Conrad Ansorge (1862-1930)

[LateRomantic75]

I came across this intriguing German composer while browsing IMSLP: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Ansorge

If he is remembered at all today, it is for his piano playing, not his music (he was a student of Liszt). There are ancient recordings of him playing the piano on YouTube, but, alas, none of his own compositions. His output is quite sizable, including a Requiem, two symphonies (one of which is entitled Orpheus), a piano concerto, three piano sonatas, two string quartets, a cello sonata, amongst other works. IMSLP holds four of his works, which appear to be of a turbulently dramatic nature and of lineage from the New German School: http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Ansorge,_Conrad

Anyone know more about him?

[jerfilm]

According to 1950s grove he also wrote a Piano Concerto.....

J

[LateRomantic75]

Oh yes, Wikipedia lists a PC as well, but I somehow forgot to mention it...

[thalbergmad]

The PC is still in hiding, despite considerable efforts to locate it.

Perhaps we need to offer a reward.

Thal

[Martin Eastick]

I did have scores of all three piano sonatas at one time as well as a ballade - I ended up getting rid of these during a 'consolidation' of my collection as despite several attempts to find anything worthwhile in all four works, I have to say I was most disappointed with the music. I found his music to be rather dry and melodically uninteresting, and cannot recall any positive attributes! However there may be others here who have different opinions.............

[LateRomantic75]

Thanks for that report, Martin. I wasn't able to judge the quality of Ansorge's music by merely skimming the scores held at IMSLP. Even so, I'd still love to hear a work or two of his. Like you say, one man's trash may be another man's treasure!

[britishcomposer]

Deutschlandfunk Kultur did broadcast two string quartets last evening. They will be issued on CD. The host of the programme mentioned that they will produce the piano concerto soon, too.

[Alan Howe]

Well, we'll finally have a chance to evaluate some of his music. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Alan Howe]

Ansorge's Drei Traumbilder, Op.8 (1897) can be heard on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK2OvxLpf7c

I rather like them for their gentle lyricism. Nice late-evening listening. The 3rd comes across as more questing, even disquieting. 

[Alan Howe]

Here's a glowing recommendation, plus soundbites, of his Cello Sonata, Op.24 (1909):
http://www.editionsilvertrust.com/ansorge-cello-sonata.htm

[britishcomposer]

Alan, Mark uploaded the cello sonata a couple of years ago:
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,5819.msg61500.html#msg61500

[Alan Howe]

Thanks. Must have missed that at the time.

[tpaloj]

The autographs of the piano concerto (of both the partitura and 2p arrangements) are held in Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, though perhaps this was already well known at this point.

http://stabikat.de/DB=1/SET=1/TTL=11/SHW?FRST=20

[eschiss1]

That's not a permanent link, I don't think.

This link should take you to the digitization of the full score of Ansorge's F major piano concerto Op.28 (autograph, ca.1916), which isn't yet (the scanning/digitization) carried out yet but -is- in process: this link.  The piano duet reduction will be here when digitized, according to SBB (Stabikat).
Thanks!

[tpaloj]

Ah, sorry, it didn't link properly, but the entries are found by doing a search for Conrad Ansorge. And yes it appears to be in the process of being digitized. Thanks for the correction and proper links