Recordings of the composer as performer

[aeolium]

Prompted by a forthcoming TtN programme showcasing examples of composers performing in their own works, I would be interested to hear opinions about which recordings of composers performing have particularly impressed MBers, and also which recordings of composers performing their own works have in their view been less than successful and have been superseded by later recordings with other performers.

Since recordings especially from the first part of the C20 may not have great sound, I'd suggest that sound quality be excluded from consideration and as far as is possible the performance alone is assessed (not easy with some of the earliest recordings, I accept).

As a starter for ten, I suggest Samuel Barber's singing of On Dover Beach, his work for voice and string quartet - this made a strong impression on me when it was broadcast on R3 last year.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I've a number of recordings of Copland playing the piano part in his own music, including the Violin Sonata, Duo for Flute & Piano and Piano Concerto. His piano playing often has a very brittle, detached quality and is occasionally quite harsh. It is quite clear that Copland's highly individual writing for the piano is derived from his own manner of playing. I've also a recording somewhere of this years' forgotten anniversary composer Alan Hovhaness accompanying his wife in some of his songs. His playing from what I remember was secure enough and far better than the shrill, thin, insecure voice of his wife. Of course there are plenty of recordings of Britten playing accompanying in his own song cycles, but I'll leave that for others to discuss.

It is a pity that Bax never (at least as far as I am aware) recorded any of his own piano music, he was by all accounts and exceptionally fine pianist and phenomenal sight reader.

[Serial_Apologist]

It is a pity that Bax never (at least as far as I am aware) recorded any of his own piano music, he was by all accounts and exceptionally fine pianist and phenomenal sight reader.

One might think he would have had to have been... to have composed that second piano sonata! That said, Ravel managed to create the stunning Gaspard, his own pianistic techniques notwithstanding.

[Ferretfancy]

One might think he would have had to have been... to have composed that second piano sonata! That said, Ravel managed to create the stunning Gaspard, his own pianistic techniques notwithstanding.

I used to have an LP taken from a piano roll that Ravel made, including La Vallee des Cloches from Miroirs, it was dismally played, but as you say Gaspard is stunning. I suppose the most obvious candidate for inclusion on this thread is Rachmaninov, who surely nobody has excelled in his own music. There's a good transfer available of Prokofiev playing his 3rd Concerto with a selection from Vision Fugitives and other solo works, not great sound but fine performances.

[mercia]

Samuel Barber's singing of On Dover Beach ......................... broadcast on R3 last year.

repeated this week, Monday to be precise

[cavatina]

A few off the top of my head that haven't been mentioned...

Hindemith plays Hindemith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrBTp-ZwcwI&feature=fvst

Bartok plays Bartok:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8UX7bzU_rc

Mahler plays Mahler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVzJKOVe644

Scriabin plays Scriabin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK2uTtuI84w

Fauré plays Fauré:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUsGh2xYYQg

Stravinsky plays Stravinsky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTGoqle4m34

[Serial_Apologist]

A few off the top of my head that haven't been mentioned...

Hindemith plays Hindemith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrBTp-ZwcwI&feature=fvst

Bartok plays Bartok:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8UX7bzU_rc

Mahler plays Mahler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVzJKOVe644

Scriabin plays Scriabin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTGoqle4m34

Fauré plays Fauré:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUsGh2xYYQg

Stravinsky plays Stravinsky:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTGoqle4m34

Bartok plays Bartok is IT, for me. Thanks for posting those clips cavatina - will check out the others tonight: things to do!

[mercia]

Holst conducting The Planets (with RVW conducting his 4th on the same disc)
Elgar conducting Menuhin in the VC

[BBMmk2]

I have a cd of Mahler playing Mahler!

[Nick Armstrong]

I have a cd of Mahler playing Mahler!

Me too!

[Serial_Apologist]

A clip of Mahler conducting Debussy's "La Mer" would be fascinating, to say the least.

[salymap]

Did Kodaly make any recordings? Yonks ago I saw/heard him conduct Hary Janos and Psalmus Hungaricus at the RAH. He was a very good conductor.

[Serial_Apologist]

Did Kodaly make any recordings? Yonks ago I saw/heard him conduct Hary Janos and Psalmus Hungaricus at the RAH. He was a very good conductor.

Yes saly - I have his recording of his Psalmus Hungaricus. I played it to a Canadian Hungarian ex-pat friend of mine, and she wept on hearing it. Not my intended effect, I hasten to add! I'll check it out later for you.

[mercia]

Did Kodaly make any recordings?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kodaly-Conducts-2CD-Various-Zoltan/dp/B004RRVHDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314445641&sr=1-1

[Serial_Apologist]

Ah, thanks for saving me the time mercia