Messages

Joan of Arc, Op19 is a symphonic poem in four movements (Moszkowski sometimes called it a symphony) His only opera is "Boabdil, der letzte Maurenkönig" and he also wrote a ballet "Laurin". Now that's a recording project!

Well Bojan has replied to my email and thanks to him we can now clear up a couple of things! I quote his replies verbatim:

Q: Is there only one symphony in the BNF?
A: "Yes, there is only this one. With the second symphony in the Biographical Sketch he most probably meant his Symphonic Poem "Johanna d'Arc MoszWV 140"  he wrote in Berlin in the years 1875-1876. There is no hint in the diaries or any other source that suggests he wrote a second symphony while he was working on the symphonic poem. Moszkowski might also have had the Ouverture D-Dur MoszWV 145 in his mind. " [Moszkowski sometimes referred to Johanna d'Arc as a symphony in his correspondence- JP]

Q: Are the 1st and 4th movements really in C major?
A: "As my research was done a few years ago, I cannot enlighten you about this very obvious question by memory. I do not believe I made a mistake or a wrong analysis - although my time was limited and the rules of the BNF about copying music quite strict. The deciphered diaries and notes of Moszkowski are almost completely included in the dissertation. But being placed in the front row of the librarian with cameras on my back - there was no chance to copy at least a few bars with pencil for the incipits I would have really liked to have included. Maybe the forum´s hypothesis about the wrong cover is right - it was a similar problem with the piano concerto that was labeled op. 6. A lack of interest of bringing light into this matter seems to be mostly on the composers part. Moszkowski was not keen to have this music published. How these documents came into the hand of Madame Suzanne Redon was not revealed (see page 475)."

Q: Is it performable and publishable?
A: "A fantastic project to have this works recorded!  Detailed research of the musical material in the BNF and a performance should be possible and very interesting. I remember the works being complete (only scores, no instrument parts).  As you discussed it would be helpful to have a far-reaching permission of a research institution and also a Librarian that supports this project."

So there you go. A visit to the BNF in search of a friendly librarian seems to be in order!

I have emailed Bojan Assenov about the symphony - I'll let you know what he says in due course!

I too have been wondering about the Symphony's key - in the first edition of Grove and in an article by Moszkowski quoted in Bojan Assenov's dissertation, he mentions having written two symphonies in his youth - one must be the one in C major (assuming the key is correct) that is in the Bibliotheque Nationale and the other one must be in D minor, by a process of elimination! My guess is that Moszkowski destroyed the D minor Symphony (or its whereabouts are unknown - perhaps it was never finished and/or orchestrated?) and put the C major one in a binding originally meant for the "Symphonie in D-moll" in a confusing piece of recycling (he was none too well-off in his student days, evidently). Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for uploading Cuclin 20! (I wonder if the score has been published and what the movement headings of its movements - movement? - time to go listen - are ... )

I used to have a book called "Repertoriul general al creației muzicale românești" and from what I remember, the only one of his symphonies to be published was No. 9 in C sharp minor - of which, of course, there is no recording! It's unlikely to be published now, as the Romanians hardly publish any scores these days...