Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)

Started by jerfilm, Thursday 10 March 2016, 19:50

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jerfilm

While surfing YouTube, I came across the Quintet in Bb for piano and winds by Walter Gieseking.  I was not aware that he was a composer as well as a very famous pianist.   But other than a Concertino for flute and piano, I haven't spotted anything else.  Searches are almost hopeless as they turn up hundreds and hundreds of recordings played by him.

This quintet sounds to me like it falls into our remit.  What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blveDIZYETU

jerry

adriano

Quite a fascinating piece, thanks for letting me know :-)
Another famous pianist, Arthur Schnabel, was also an excellent composer. There is a Chandos CD with some of his piano music. He even wrote 3 Symphonies...

Alan Howe

Yes, but Schnabel's music hardly belongs here.

pianoconcerto

Quote from: Alan Howe on Thursday 10 March 2016, 20:40
Yes, but Schnabel's music hardly belongs here.

Artur Schnabel's early works do, indeed, belong here, such as the piano concerto (1901).  Helen Schnabel, his daughter-in-law, recorded two movements, the Intermezzo and Rondo, decades ago (and these have been reissued on CD):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmz0mE6CxCs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfLbyvmHAs

The rest of the work, apparently, was withdrawn by the composer.

Alan Howe

Well, OK. But his symphonies were mentioned...

Unfortunately the YouTube links don't work for me...

Mark Thomas

At least in the UK YouTube says "This video is unavailable".

Gareth Vaughan


semloh

Well, Jim, perhaps the quintet, being in the style of Ravel/Debussy, doesn't strictly meet the UC remit, but I'm pleased you alerted us to it. It's a most enjoyable piece, and beautifully played by the young ensemble on YouTube. 'Winds and piano' can be a surprisingly beguiling combination!

jerfilm

Well, the saxophone gives it quite a different flavor from other piano and wind quintets.
J