Topics

Henry Nixon 1842-1907 - Henry Cotter Nixon 1865-1895.   Both composers. Were they in any way related?

I have purchased a cd, EMI/Virgin classics, of Humperdinck.  There are four items, 55 minutes playing time.  The recordings are twenty years old and the notes are a scandalous half page.  Konigskinder the longest item at twenty minutes doesn't even get a mention.  This says it all about EMI. The executive responsible needs to reveal themselves and answer some questions or they could of course resign and get a job to which he or she may be more suited.

I often read, in liner notes for instance, that a composer came first in a competition and I wonder who the other entrants were?  Prix de Rome is the best example.  Last night I read that Raff's 1st symphony obtained first prize among 32 entries at the competition organised by The Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.  Now the question is, who came second and third and who were the other entrants and what became of them and their music.  They can't have all been duds.  Any thoughts, any answers

Another query from the Hawkins archive.  There is a piano quintet in C minor.  If anyone knows anything about Durrant, dates when the quintet was composed I would like to know please.

I am wondering what is the most disliked piece of romantic music, something that one would rush to turn off or realy grates.

Secondly what is the worst performance of a piece of romantic music you have heard?

I would suggest this topic only runs for August, and then we can return to more positive matters.

In the Hawkins archive, London there is a piano quintet in D. Does anyone know anything about this composer or when the quintet was written?

Just purchased a cd of Franz Schmidt's Concertante Variations coupled with the Concerto for Left Hand.  It is very well performed and recorded.  In particular I like the piano, it is a very good instrument they use. Carlo Grante is the pianist with the Mid German Radio Sumphony Orchestraconducted by Fabio Luisi.

I also purchased the Taubert/Rosenhain piano concertos.  My criticism is that I wish they use a better recording venue than the Federation Concert Hall and a better piano.  Try comparing recordings of Shelley's Moscheles piano concertos in that venue and then compare with numbers 1,6 & 7 which were recorded in the superior acoustic of the ABC Odeon, Hobart.

Two other romantic cd discoveries for me are Marcel Tyberg's 3rd symphony from 1943 coupled with his piano trio from 1935.  Also Carlo Garofalo's Romantic symphony coupled with his violin concerto. Both on Naxos.

Another work I have yet to play is the Hans Bronsart piano trio on the IBS label.

In the Hawkins music archive there is a piano quintet by Anton Rueckauf.  Does any one know when and where he was born and what other music he wrote?

Does anyone know anything about this chap. Born in the USA, he composed four piano concertos, three before 1914.  He also composed a Concert de Societe for piano and orchestra.

Has anyone noticed that when Naxos issue cs's of Spanish or American music, they stick the country's flag on the front.  Is this meant to be a warning that one might have to make allowances for the music or a nationalistic appeal to interested parties?

I had hoped that when Howard Shelley recorded the Cramer piano concertos Nos 2,7,& 8 for Chandos it would be the start of a complete set but alas---.  I have a recording of No5.  Are there recordings of the others and the Concerti da Camera in Bflat.

There are numerous piano concertos for the left hand, does anyone know of any for the right?

Does anyone know where I might find the orchestral and chamber music of Caroline Reinagle.  When she died in 1892 she left a sizeable estate of over £9.000 but no mention of her music.

I am seeking information/opinions about Robert Austin born 1914. The only information I have, is that he was an organist at The Church of the Messiah, Birmingham, England from 1932.  I understand that he wrote a substantial amount of organ and chamber music.

Giles Enders

Percy Sherwood, died Hampstead, London 1939.  Does anyone know where the score of his other piano concerto is? I know of the one on C.

Giles Enders

After my first posting on this site, I had a great response. Thank you.
Why hasno one, so far as I know, recorded the eight piano concertos of Daniel Steibelt. 1765-1823.  He was the great rival of John Field while they were both resident in Russia.  At one point they agreed to swap cities so that whoever was in St Petersbuer went to Moscow and vice versa.
Giles Enders

My principle interest is classical & romantic piano concertos. For the sake of completeness I wish someone would record Cesar Francks first piano concertos in B. All Francks' other compositions for piano and orchestra have been recorded. Similarly   Ignaz Brull's Rhapsody for piano and orchestra, Sergei Bortkiewicz's Russian Rhapsody, Alexander Dreyshock's Grand Fantasy, William Sterndale Bennett's piano concerto no. 6 in A minor. The last one has not been recorded thanks to the obstructiveness of the owner of the manuscript. This list would clear up the remainders, so to speak, of these composers. I am aware that there are many other composers of music for piano and orchestra who have only had some of their music recorded. In many cases a lot of work would be required on the scores.