Unsung Composers

The Music => Composers & Music => Topic started by: jerfilm on Thursday 10 March 2016, 19:50

Title: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: jerfilm on Thursday 10 March 2016, 19:50
While surfing YouTube, I came across the Quintet in Bb for piano and winds by Walter Gieseking.  I was not aware that he was a composer as well as a very famous pianist.   But other than a Concertino for flute and piano, I haven't spotted anything else.  Searches are almost hopeless as they turn up hundreds and hundreds of recordings played by him.

This quintet sounds to me like it falls into our remit.  What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blveDIZYETU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blveDIZYETU)

jerry
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: adriano on Thursday 10 March 2016, 20:02
Quite a fascinating piece, thanks for letting me know :-)
Another famous pianist, Arthur Schnabel, was also an excellent composer. There is a Chandos CD with some of his piano music. He even wrote 3 Symphonies...
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 10 March 2016, 20:40
Yes, but Schnabel's music hardly belongs here.
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: pianoconcerto on Thursday 10 March 2016, 23:55
Quote from: Alan Howe on Thursday 10 March 2016, 20:40
Yes, but Schnabel's music hardly belongs here.

Artur Schnabel's early works do, indeed, belong here, such as the piano concerto (1901).  Helen Schnabel, his daughter-in-law, recorded two movements, the Intermezzo and Rondo, decades ago (and these have been reissued on CD):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmz0mE6CxCs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmz0mE6CxCs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfLbyvmHAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfLbyvmHAs)

The rest of the work, apparently, was withdrawn by the composer.
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: Alan Howe on Friday 11 March 2016, 07:18
Well, OK. But his symphonies were mentioned...

Unfortunately the YouTube links don't work for me...
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: Mark Thomas on Friday 11 March 2016, 07:55
At least in the UK YouTube says "This video is unavailable".
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 11 March 2016, 10:06
The Rondo, played by Helen Schnabel, is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGHeO9RX4uU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGHeO9RX4uU)
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: semloh on Friday 11 March 2016, 20:46
Well, Jim, perhaps the quintet, being in the style of Ravel/Debussy, doesn't strictly meet the UC remit, but I'm pleased you alerted us to it. It's a most enjoyable piece, and beautifully played by the young ensemble on YouTube. 'Winds and piano' can be a surprisingly beguiling combination!
Title: Re: Walter Gieseking (1895-1956)
Post by: jerfilm on Saturday 12 March 2016, 23:03
Well, the saxophone gives it quite a different flavor from other piano and wind quintets.
J