Schumann, Robert (1810 - 1856)

[Hornspieler]

I remember when, as a schoolboy, I first played the piano concerto with Frank Merrick as soloist and our local orchestral society.

In the last movement, when the tune goes into a cross rhythm the conductor changed his beat to a 3/4 matching the tune, to assist the strings - and I had about 63 bars rest to count in 3/8 time! What a nightmare! I kept my head down and use my watch as a counting machine. The entry at the end of those bars rest is absolutely critical, but I managed it somehow. Of course, when you know the piece, you don't need to indulge in such trivia as counting the bars rest.

But see my other post regarding Schumann's piano concerto on the "... couldn't conduct a bus" thread. (Give time to write it down)

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

I remember when, as a schoolboy, I first played the piano concerto with Frank Merrick as soloist and our local orchestral society.

In the last movement, when the tune goes into a cross rhythm the conductor changed his beat to a 3/4 matching the tune, to assist the strings - and I had about 63 bars rest to count in 3/8 time! What a nightmare! I kept my head down and use my watch as a counting machine. The entry at the end of those bars rest is absolutely critical, but I managed it somehow. Of course, when you know the piece, you don't need to indulge in such trivia as counting the bars rest.

But see my other post regarding Schumann's piano concerto on the "... couldn't conduct a bus" thread. (Give time to write it down)

HS

Interesting, HS... I wonder if from your player's perspective over the years, and presumably many performances, you have a view on the comment of my pianist friend recounted in my earlier post:

.... the piano concerto. I went to see that film about David Helfgott, 'Shine', with a friend who is a concert pianist (known in Germany rather than here). I was struck by his comment as we left afterwards that all the talk about 'The Rach Three' being the most difficult concerto ever written was nonsense as far as he was concerned: the most difficult of all is the Schumann - fewer notes, but the patterns and structure of the music are apparently far harder to grasp, memorise and bring off. I always think about that when I hear it. (I must say, I prefer Rach 3 as a musical experience... )

[Hornspieler]

Interesting, HS... I wonder if from your player's perspective over the years, and presumably many performances, you have a view on the comment of my pianist friend recounted in my earlier post....

the piano concerto. I went to see that film about David Helfgott, 'Shine', with a friend who is a concert pianist (known in Germany rather than here). I was struck by his comment as we left afterwards that all the talk about 'The Rach Three' being the most difficult concerto ever written was nonsense as far as he was concerned: the most difficult of all is the Schumann - fewer notes, but the patterns and structure of the music are apparently far harder to grasp, memorise and bring off. I always think about that when I hear it. (I must say, I prefer Rach 3 as a musical experience... :

Sorry Cali, but not being a pianist, I really can't comment. I'm sure that many message boarders would be far better qualified; especially one notable concert pianist who (to my personal knowledge) has certainly played both works on countless occasions.

HS

[amateur51]

Those in search of late Schumann might enjoy this - I know I do

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Piano-works-Piotr-Anderszewski/dp/B004CD3A4Y/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1353602610&sr=1-1-spell

[Barbirollians]

Schumann- Brendel in the Fantasy and Fantasiestucke is marvellous one day and then Argerich is just as marvellous but utterly different the next .

Other favourites : Kubelik on DG and Szell in the symphonies

Solomon's Carnaval

Lipatti , Argerich and Myra Hess in the Piano Concerto

du Pre and Isserlis in the Cello Concerto

Menuhin and Barbirolli in the Violin Concerto

Argerich in the Piano Quintet on EMI , just about all of Perahia's recordings of Schumann , Lupu in Kreisleriana and Gilels on BBC legends in the first sonata.

I do struggle withe Rhenish symphony though even in the Sawallisch, Kubelik and Szell versions.

[Bryn]

Nobody here seems to have mentioned Jan Vermeulen yet. I find his doble CD of some of the most famous/polular Schumann piano works a real delight:



I have just ordered his CD of the works for cello and piano (with France Springuel):

[verismissimo]

I remember when, as a schoolboy, I first played the piano concerto with Frank Merrick as soloist and our local orchestral society.

Merrick was that rare bird, a British Leschetizky pupil who had a successful career.

[Nick Armstrong]

Nobody here seems to have mentioned Jan Vermeulen yet. I find his double CD of some of the most famous/polular Schumann piano works a real delight:

Very tempting, that, Bryn. What a lovely cover too. Are you able to take a quick squint at the CD cover and tell me who the artist is?

