Arrangements of Choral Symphony/Triple Concerto

[chris_evans]

Hi friends,

I own a collection of Liszt's transcriptions of the nine Beethoven symphonies (Harmonia Mundi - Alaine Plaines/Georges Pludermacher) which features his two-piano arrangement of the Ninth Symphony. Does anyone know the history of this arrangement vs. the more commonly known solo transcription?

Also, I am interested to know if Beethoven ever himself adapted the Triple Concerto for piano trio? I know an arrangement was made in the 19th Century - probably by someone else, and long since forgotten. Any insight on this would also be much appreciated.

Happy New Year,

Chris

[Peter]

Beethoven made no arrangement himself of the Triple concerto. Found this on the Liszt:


Liszt said he wanted to:...make the different sonorities and nuances felt
within the restricted range of the piano

He worked on all the symphonies during two periods: 1835 to 1843 (8), and
then 1863-1865 (2)

He made a 2 piano version of the last movement of the 9th in Oct of 1851

Started solo version in April 1864 in Rome.

Had problems till Sept when he sent the 1st three movements to the
publishers. He wrote: "Afer several trials it turned out clearly and
undeniably that it was impossible to make an arrangement of the 4th movement
for two hands which would be satisfactory and efficacious even to some
extent. I hope you won't take it ill if I abandon it altogether..."

..."my task is not to prepare a simple piano reduction to the fatal fourth
movement for use by choir conductors. Arrangements of this kind are already
available and I declare myself unable to produce a better and more adequate
one, more suited at clumsy pianos and pianists and I believe that nobody is
capable of producing one these days."

..."In an earlier 2 piano edition for 2 pianos I reduced to ten fingers the
essential components of the orchestral polyphony and to committed the choir
to the care of the second player."

"To force both parts, the instrumental and vocal ones, in two hands can be
done neither à peu prés nor à beaucoup prés."

"The impossibility, of even approximately satisfying rendering of this
extraordinary polyphonic choral and orchestral movement on one piano alone
justifies its omission..." from the other symphonys that I transcribed.

He solved the problem by entering the parts... "of the choir as a kind of
cue above the staves of the piano." He says, " The piano part is to be
performed by... alone without the vocal parts..." If desired.

Last movements: starts the transcription in Oct. of 1864. Finished in Nov. 1964

ergo he worked on all of the symphonies for some 30 years, off and on.

The rest of the Ninth from 1851 to 1864.

The final push was from 1 Oct of 1864 to 15 Nove 1864 (14 days)

It was printed in 1865.

[Gurn Blanston]

Interesting info, thanks, Peter. I have the Cyprien Katsaris cycle for piano solo, and listened to the 9th just last Sunday. I have to say, Liszt managed to overcome his misgivings quite nicely, the spirit of the work is clearly there. And Katsaris didn't even have to sing...

[Chaszz]

Interesting info, thanks, Peter. I have the Cyprien Katsaris cycle for piano solo, and listened to the 9th just last Sunday. I have to say, Liszt managed to overcome his misgivings quite nicely, the spirit of the work is clearly there. And Katsaris didn't even have to sing...

If Gould had recorded it, there would have been a vocal component.

[ruudp]

Oew, I've got that version aswell.....simply smashing....his little additions in the 6th symphony, the tempo of the last movement of the 7th...just...awe-inspiring.

[Burchest]

I have an arrangment of the 9th by Wagner. It is scored for piano, soloist and chorus. It would remind one of a rehearsal. I realize reductions of orchestral works were for performances in the home but this rendition by Wagner could not have possibly had that in mind. The cd has become just one of a few that have taken space in my collection gathering dust.I also have the Katsaris and the Scherbakov sets. The Katsaris set get more playing time but both have something to offer in style and tempi.