. 26 No. 3 a couple weeks ago. Planning to come out of it with a replacement Alla Reminiscenza, at the very least. I've dropped a note to the campus piano technician asking him to give the instrument a tune sometime during the day tomorrow...

 

Gah! No luck. In a campus environment, recordable situations occur only when they feel like it. That means I should never get my hopes too high, while being ever ready in case the opportunity arises. Alternatively, it means I need a nearby friend with his/her own piano. Ah well. At least I got to start reading through Danza graziosa and Danza festiva. I can tell already they're going to be great fun.