Mozart - Rondo alla Turca

[Dave2002]

Many years ago I heard versions of Mozart's Rondo alla Turca from K331 performed on instruments with extra percussive effects - such as the Turkish stop. I thought it would be easy to find such a performance to listen to, but actually this turns out to be harder than I'd anticipated. Even "specialists" playing on some "original" instruments don't use this feature.

As I recall it did add an extra "buzz" to the overall sound. Does anyone have pointers, either to YouTube or CD or other recordings which have this kind of percussive feature.

I have heard the sonata played live recently and in other recordings on modern pianos - very pleasant - but perhaps too neat and tidy. It'd be good to be reminded of something more robust.

[Dave2002]

There are of course versions, such as this - not quite what I meant - but vigorous!
I really can't find anything like the versions I heard so long ago.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1aGGXsSrBXnO2tWWOBKqcV

[MickyD]

I think Richard Burnett at Finchcocks did it with the fortepiano percussion effect on a CD some years ago...I thought I had Andreas Staier doing it, too, but his Harmonia Mundi CD is free of percussion. It can be great fun when used sparingly and as a surprise effect. I'll carry on looking in my collection, Dave.

[kea]

This kind of thing?

Did a quick search on NML—that's from a cd that looks like this:


I was 95% sure Staier would throw in a few cymbal crashes, since he used the stops so much in his Diabellis, but no. He just does lots of other weird things. :S

edit: Hmm, this is exactly what the person above me posted. Lol.

[mercia]

when I visited Finchcocks many decades ago, Mr Burnett played the Rondo, plus percussion effects, as part of a tour of the collection [perhaps he still does]

[Bryn]

The Amon Ra CD is available in "Used - Good" condition for around £3.00 (including U.K. p&p) via the amazon.co.uk marketplace.

[Dave2002]

Yes - that Finchcocks recording represents the kind of thing I remembered - though not quite the same - similar enough. Probably can get boring in the long term, but veers the music away from prettiness. I was surprised that Staier didn't have anything like this, too - not in the recordings I heard.

Thanks all so far for this - but keep them coming if there's more to be found.

[mercia]

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

[Bryn]

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

Oh dear! :eek:

[MickyD]

when I visited Finchcocks many decades ago, Mr Burnett played the Rondo, plus percussion effects, as part of a tour of the collection [perhaps he still does]

I think he still does this! I also did the tour with him...he could be very amusing, showing how easily the hammers can fly off a fortepiano if hit too hard! He had a lovely anecdote that the sound of the Alla Turca was the cue for the end of the recital and also for the tea ladies in the cafeteria next door to start boiling up the water and getting the scones warmed up! It is a delightful day out, well worth a visit.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As a child, I had access to two 10" 78 recordings -
1. Wanda Landowska on the harpsichord - definitely percussive;
2. An orchestral version played by the VPO, but I cannot remember who orchestrated or conducted it. I may still have it, but it's unlikely.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Ah, here we are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se_Swf7-68M

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

…but this is the version my father had (VPO/Alwin):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krHq-DzRtWc

[Petrushka]

I often wonder if Shostakovich is quoting this piece in the first movement of his 8th Symphony. I can't see why and it must just be a coincidence but it always reminds me of it. Perhaps it's similar to Mahler's Liszt PC1 quote in the 6th.

[seabright]

And here it is again, played this time by the BBC PO / Bamert ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGIvd6pjdd0