Hermann Grädener - Piano Concerto in D minor op. 20

[britishcomposer]

Dear members,

I uploaded a recent broadcast performance of Hermann Grädener's Piano Concerto for you.
Thanks to the indefatigable Oliver Triendl! 

[Ilja]

Thank you! 

For those interested, the movement titles and timings are (source):

Hermann Grädener, Piano Concerto in D-minor, Op. 20 (1879)
1. Allegro moderato (0:00 - 18:53)
2. Adagio ma non troppo (1853: - 24:59)
3. Finale: Rondo (24:59 - 33:14).

A fairly typical concerto for its time, but certainly not old-fashioned; it reminded me of the (slightly younger) Urspruch concerto in some ways, although Grädener is arguably a bit more subdued. Rather lopsided in its first movement-heaviness, again like many of its era, but my first impression was very positive. Grädener obviously knows how to treat a tune, and his treatment of the material is elegant and sometimes even surprising. Thanks for alerting us to this work, Britishcomposer!

[tuatara442442]

Sounds great! And now we also have a second recording of Kralik's Symphony!

[eschiss1]

I can just see a recording coupling Carl Grädener's and Hermann Grädener's piano concertos in A minor and D minor, which have one thing besides the obvious in common...

[Ilja]

Sounds great! And now we also have a second recording of Kralik's Symphony!

Can you tell us where that might be found?

[Wheesht]

I think it's this one:

Here is a new broadcast recording of the symphony, from the same concert that made the modern-day premiere of H. Graedener's Piano Concerto:
https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/brahms-kraliks-sinfonie-graedeners-klavierkonzert-mit-nordd-ph-bosch-triendl-100.html

[Richard Moss]

Looking forward to a good listen.  Many tks for the upload

Richard

[Ilja]

Thanks, I apparently got greedy rather too quickly.

[tuatara442442]

For encores, Triendl played two of his father, Carl Graedener's miniatures, Kleine Impromptus No. 2 Kleine Elegie & No. 4 Heimliche Liebe. This can be heard in the full broadcast.

[tuatara442442]

Also, it is interesting to note that his Sonata for 2 Pianos (https://youtu.be/HbIjJ2KW_Ks?si=W2ecZkdxQub0R9-q) from the same period (and in the same key) shares the same main motif in the finale with that of the PC's.

[Mark Thomas]

I found Grädener's concerto surprisingly univolving, and that's certainly not down to the quality of the performance, which seems excellent. Everything that Ilja says about the quality of the material and Grädener's treatment of it is spot on, and yet I'm left with this feeling of detachment. Maybe I'm echoing, but in a less positive way, his judgement that it's a "fairly typical concerto for it's time". It's well made, I'm pleased we have it, it's a pleasant listen, but nothing special.

[Ilja]

After a few listens, I'm inclined to agree with regard to the second and third movement, which to me don't come close to matching the inspiration of the first. That opening movement is something I adore, though, alternating grand tunes with an almost fragile sensitivity.

[Mark Thomas]

I'll certainly persevere. Given the quality of the material and Grädener's inventiveness, it certainly should be better than my first impression.

[eschiss1]

From what I can tell contemporary reviews were not very positive.

[Mark Thomas]

After several listens I understand what Ilja sees in the opening movement, the material is memorable and well contrasted, and Grädener's invention never let's him down, but (you knew there was a "but" coming) it's also very episodic and, at 19 minutes, just way too long for the Concerto as a whole. He clearly had yet to learn that he didn't have to use every single idea he came up with, even if they were all, individually, good ones. Perhaps it would have been more successful as a stand alone, single-movement, Konzertstück?