...although it's a reconstruction from sketches for a 2nd PC:
http://www.mdt.co.uk/grieg-piano-concerto-in-a-orchestra-kerry-stratton-grand-piano.html (http://www.mdt.co.uk/grieg-piano-concerto-in-a-orchestra-kerry-stratton-grand-piano.html)
How interesting, and on two counts: firstly the existence, and now availability, of sketches for a second Grieg concerto. They may have been well known in musicological circles, but it's certainly news to me; we'll have to see how convincing is Evju's realisation. Secondly, is this the first orchestral recording from the Grand Piano label? Given the very open-minded approach to repertoire which this Naxos-family label seems to have (which I can certainly vouch for from my own experience of dealing with them), then I certainly hope it's a straw in the wind. Dare one hope that we could eventually see a rival for Hyperion's RPC series?
I will definitely be interested.
Tom :)
Well, it's known enough to have a catalog number, EG 120 (EG numbers start at 101 and are for pieces without Op. numbers).
My list mentions that it's in "fragments" but wasn't in the book I own....so it's probably a reletively recent (within 15 years) discovery.
There's been a solo-piano arrangement of these sketches on IMSLP for some time. If you have serious piano skills it might be worth checking out, except it's non-PD in the US and EU so be sure you don't download it! ;)
Years ago, Einar Steen-Nøkleberg recorded 3:45 of solo piano fragments from the Grieg b minor, EG120, on Naxos 8.553400. In my online discography of works for piano and orchestra, I also list 8 piano-and-orchestra "reconstructions" of (or pieces based on) the Grieg Second that have been recorded (most live or for broadcast), including scores by Beeckmans, Beliayev, Colla, Edgar, Evju, Kenmuir, Nichifor, and Powers. I am familiar with the new Evju recording and highly recommend it.
I have not heard this CD's Grainger version of Op. 16. I was involved in the BIS recording of the original 1868 score and, thus, studied Grieg's autograph. I recall noticing some significant changes in the Grainger, such as the shortening of Grieg's sometimes long, drone-like pedals (e.g., at the beginning of the third movement; cf. the original on BIS 619). Many pianists even play the left-hand accompaniment detached, though all editions published during Grieg's lifetime include the drone-like effect. Whether the change was Grieg's (late in life) or Grainger's I don't know. Hopefully, the liner notes will identify other specific changes made in the Grainger edition (which was published in the USA by G. Schirmer and is what many performers here played from, myself included).
You can hear the sketches elaborated by different hands here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb1xsGeoe9g). All a bit clumsy IMHO. The original sketches themselves are here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBU4GgfXaRA).
The Evju reconstruction, that was also used for the recording Alan mentioned, can be found here, by the way:
1st movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fffd8R7c-U&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fffd8R7c-U&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503)
2nd movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eo-g5FySAQ&index=2&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eo-g5FySAQ&index=2&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503)
3rd movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYeI51LeGL0&index=3&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYeI51LeGL0&index=3&list=PL0B41CB21F27D6503)
I think it was an entry in the same competition that also produced the Beeckmans re-'imaginging'. Interesting to hear them side-by-side, although Evju's version seems by far the better of the two – even if it sounds more Rachmaninoffian than Griegesque in places.
Quote from: Ilja on Monday 11 May 2015, 12:42
The Evju reconstruction, that was also used for the recording Alan mentioned, can be found here, by the way:
I think it was an entry in the same competition that also produced the Beeckmans re-'imaginging'. Interesting to hear them side-by-side, although Evju's version seems by far the better of the two – even if it sounds more Rachmaninoffian than Griegesque in places.
Are those really words?
Tom
Seems McGuffin-y, to me...
For those who are interested to listen to the various "realizations" of these sketches (some of them are close to what Grieg could have done ; some other ones are written in a totally different style) :
Laurent Beeckmans : Piano Concerto in B minor : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb1xsGeoe9g
Vladimir Beliayev : Piano Concerto No. 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJ0v60zts8
Alberto Colla : Piano Concerto No. 1 (warning, modernist) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2VRDA-a1q0
Alison Edgar : Fantasia in B minor : I don't know a recording
Helge Evju : Piano Concerto in B minor : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fffd8R7c-U
Callum Kenmuir : Rhapsody on themes by Grieg : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBW1-_pJ8CY
Serban Nichifor : Concerto GRIEGoriano : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2BUU7A9FSk
Daniel Powers : Concerto "Reliquary" : https://www.mediafire.com/?klbo2pe40d68fm3
Hi, thanks. This'll be a good way to spend a lost hour or two somewhere soon! ;)
I feel quite ashamed that I wasn't even aware of the existence of the sketches, never mind all those realisations/reconstructions etc.
Me neither.
I'm in the same boat, I must admit.
Sackcloths anyone? You can supply your own ashes...
It's not a reconstructed masterpiece, this. Sure, it has some moments of great beauty, but you'd be hard put to recognise its origins in sketches by Grieg. However, it's as good as many of the entries in Hyperion's RPC series and it's an enjoyable listen (along the lines of, say, the Warsaw Concerto).
I had the opportunity to listen to the b minor from Evju today and I agree with Alan it's a nice concerto along the same lines as the Warsaw. It's nothing more.
But don't let me put anyone off buying it!
nor I. Some people like these sort of piano works
I wish people would put more effort into orchestrating works which we know from the piano or two piano scores, and/or contemporary accounts of their performances, are worthwhile, but for which the orchestral material is missing. Works like the pianoforte concerto by Siboni or Chaminade's Les Amazones. Please excuse the digression, but I thought the point was worth making.
I agree, Gareth.
Or, in my honest opinion, if one's going to go with Grieg because his name sells (deservedly; not begrudging), promote terrific but relatively little-known works like his late psalms (ok, admittedly more a job for the promoter or a different kind of performer, not the pianist). (I do think it's nice to hear those on BBC/Euroclassic Notturno overnight :).)
Quote...terrific but relatively little-known works like his late psalms
Been enamoured of those works for years. Glad to see I'm not the only one.