Rachmaninov: Prelude C sharp minor

Yes indeed. But both pieces have been in minor for the best part of a page by then. I was really thinking of a turn to minor right at the end.

 

Hmmm... Bach was far from perfect. Try looking at his Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, from the Well Tempered Clavier, Book I. According to my score: Both the prelude and fugue end in the major key. However, if you actually look at them, you'll realize this: The prelude would be MUCH better off ending on the minor chord. Try listening to it both ways, and you'll see what I mean. The major just sounds weak, pathetic, and fake. The minor has real depth to it. THEN... the fugue. It has a lovely introduction near the ending of the highly chromatic, and very dark theme... and then 2 seconds later flops away into some frilly major catastrophe. It doesn't even make any sense... the ending of the piece is far to abrubt, and with no development at all that would suggest ending in the major key. Bleh.

Also, I love Shostakovich's Prelude and Fugue in G-Sharp Minor. It kicks massive butt. And, the major ending actually has some nice development to it, so it makes perfect sense. However... does that mean that you're going to also soon record the Prelude and Fugue in D-Flat Major? I'd be intrested to hear how you handle the fugue... my piano teacher has decided that I should look at it for fun after I finish learning my current stuff. However... it seems difficult. I would me most intrested to hear your recording.

 

I did actually look at them, as I recorded them. Not the strongest pair in the WTC, and by far not my favourite. But I can not concur with any of your misgivings. There does not have to be a development leading to a major ending. It is the surpise element that was so popular in Baroque music - although Bach does it so odtehn that it is hardly surprising anymore. Maybe it was a habit, maybe our ears and minds have just accepted it as the proper thing to do. Yours haven't. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this.

So, should you survive the dual with Nathan, please choose your weapon, sir. I shall meet you half way

That must be the crazy no.15 you mean. I will record it, but not anytime soon. I'm scared stiff of that one, it is the most bewildering piece I have ever tried. Yes it is incredibly difficult, more so on the poor mind than on the fingers. A bit like the G sharp minor, but far worse. That one at least is getting into shape now.

 

It comes to my knowledge that a reverse picardy can be found in Mendelssohn's Characteristic Piece Op. 7 No. 7. Good to know.

 

Very interesting. I thought there would have been more, though few, examples.
Also it says here

That should help dispel any notion that a major ending is for weenies only :wink:

 

But for those who think Chopin is a weenie...

 

If such aberrant creatures exist at all, they have no place here :wink:

 

I think GG thought Chopin was a weenie, and I've heard that sentiment expressed by many. Effeminate, overly sensitive, and all sorts of other similar expressions...I think sometimes that these people just can't play Chopin.

That made me think of Schumann's version of Chopin in Carnaval...and that made me look to see if it's on PS...and indeed it is, but it's just labeled "Carnaval", when it should be labeled "Chopin", being as it is only one movement of Carnaval. Can you fix that, Chris?

 

Yeah well, what did he know :wink:

Hm, yes, seems like my mistake I've fixed it.

 

Sorry to break this up peeps, but can any of you suggest any more well know dark piano pieces :lol:

 

Any even-numbered Chopin prelude. Chopin etudes: Op. 10 No. 12 is quite well known and dark. Op. 25 Nos. 11 and 12 are also quite dark, if not quite so well known as the revolutionary. Chopin sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor (every movement is dark, and the third movement is the infamous funeral march). Chopin Ballade No. 4 (my personal favorite).

I could go on and on...

 

Well, it's not death metal dark and heavy, but Beethoven's Pathetique sonata comes to mind.
Also, when I WAS a metal head, I kind of thought the B minor prelude from WTC book II sort of
rocked (at least at the tempo Glenn Gould played it).