Op.39 mp3

[Rod]

Originally posted by Chris:
Not all composers, but several, yes. And who says they have to use one instrument?

The vast majority do presicely this, even the ones who could afford whatever they liked.

Originally posted by Chris:

They could play the fortepiano if they felt like it, but they either believe it is of no consequence, or believe the modern piano is better suited to the task.

With either reason it proves they aren't too clever, or, as is more likely they have succummed to the 'system'.

Originally posted by Chris:

"Specialising" in one composer is fine but to take it to the extreme of not even playing any other is going too far.

The status quo is an extreme yet you find no fault in it.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Susan:
Thanks, Peter, for the info- I'm going to ask my local music store to order it for me (Peters web site doesn't list it). And yes, from just a listening point of view, I prefer the 1st prelude as well.

Susan

If forced to choose, I would say I prefer No2.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Susan:
Thanks, Peter, for the info- I'm going to ask my local music store to order it for me (Peters web site doesn't list it). And yes, from just a listening point of view, I prefer the 1st prelude as well.

Susan

Why don't you just get the Naxos disk?! It has more of the same, is readily available and is no doubt cheaper.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I think it would be quite absurd as a pianist to play nothing but Beethoven.

I can think of a lot worse things in life Peter. Oh how absurd to play Beethoven all the time, especially the B pieces that nobody has heard before, how awfull for the poor audience...

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:
I can think of a lot worse things in life Peter. Oh how absurd to play Beethoven all the time, especially the B pieces that nobody has heard before, how awfull for the poor audience...

Yes there are a lot worse things in life and we have all witnessed them today - my sympathies to all our US members.
Playing nothing but Beethoven is the equivalent of watching nothing but Shakespeare plays - they may be the greatest in their respective fields but it is ridiculous to conclude that nothing else should be tolerated.

------------------
'Man know thyself'

[Chris]

Rod, you're missing the point. The point being if a pianist is a bad Beethoven player, not playing music by other composers is not going to make him any better.

[Susan]

Originally posted by Rod:
Why don't you just get the Naxos disk?! It has more of the same, is readily available and is no doubt cheaper.

'cause I'm looking for the sheet music, Sir Rod!

Susan

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
Yes there are a lot worse things in life and we have all witnessed them today - my sympathies to all our US members.
Playing nothing but Beethoven is the equivalent of watching nothing but Shakespeare plays - they may be the greatest in their respective fields but it is ridiculous to conclude that nothing else should be tolerated.

The above is not my position. You are deliberately twisting my position to make it sound more extreme. I'm not going to repeat myself yet again Peter.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Rod]

Originally posted by Chris:
Rod, you're missing the point. The point being if a pianist is a bad Beethoven player, not playing music by other composers is not going to make him any better.

...looks like I'll have to repeat myself!...My position is abolutely correct for myself, which is all I was really concerned about. Others could do it that way, if they were motivated. If not, so be it. The fact that you guys need relief from B in the form of Chopin or whoever only proves the 100% validity of my initial concern about the standard of Beethoven performances.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin



[This message has been edited by Rod (edited 09-12-2001).]

[Rod]

Originally posted by Susan:
'cause I'm looking for the sheet music, Sir Rod!

Susan

Oh. Being a true and noble Knight I will forgive you for confusing me.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:
I didn't say it was a magical force. Unlike yourself, it appears, I am not putting the blame wholely on the pianist but on the general expectation that all composers can be mastered by a single individual, with the same instrument. I say this is impossible as the styles are too diverse for one individual to master to a really high degree. Doubly impossible using the modern piano alone. The result will be a collection of average performances, which so happens to be what we have had in reality for years. Specialise my boy...specialise!

No point in playing music you don't like on an instrument you don't like or that is inappropriate. For those who claim to like everything....be suspicious!

This is what happens - obviously as students, pianists have to cover as much of the repertoire as possible. You can only specialise when you know what you are best at and what appeals most. Most virtuosi are renowned for their interpretations of one or two composers in particular - that doesn't mean that they should be forbidden from playing others outside their main area.

------------------
'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
This is what happens - obviously as students, pianists have to cover as much of the repertoire as possible. You can only specialise when you know what you are best at and what appeals most. Most virtuosi are renowned for their interpretations of one or two composers in particular - that doesn't mean that they should be forbidden from playing others outside their main area.

Who said they should be forbidden? I could not be reknowned as a two composer pianist as only one composer is capable of holding my attention on the instrument. One should decide what appeals most by LISTENING, more so than playing. If then you can't play well what appeals, I suggest you should not bother at all, for surely you will never play well what does not appeal. I'm certain most performers do much less of this (listening) than they should. You need to learn to listen before you can learn to play well, Beethoven said this himself.

Anyway back to the preludes. I'm surprised No 1 is the prefered option. No2 is a more subtle piece with a lovely melody, the ending quite 'profound'. No 1 is somewhat more conventionally entertaining?

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[This message has been edited by Rod (edited 09-12-2001).]

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:
Who said they should be forbidden? I could not be reknowned as a two composer pianist as only one composer is capable of holding my attention on the instrument. One should decide what appeals most by LISTENING, more so than playing.

It's hard to make any sense out of what you are saying - there can't be a single pianist who plays only one composer. Here is an example of a Melvyn Tan program(a pianist I believe you recommended) -

Melvyn Tan, fortepiano
Schumann Andante and variations op. 46
Mendelssohn Andante and allegro brillant op. 92
Bizet Jeux d’enfants.

Not one of your fortepiano idols plays only Beethoven! So what is your point?



------------------
'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
It's hard to make any sense out of what you are saying - there can't be a single pianist who plays only one composer. Here is an example of a Melvyn Tan program(a pianist I believe you recommended) -

Melvyn Tan, fortepiano
Schumann Andante and variations op. 46
Mendelssohn Andante and allegro brillant op. 92
Bizet Jeux d’enfants.

Not one of your fortepiano idols plays only Beethoven! So what is your point?

Fist of all please read my last post again, I've ammended it. Regarding Tan he is far from one of my idols. I have stated hear before that of his many Beethoven FP recordings only one is consistantly any good. An early disk by him on EMI with op81a, 53 and 57. The next best is his recording with B's Broadwood which is 50% good. The remainder (which includes a number of other B pf sonatas, cello sonatas and all the concertos) can be dispensed into the nearest bin, (and I've bought them all, alas). Why, because so often his playing sounds utterly disinterested. Perhaps Tan proves my point! The point being that a jack of all trades makes for a poorer quality tradesman, though my initial comment concerned only myself.

------------------
"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[This message has been edited by Rod (edited 09-12-2001).]

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:
The point being that a jack of all trades makes for a poorer quality tradesman, though my initial comment concerned only myself.

A jack of all trades would be someone who professed to be an artist on many different instruments. So who is your favourite artist? to prove your point we should find that this person's repertoire consists entirely of Beethoven, otherwise your point is disproved!

Re. The Preludes - they are both very enjoyable, it's just that no.1 is a more substantial piece with more contrasts and I think it is harmonically more interesting. There is also a place where the theme from no.2 makes a brief appearance. The mood of no.2 is more serene.



------------------
'Man know thyself'