Haydn’s Keyboard Sonatas: 17-21 July

[Bryn]

I haven't, and I do! Fifty quid new? Well - I believe that there's a Christmas this year, so ...

Meanwhile, I hope that you have a singularly enjoyable break in the Pyrenees, vinty.

Phew! When I got it, back in January 2006, it was £12.93, brand new, including p&p. ISTR I waxed lyrical about it on the old Radio 3 Forum at the time.

[Pianorak]

Oooh, yes! And quite a bit cheaper than the CAPRICCIO box, too!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Compl.../dp/B001DSR9PC

Oooh, yes! Thanks Ferney. Snapped up the Used - Like New.

[Bryn]

Oooh, yes! Thanks Ferney. Snapped up the Used - Like New.

I forget what I paid for the Brautigam survey, but it was not an Amazon purchase, and I bought it during a BIS bargain rate promotion, from one of the independents. It was around twice the price I had paid or the Schornsheim, I think.

[Alison]

What a good idea for a week's programming. I will try and tune into these.

[AmpH]

With due respect to those already mentioned and although not a complete set , I could not imagine being without Alfred Brendel on Philips - he gets right to the heart of the music like no other ( imho ).

[EdgeleyRob]

.

... I think he's a bit heavy-handed. If you want a modern-keyboard set, I think I wd prefer -

http://amzn.eu/2egggSR

This is a lovely set

[LeMartinPecheur]

I've known some of the later sonatas off various LPs since student days. Bought the Schornsheim set when it came out and was amazed how 'classically motivic/ developmental' the very earliest works are, even though entitled Divertimentos or Partitas. Haydn was already Haydn in 1766 apparently!
(Fully-formed from the head of Zeus??)

[richardfinegold]

With due respect to those already mentioned and although not a complete set , I could not imagine being without Alfred Brendel on Philips - he gets right to the heart of the music like no other ( imho ).

I tend to agree. Haydn Piano music has just never stuck with me. My first outing was the Jandos recordings on Naxos which all sounded machine like, as if the Pianist had learned them in a few hours on his way to recording the complete everything. I bought the Brautigan (whose Beethoven and Mozart I really like) but never felt drawn in. I've sampled some of the Brendel recordings in the complete Phillips Brendel box and felt more interested; I must go back and explore them further.

[MickyD]

What? No votes for Brautigam's survey of the complete solo keyboard works?

I would put Brautigam at the top of my list - sensitive, witty playing alongside a lovely, crisp, clean recording. I also like Schornsheim for her use of appropriate harpsichords and fortepianos, but for me, Brautigam reigns supreme. His other complete Mozart sonatas box for BIS is equally as good.

[waldo]

With due respect to those already mentioned and although not a complete set , I could not imagine being without Alfred Brendel on Philips - he gets right to the heart of the music like no other ( imho ).

I'd go along with that and I am not much of Brendel fan in general. An indispensable set.

I'd also agree with those who think McCabe is a bit pedestrian. It is a fine set, but does lack the sparkle, wit and outright panache of the best performances. To be harsh, I suppose it shows the difference between a really good pianist and a really great one (like Brendel).

If you are newish to the Haydn sonatas, I wouldn't worry too much about a "complete" set. The Haydn sonatas are a mixed bunch, quality wise. The very early ones - say the first dozen or so - are hardly more than simple exercises for not very gifted students. Movements are sometimes less than 30 seconds long and half the movements are not very interesting minuets - not much different to the kind of generic pedagogic stuff you find in the Nannerl notebooks. After that, things get more interesting and there are quite a few masterpieces among the remaining 40 or so left. There is also a lot of variety. It is the Haydn of the piano trios - experimental, quirky,daring, frequently profound. As Gould put it in the liner notes to his (fabulous and very funny) late Haydn set, "no two are cut from the same cookie stamp", though they are all obviously works of the same master.

Finally, I wouldn't worry too much about the Last Seven Words transcription. It really doesn't work very well (though Haydn did play it on "tour", apparently.......). As we are talking about 8 movements in a very slow tempo, there is really only one way to do this on the piano and that is to have a plonking crotchet beat all the way through........boink.......boink......boink....... boink..........What is indispensable, on the other hand, is the F minor variations - one of the absolute pinnacles of the repertoire and you get that in Brendel.

[Pianorak]

Waldo - I wholeheartedly agree with you. If you don't mind I'll "push" the Andras Schiff Haydn selections once more: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Piano...0TRXXBZZ6AEBBH

[BBMmk2]

I've played a few of his sonatas on piano, and also have John MacCabe's and Marc-Andre Hamelin's recordings as well. This should be an interesting week.

[vinteuil]

... If you don't mind I'll "push" the Andras Schiff Haydn selections once more:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Piano...0TRXXBZZ6AEBBH

... if that link doesn't work, try this -

http://amzn.eu/5XnP2ZE

[antongould]

https://www.amazon.com/Haydn-Piano-Sonatas-Glenn-Gould/dp/B00006G9UK

I'll stay under the bed 'til the end of the Proms - promise ........

[richardfinegold]

I'd go along with that and I am not much of Brendel fan in general. An indispensable set.

I'd also agree with those who think McCabe is a bit pedestrian. It is a fine set, but does lack the sparkle, wit and outright panache of the best performances. To be harsh, I suppose it shows the difference between a really good pianist and a really great one (like Brendel).

If you are newish to the Haydn sonatas, I wouldn't worry too much about a "complete" set. The Haydn sonatas are a mixed bunch, quality wise. The very early ones - say the first dozen or so - are hardly more than simple exercises for not very gifted students. Movements are sometimes less than 30 seconds long and half the movements are not very interesting minuets - not much different to the kind of generic pedagogic stuff you find in the Nannerl notebooks. After that, things get more interesting and there are quite a few masterpieces among the remaining 40 or so left. There is also a lot of variety. It is the Haydn of the piano trios - experimental, quirky,daring, frequently profound. As Gould put it in the liner notes to his (fabulous and very funny) late Haydn set, "no two are cut from the same cookie stamp", though they are all obviously works of the same master.

Finally, I wouldn't worry too much about the Last Seven Words transcription. It really doesn't work very well (though Haydn did play it on "tour", apparently.......). As we are talking about 8 movements in a very slow tempo, there is really only one way to do this on the piano and that is to have a plonking crotchet beat all the way through........boink.......boink......boink....... boink..........What is indispensable, on the other hand, is the F minor variations - one of the absolute pinnacles of the repertoire and you get that in Brendel.

Great post Waldo, as it does add perspective. Perhaps if you have the time and inclination you could mention which of the Sonatas, in your opinion, are most worth investigating? Or perhaps I should stick with the ones played by the Pianists, such as Brendel and Richter, who have dabbled in Haydn?