Quiz: Mystery scores

[lukeottevanger]

Grainger on Strauss

Strauss is a greater, grander genius than Maurice Ravel because he has so amply the vulgarity that Ravel lacks

I disagree with the first part of this statement, but not the last!

Stevenson's such an admirable figure in every way, and apart from his inspiring compositional accomplishments, such an awesome pianist - one of the finest, honestly, unsurpassable in this repertoire, which he knows, understands and loves passionately from the inside out. His technique is so strong and individual... here's the Grainger piece, in two (much reduced quality) parts

[lukeottevanger]

part 2

The page I quoted, btw, straddles the end of the first of these parts and the beginning of the second. FWIW

[lukeottevanger]

A few more - and then that's it for the day, I promise:

LO 215 (quite easy), 216 (quite hard) and 217 (very hard)

- sorry, my numberings are wrong for the following 11. Add 1 to get the correct numbering as it appears on the list.

[lukeottevanger]

LO 218 (hard), 219 (very easy) and 220 (moderate)

[lukeottevanger]

LO 221 (easy), 222 (very hard, so I've left the name in) and 223 (very hard - and to play too!)

[lukeottevanger]

LO 224 (hard, so I've left the name in again) and 225 (easy)

Of course, all those difficulty ratings are my opinion, of course, and only to help you know which ones to focus on (or not)

[(poco) Sforzando]

225 is the third song from Mussorgksy's Sunless cycle.

[Guido]

221 is Crumb but cant remember what
223 looks like it could be Ornstein to me...

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

LOL - yes, or Ramble on Love, as it's known for short. Listening to it now, as it happens (Ronald Stevenson live performance). Wonderful stuff!

Indeed. Great playing.

[Although I don't really like the whole of Der Rosenkavalier, I think the last 45 minutes or so are sublime.]

[lukeottevanger]

Sforzando - correct on the Mussorgsky. Obviously I chose this page for its infamous prefiguring of Debussy's Nuages...

Greg - correct, it is Crumb. The Ornstein guess is wrong, though I can see why you'd think that.

BTW, I got the numbering wrong for the last few - I did two 214s, so the following ones are numbered one too low. All corrected in the list, however. It ought to be clear which one is which anyway, from the context.

[Guido]

Sforzando - correct on the Mussorgsky. Obviously I chose this page for its infamous prefiguring of Debussy's Nuages...

Greg - correct, it is Crumb. The Ornstein guess is wrong, though I can see why you'd think that.

BTW, I got the numbering wrong for the last few - I did two 214s, so the following ones are numbered one too low. All corrected in the list, however. It ought to be clear which one is which anyway, from the context.

Hey, my name is Guido!

[lukeottevanger]

Yeah, right. Seen one G, seen 'em all. Easily confused, you know....

[lukeottevanger]

Any thoughts on 217, Guido?

Which is a kind of clue, if you think about it.

[Mark G. Simon]

LO 217 is one of Three Improvisations by Charles Ives.

The AMP at the bottom of the page indicates that it's published by Associated Music Publishers, Ives' publisher. There are verbal notes on the page referring to a recorded performance, and I recalled that Ives did record some piano improvisations. And finally, I checked the plate number on the Cornell library's catalog record for the Three Improvisations, and it matches that on the page.

[Guido]

Any thoughts on 217, Guido?

Which is a kind of clue, if you think about it.

I guessed it was something by Ives but didn't recognise it - has someone transcribed something from those recordings that he made?

[lukeottevanger]

Begod, Mark, how d'you get that? Though I know I left on the publisher's reference number....sometimes I am just too nice 

The Improvisations were transcribed by Gail and James Dapogny, Guido. Shall I attach the score? It's only wafer thin 366 KB... 

[Guido]

Yes do! I've found that CD pretty heavy going on the whole - Ives improvising at his most dissonant, and its all very fragmentary. It's all worth it for that golden version of "the Alcott's" which is just breathtaking in every way.

[lukeottevanger]

Mark - good detective work! I chose a page where there were hints that a transcription was in the offing deliberately. Here's the whole score

[lukeottevanger]

Yes do! I've found that CD pretty heavy going on the whole - Ives improvising at his most dissonant, and its all very fragmentary. It's all worth it for that golden version of "the Alcott's" which is just breathtaking in every way.

It's a great CD, though Guido, all in all. Might be my night-time listening tonight. I go for such soothing sounds, you see.....

[Guido]

Yes I will certainly have to listen to it more often. Thanks for the sheet music.