Sterndale Bennett - Konzertstück in A minor WO 48

[promusician]

I know that the the RAM has the MS for Bache's G minor concerto, and also at least one of his other works for piano and orchestra, namely a Polonaise, which was later published in a revised piano solo form as his Op9.
Then there is, of course John Francis Barnett's D minor concerto, but this would have to be orchestrated - although Martin Yates would be and ideal candidate for the job! But perhaps the 2-piano concerto can also be given the same treatment if necessary|

The 2 piano reduction is made from original manuscript which includes the full score

Wo 48/A.4, Autograph full score of movements 1 and 3, final version; titled '5th Concerto in A minor', not signed or dated.
WO 48/A.2, Autograph full score of movement 2; untitled, not signed or dated.
WO 48/A.1, Autograph full score of movements 1 and 3, 1843 version; titled 'Concert-Stück - Pianoforte, with Orchestra', signed and dated May 1843 and 2 Jun 1843.
WO 48/A.3, Movement 3, piano part with orchestral cues, not signed, dated 1843.
WO 48/C.1, Set of parts in a professional hand for Finale only, dated Jun 1844.
WO 48/C.2, Set of parts probably copied by William Godwin, dated 1848.

[eschiss1]

Not the famous William Godwin who died 1836 (father of Mary Shelley but famous in his own right) but is anything known about this William Godwin?

[Martin Eastick]

I'm sorry if I did not make myself clear! I was referring to the 2-piano concerto in collaboration with G.MacFarren. Depending on what is still extant, Martin Yates is surely the person to do any necessary completion/orchestration of what is missing! Simon Callaghan and Hiroaki Takenouchi would be ideal for this!

Another contender that comes to mind is the concerto by Charles Edward Horsley, the MS of which is just missing a page at the end, if I recall correctly.

[promusician]

I'm sorry if I did not make myself clear! I was referring to the 2-piano concerto in collaboration with G.MacFarren. Depending on what is still extant, Martin Yates is surely the person to do any necessary completion/orchestration of what is missing! Simon Callaghan and Hiroaki Takenouchi would be ideal for this!

Another contender that comes to mind is the concerto by Charles Edward Horsley, the MS of which is just missing a page at the end, if I recall correctly.

I see. Rumours said that the 2 piano concerto is not a good composition, although I haven't heard the music myself. Maybe just for sake of completion, it will be included in the album. Most likely paired with WSB 4th concerto, which is so underperformed.
I am thinking of a 5 CD set of teacher and pupil piano concerto series: Cipriani Potter - WS Bennett - FE Bache

[4candles]

Do you know, by the way, what else will be on the Lyrita disk?
I have not yet had a reply from Simon, which is unusual. He normally responds at once, but he is a very busy bee!

Simon Callaghan's website confirms that, joining WSB's 6th piano concerto will be his 4th concerto, noted elsewhere here as underperformed. So this is all good news!

[pianoconcerto]

Since Martin Eastick mentioned the ms of Bache's piano concerto in g minor (1850) being in RAM, please note that Darrel Hoffman posted his realization of that score on YouTube last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZFbcrjwyU&t=313s

Thanks Darrel.

[Martin Eastick]

Although I shouldn't be the one to complain, I feel that Bennett's 4th Concerto (Op19) is simply the wrong coupling. Whilst I appreciate it should still be considered underperformed, the fact that Hyperion, with Howard Shelley, have already recorded concertos 1-4, as well as the Capriccio Op22, BUT not the earlier F minor concerto, this would be preferable as a coupling. However, I still think Bache's G minor work would have been better still - especially now having heard Darrel Hofmann's realisation of the work!
However, taking note of the announcement on Simon Callaghan's website, the mention of both Martin Yates AND Hero Takenouchi indicate that the Bennett/MacFarren collaboration may also be included!

[promusician]

Since Martin Eastick mentioned the ms of Bache's piano concerto in g minor (1850) being in RAM, please note that Darrel Hoffman posted his realization of that score on YouTube last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZFbcrjwyU&t=313s

Thanks Darrel.

I have acquired the full color score from RAM and passed it to Darrell for typesetting and realization. Very tough work as the clef and instrument changes are not clear in the manuscript. I will be contacting Callaghan for his consideration of recording this work.
In the meantime, we would be working on Bache's 1st version (year 1851) of Piano Concerto Op.18 which is different considerably from the recorded work.

[simoncallaghan]

Dear all,

Very pleased to formally announce this:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9827033--william-sterndale-bennett-piano-concertos-nos-4-6

Lyrita will also be releasing a box set of all the Bennett concerti - we recorded the 4th as they hadn't previously done this, although Hyperion had.

Very happy with the result.  Martin Yates' completion of no.6 is wonderful, and the two-piano concerto was a delight to play!

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks,Simon, and welcome to UC! This is a release to which many of us have been looking forward for quite a few years!

[Ilja]

Oh, this is going to be good. Thank you, Simon!

[terry martyn]

And it doesn't disappoint!

Simon's performances are both lively and luminous. For my money, his insightful performance of the Fourth ( and I have the old LP and the Hyperion) is the yardstick against which future performances should be measured.

I particularly admired the  gentle, aubade- resembling ,central movement of the Sixth.  So satisfying to have all the concertos now.

Looking forward to hearing what others have  to say...........

[Christopher]

I'm just waiting for Presto to make the whole box set of all the concertos available for download and then I'll buy the lot.  I simply have no more room for hard-copy CD's.  I enquired and they said they'd get back to me on that one...

[TomCase]

A CD of the long awaited revival of Sterndale Bennett's sixth and final piano concerto in A minor (WO48) plus a piano concerto for two pianos written jointly with his fellow student George MacFarren (WO29) has just been released by Lyrita on SRCD448. This includes a new performance of the fourth piano concerto in F minor Op 19.  It is attracting very favourable reviews particularly praising Simon Callaghan and Martin Yates.   

[terry martyn]

It's nearly four weeks since my copy arrived immediately after Christmas and a dozen or so playings confirm to me how refreshing this innocent,unaffected, music is. I'm not claiming that these are masterpieces but there is so much to be appreciated from both the performances and the  music itself.