[Nick Armstrong]

I owe a debt of gratitude to the maligned (inc. by me sometimes) 'celebrity chat' segment of Essential Classics, in relation to a piece I mentioned in my #1 above, the Konzertstück for Four Horns.

Clive Swift chose the piece and the version played was one which I'd never heard, with the American Horn Quartet on Naxos http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Han...4481663&sr=1-1 Some delectable horn playing, which I've kept putting on 'repeat' having downloaded it. Real cheeky character and swagger.

I've seen good reviews of the version with Thielemann and the Philharmonia, c/w the Second Symphony. Might investigate.

What a great showpiece. I wonder how many times our resident virtuosi, hornspieler and waldhorn, think of it. Any anecdotes from performances?

I will always remember a discussion about it with the horn-player who was rehearsing it and first recommended it to me, at University (I can even picture where we were - walking up 'The Chimney', the front path up to Jesus College). I was saying that I loved the first and third movements but thought the middle slow one a bit boring. His reply marked me with the difference between audience and performer: he said he loved the slow movement "because it's sooooo easy !!!"

[Nick Armstrong]

quartets... Zehetmair, marvellous

Zehetmair Quartet in Qs 1 and 3 on ECM (Gramophone Record of the Year a few years back).

Investigated and acquired: absolutely wonderful! Thanks both

(What happened to No. 2? )

[Bryn]

My current favourite for the Symphonies is Harnoncourt with the COE (which includes the 1841 original 4th), supplemented with his Berlin Phil reading of the revised 4th (c/w a great Schubert 4). Hans Vonk's oft-overlooked Cologne Radio set is more mainstream but still excellent. Haven't played them for a while now, but much enjoyed Zinman/Tonhalle, Szell/Cleveland, and Paray in Detroit too - though the latter's wonderful, stereo No.1 overshadows the rest of the cycle a little. Get it anyway, the Spring really springs!

Sawallisch is always a good bet (Toshiba if you can!) but feels a bit overfamiliar for me now...

3 chamber music sets stand out:
Zehetmair Quartet in Qs 1 and 3 on ECM (Gramophone Record of the Year a few years back).
Widman/Varjon Violin Sonatas again on ECM.
Tetzlaff/Tetzlaff/Andsnes Piano Trios on EMI, G. Chamber Record of the Year 2012!

I bought all of these and played them often - highly recommended!

Though not arguing re. the Zehetmair Quartet's CD of just the first and third, I would also suggest the Eroica Quartet's CD of 1, 2 & 3, though it is a bit harder to find than when I got it three years ago:

[Bryn]

Very tempting, that, Bryn. What a lovely cover too. Are you able to take a quick squint at the CD cover and tell me who the artist is?

I will seek, find and report back a.s.a.p.

Friedrich Wilhelm von Schadow (1788-1862), "Felix Schadow" (oil on canvas).

[Nick Armstrong]

I will seek, find and report back a.s.a.p.

Friedrich Wilhelm von Schadow (1788-1862), "Felix Schadow" (oil on canvas).

Many thanks indeed, Bryn. And noted re the quartets No need to ask about the artists on that CD - Herr Friedrich, I think (I hope )

[vinteuil]

Though not arguing re. the Zehetmair Quartet's CD of just the first and third, I would also suggest the Eroica Quartet's CD of 1, 2 & 3,

... as indeed I think I did too! [ #36 above; 18 November ] : -

... The quartets (Eroica and Zehetmair, marvellous),.

... and, yes, Calipygian, the cover is of course Caspar David Friedrich [1774-1840] - "The Stages of Life", c 1835; oil on canvas, Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig.

[Nick Armstrong]

... as indeed I think I did too! [ #36 above; 18 November ]



... and, yes, Calipygian, the cover is of course Caspar David Friedrich [1774-1840] - "The Stages of Life", c 1835; oil on canvas, Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig.

Quite Not a painting I know, despite my Friedrich pilgrimages in Berlin and Potsdam! (I had other things on my mind when I went to Leipzig )

I foresee a copy of the Eroica quartet's CD ending up on my shelf pretty soon

That painting of Master Schadow is haunting, don't you find? I'm pleased to see he seems to have gone on to have a fulfilling life as a painter, like his father, and as a father of six children, though a short life - he died just after his 42st birthday http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Schadow