Barry Douglas - 10 Mar

[Keraulophone]

One Pianist that I have never warmed to. Always found his Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms uninvolving

I acquired his complete Brahms solo piano recordings (Chandos) after listening to many versions of the famous A major Intermezzo, which I was trying a learn properly. I think he strikes a very good balance between intervention and non-intervention, if you see what I mean. When one hears someone like Ivo Pogorelich distort the music to a hideous degree, it’s a relief to come back to someone like Barry Douglas, who seems to me to offer a more-or-less ideal way of expressing the composer’s written indications while still conveying the essence of the music’s emotional message. Douglas’s ability not to draw attention to himself in his piano playing may been one listener’s ‘uninvolving’ and another’s blessed relief. As for the A major Intermezzo, my favourite version turned out, rather surprisingly, to be by Glenn Gould. Apparently, that LP of Brahms Intermezzi was one of his own favourite recordings.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I acquired his complete Brahms solo piano recordings (Chandos) after listening to many versions of the famous A major Intermezzo, which I was trying a learn properly. I think he strikes a very good balance between intervention and non-intervention, if you see what I mean. When one hears someone like Ivo Pogorelich distort the music to a hideous degree, it’s a relief to come back to someone like Barry Douglas, who seems to me to offer a more-or-less ideal way of expressing the composer’s written indications while still conveying the essence of the music’s emotional message. Douglas’s ability not to draw attention to himself in his piano playing may been one listener’s ‘uninvolving’ and another’s blessed relief. As for the A major Intermezzo, my favourite version turned out, rather surprisingly, to be by Glenn Gould. Apparently, that LP of Brahms Intermezzi was one of his own favourite recordings.

A grade 8 piece - but so hard to play well.

[Keraulophone]

A grade 8 piece - but so hard to play well.

Quite! I thought I used to be able to play it, but when you hear it played ‘effortlessly’ well, it’s clear how far below the desired standard one’s own efforts lie. Also, it’s an uphill struggle with an organist’s piano technique (!), but striving to achieve what one can is a lockdown pleasure not available to everyone, so one is decidedly grateful for it.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Quite! I thought I used to be able to play it, but when you hear it played ‘effortlessly’ well, it’s clear how far below the desired standard one’s own efforts lie. Also, it’s an uphill struggle with an organist’s piano technique (!), but striving to achieve what one can is a lockdown pleasure not available to everyone, so one is decidedly grateful for it.

A good piece to play just before bedtime - not too loud for the neighbours and not too technically taxing
Ps I’d always thought with all those silent finger changes organists must develop a good legato technique and that it would be octaves that would be the problem .....

[Keraulophone]

...it's all a problem! ...I think I need some lessons (last was in 1970).