Messages

Hi Amphissa,

I, too, have always had an interest in Nicode's music, especially the piano works, both solo and for 4 hands. I have scores of nearly all his instrumental works and have long considered a recording must surely appear sooner or later - but alas no, except for the 2nd Cello Sonata Op25, which appears on vol 17 from the "In Flanders Fields" series issued by the Belgian company Phaedra. Just why this work is included is not too clear - but at least it is a good performance, and as far as I am aware the only music of Nicode to have been commercially recorded!

There was a BBC broadcast given several years ago of Prout's 4th Symphony which I do have on cassette somewhere (very crudely done on a portable cassette player , which was all I had available at the time!) - nevertheless I recall it as a pleasing work, even if rather conservative for its time. Perhaps the BBC still have the recording although they never seem to offer repeats of their old studio broadcasts of interesting repertoire, even from more recent times.

The Clarinet Sonata Op28 is a fine work, and is surely still available on CD, with Colin Bradbury and Oliver Davies. This must be as good a place as any to start a Prout revival! IMHO the early chamber music is variable in quality, but there are some worthwhile pieces - for instance the 2nd Piano Quartet. I also have the full score of  his Op5 Organ Concerto, which looks interesting!

Just a quick note re P.A.Corri - if anyone is interested at all I have a copy of this complete with all the instrumental parts. It is a most attractive work and as far as English works go from this period, probably ranks amongst the best in my opinion, although for the reasons stated by others, is perhaps not suitable to go with the Pixis! I have also had the good fortune to have had the opportunity to perform this with ensemble and was well received on both occasions!

Also - concerning the Logier Op13 - I have played this in a version I have for 2 pianos (very unusual for this period!) and likewise would not hesitate to recommend it - this also went down well and I am sure the orchestral material could be reconstructed - especially with the benefit of a separate Piano II part in addition to the indicated instrumentation in the solo part.

Re a suitable filler for the Pixis

There is some George MacFarren material in the Cambridge University Library, I have been given to understand from a reliable source - has anyone checked this out - however I do not think any piano concerto of his would be a suitable companion for the Pixis concerti! - if found there are other far more suitable contenders for a future coulping etc....

The concerto I consider that may be the most appropriate is that by Edouard Wolff - although there is the same old problem with availability of parts etc. I have a printed copy of the first movement - published as his Op39 Allegro de Concert - the titlepage indicates that it forms part of a concerto, and it would complement the Pixis admirably, being stylistically quite similar. Once again, perhaps the BNF may have the required material.......

Also, what about the Dreyschock Op27 Concertstuck, which of course should have been included with his Op137 and the Kullak - could this be an opportunity to correct this oversight! If so, we would still require another short work of at least 10 minutes!

Then there are the concertos etc of Charles Mayer - there is also an earlier work of his - a Grand Rondeau Brillant Op28 which. once again, is not too far removed from the Pixis Op100. Orchestral parts required here I'm afraid though!

However, I DO HAVE the piano part AND complete set of parts for Kreutzer's 1st Concerto - In B flat Op42. That said, in content it really belongs more to an earlier period, although it is quite attractive and tuneful and should fit in to some recording plan somewhere in the not too distant future!

Yes - Blahetka does indeed show some promise, if you like Kalkbrenner (which I am not ashamed to admit that I do!) -perhaps on one of his better days! I have her Concertstuck for piano & orchestra (piano solo part only however - if the orchestral parts survive this could be a useful "filler" for a future Hyperion release!). Also, some of her piano solo & instrumental works have been reprinted by Hildegard Publishing if anyone is interested...

Re Sophie Menter: does anyone know if the waltz it is claimed that she composed for a young Claudio Arrau (she cannot have heard him play at the age of 18, as is mentioned in one source, because Menter died in 1918 when Arrau was born in 1903!) - and was 'recorded' by him on piano -roll in 1919, has been reconstructed. The same source mentioned above states that the unpublished manuscript has disappeared without trace. This piece is a wonderful example of late 19th century virtuoso pianistic extravagance which I would be extremely pleased to have a printed score of! (and perhaps other like-minded members also?)

Finally - may I take this opportunity to recommend Rosalind Ellicott (1857-1924)to anyone who has not come across her - it would seem that most of her music did not get published (including a Fantasie for piano & orchestra performed at the Crystal Palace in 1895) and that which did seems to be incredibly hard to track down. However, I did stumble across the scores of both piano trios some 15 or so years ago - and consequently No2 in D minor was recorded and issued on the Meridian label about 4 years ago. Obviously, any further information as to the whereabouts of any of her manuscripts would be more than welcome.....

Steve - I am glad you agree with my Paderewski & Moszkowski suggestions. As to Moszkowski's Op5 - I presume you know this via Seta Tanyel's recording (the only one to date, I still believe) - I was fortunate enough to have input here for the 4 Moszkowski CD's - originally for Collins - and it was hoped to continue both this and the Scharwenka piano cycle, although both stopped when Collins disappeared. I am still hoping that Hyperion may return to both these in the future.

It would also be very good to have the Moszkowski orchestral suites recorded (I have full scores of Op39, Op47 & Op79) - perhaps also the Prelude and Fugue for String Orchestra which I taped (rather primitively!) from the radio about 25 years ago!

Finally does ANYONE ANYWHERE have any knowledge as to the whereabouts of Moszkowski's earlier orchestral works - especially the 1875 Piano Concerto? I am sure this subject must have been touched on before, but one cannot but hope that somewhere somehow lurking in a dark dusty corner is this and perhaps a couple of symphonies etc....... just waiting to be rediscovered! I am sure that these earlier works would not disappoint!

As well as heartily concurring with many of the afore-mentioned examples, perhaps I can add the following suggestions for general recommendation (from a much longer list of course!)

Moszkowski - Violin Concerto - 2nd mvmt
Paderewski - Piano Concerto - ditto (Earl Wild performance preferably!)
Atterberg - Symphony No2 - ditto
Parry - Symphony No5 - 2nd & 4th mvmts.
Czerny (yes - believe it or not!) Concerto for piano duet Op153 - development section in particular (1st mvmt) - see slso his Sonata Op10 for piano duet - 2nd subject (1st mvmt) plus its later reappearance in the minor key!

Further to my earlier note re Ignatz Waghalter I would firstly strongly recommend the CD which includes a String Quartet and Violin Sonata plus several shorter pieces (available through the Waghalter website). His music is perhaps as one might expect - i.e. late 19th century German romantic - Waghalter was renowned for his lyricism in his music and this is certainly evident in his chamber works. The Violin Concerto and Rhapsody seem to follow in this vein (as far as I can ascertain from the full scores - my score reading ability is somewhat rudimentary!) and therefore surely would be most suitable for a recording project as mentioned in my previous post! At present the scores are with Mike Spring at Hyperion but would be some time before they could be fitted in to their recording schedules assuming they wished to proceed. I have also mentioned this to Martin Anderson although this would not be top of his agenda at present!

As a latecomer to this particular topic, I would nevertheless like to raise awareness of the Violin Concerto in A Op15 & Rhapsody for violin and orchestra Op9 by Ignatz Waghalter. I met with the composer's grandson in London earlier this year and he very kindly provided me with copies of the full scores of both works - on paper at any rate they look most enticing (both written before WWI) and a suggested recording project would be a coupling with the Philipp Scharwenka Op95 (Waghalter studied with PS for a very short time!). Anyway perhaps I could add the above to the wishlist...............