Earlier on this forum mention has been made speculating as to whether Louise Farrenc had written a piano concerto, and I found a biography by Bea Friedland of Farrenc (perhaps a dissertation) that included information that there was a piano concerto in B minor left in manuscript with two completed movements and a few piano sketches and violin lines after the composer's notation "Dopo una piccola pausa s'attacca subito il Finale". It is supposed to be in the Farrenc documents at the Bibliothèque Nationale. The manuscript bears no date, nor is it mentioned in Farrenc's or her husband Aristide's writings, but Ms. Friedland feels "the work's technical polish and its poetic temper, coupled with an engaging spontaneity, strongly suggest that it postdates the symphonies". How I wish I had the wherewithal to commission someone to pursue this, since to me, even an incomplete piece (and especially a piano concerto!) by this very accomplished composer would be great to hear. But I have neither where nor withal, and so there it will be, maybe for someone else to be intrigued by...
Another quote from Ms. Friedland regarding the second completed movement, a Larghetto in G major: "This hauntingly melancholy piece, and the abortive fragment that follows, might stand as a symbol for Mme. Farrenc's life as a creative artist--cut short, en route to its richest expression". (She had essentially ceased composing after her daughter's early death a decade before her own)
Just thought this might be of interest to a few of you.
Another quote from Ms. Friedland regarding the second completed movement, a Larghetto in G major: "This hauntingly melancholy piece, and the abortive fragment that follows, might stand as a symbol for Mme. Farrenc's life as a creative artist--cut short, en route to its richest expression". (She had essentially ceased composing after her daughter's early death a decade before her own)
Just thought this might be of interest to a few of you.