Transcriptions

[Maciek]

It seems some conductors are good at it.

Jan Krenz's Polyphonic Suite is an orchestration of 4 fragments from Bach's Kunst der Fuge. It's very beautiful, and has a slightly mystical feel to it. Krenz is also the author of an orchestral arrangement of Szymanowski's Masques - his version is just as good as the original piano one! Maybe even better...?

However my current absolute favorite in this genre is Agnieszka Duczmal's string orchestra arrangement of Chopin's Prelude No. 4 in E Minor. Absolutely brilliant! It's almost as if the piece was never meant to be played on the piano! Amazing...

A few other "arranging" conductors spring to mind. Fitelberg's Szymanowski transcriptions are fairly well known, Maksymiuk has done a very nice chamber orchestra version of Paderewski's Nocturne, Czyz has transcribed three of the Kreutzer Etudes for orchestra.

It seems these arrangements don't usually travel far. Otherwise why would I be mentioning only Polish "arrangers"?

Maciek

[Holden]

The Siloti arrangement of the 10th Bach P+F is a particular favourite of mine. But like Gurn it's the Liszt reworking of the LvB symphonies that really impresses me. I also lkike Katsaris for them with the exceptions of 5 and 7where Gould does much better in 5 and Planes for #7. Haven't heard Scherbakov in this yet.

[bwv 1080]

Scarlatti on guitar:

http://www.davidrussellguitar.com/cd-data/2001-bar-audio/16-Russell-Scarlatti-K491.mp3

http://www.davidrussellguitar.com/cd-data/2001-bar-audio/23-Russell-Scalatti-K239.mp3

[knight66]

Delightful, the Scarletti adapts comfortably.

It has reminded me that there is a version of Schubert's Schone Mullerin where Schubert adapted the piano part for guitar. It is surprisingly effective. I am not sure if it remains available, the singer on the disc I have is Peter Schreier.

The sheer variety of colours the piano provides is restricted, but it nevertheless works well. Seemingly the Guitar was one of Schubert's instruments.

Mike

[Drasko]

However my current absolute favorite in this genre is Agnieszka Duczmal's string orchestra arrangement of Chopin's Prelude No. 4 in E Minor. Absolutely brilliant! It's almost as if the piece was never meant to be played on the piano! Amazing...

Could you upload this if you have it?

[Maciek]

I have all the stuff I mentioned except for those listed in the last paragraph (I know those only from concerts). The Duczmal Chopin is from this disc (Polish Radio Duczmal series, vol. 7):



The disc is still commercially available, so I can't really make it "publicly" available but you'll get to hear it, don't worry - just check your PMs once in a while.

[Maciek]

As for the other stuff, the only thing that isn't available commercially so far is Krenz's arrangement of the Szymanowski. So here it is, in mediocre sound I'm afraid, but still good enough to appreciate the arrangement:

DownloadLink: http://rapidshare.com/files/38675567/Szymanowski__Karol__oprac._Jan_Krenz__Maski_op._34.mp3

File-Size: 21,73 MB

[Harry Collier]

The Goldberg Variations played by a string trio.

It is a DG issue with Julian Rachlin, Nobuko Imai and Mischa Maisky on violin, viola and cello respectively. Not HIP, this is full blown modern instrument playing.

The transcription was done for the tercentenary by Dmitry Sitovetsky and dedicated to the memory of Glenn Gould. From what I can make out Maisky at least has been involved with this transcription since its initial performance.

I have this arrangement in a 1984 recording with Dimitri Sitkovetsky, Gérard Caussé and Mischa Maisky. Very fine.

[carlos]

Theodor Kirchner's transcriptions for piano
trio of the 2 Brahm's string sextets, Splendid
done and marvellous pieces. Philip Hirschhorn
on the violin (!)

[knight66]

I have just been listening to another Liszt transcription, this time of the Symphonie Fantastique. it is on Naxos by one of their house pianists Idil Biret. It is a bit of a mixed bag and I cannot really tell whether the ponderousness has been stitched into the writing or is the work of the pianist.

Parts of it are exciting, some of it is beautiful. However, it has a distinct stop go feel to it. The March au Supplice for example is well paced up to the final minute, there is then a gear change and the structure seems to grind to a halt, loosing excitement or the impending doom of the orchestral version. Much the same happens in the final movement where the Dies irae is hammered out rather boringly.

Mike

[johnshade]

-

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The performance and interpretations are extraordinary.

[karlhenning]

I have just been listening to another Liszt transcription, this time of the Symphonie Fantastique. it is on Naxos by one of their house pianists Idil Biret. It is a bit of a mixed bag and I cannot really tell whether the ponderousness has been stitched into the writing or is the work of the pianist.

Parts of it are exciting, some of it is beautiful. However, it has a distinct stop go feel to it. The March au Supplice for example is well paced up to the final minute, there is then a gear change and the structure seems to grind to a halt, loosing excitement or the impending doom of the orchestral version. Much the same happens in the final movement where the Dies irae is hammered out rather boringly.

Mike

I'm going to guess that the fault lies with the performer, even while a piano transcription of so non-pianistic a piece must be a great challenge.  But you know, it was via Liszt's transcription that Schumann wrote a glowing analysis of, and admiration for, the piece.

[orbital]

However my current absolute favorite in this genre is Agnieszka Duczmal's string orchestra arrangement of Chopin's Prelude No. 4 in E Minor. Absolutely brilliant! It's almost as if the piece was never meant to be played on the piano! Amazing...

Then it is certainly much better than the horrendous Francaix orchestration of the whole op28 lot. Because that set clearly says "go back to piano!"

[Sergeant Rock]

Sarge, That looks like an interesting disc, worth investigation. There is a complete reworking of Winterreise by Hanz Zender. It comes in across two discs; as he considerably expands some songs. The range of orchestral textures is fascinating, some songs sound so icy cold in their new guise. It is a reworking as against a transcription and I cannot recommend it too highly. The tenor is Hans-Peter Blochwitz, his contribution as vital and immaginative as anyone's.



Mike

Very interesting indeed. I listened to clips at JPC and amazon-de...oh, yes, this is something I have to own. Thanks for the recommendation, Mike.

Sarge

[knight66]

I hope you enjoy it, let us know what you think of the disc.

Mike

[m_gigena]

Rachmaninov's C sharp minor prelude... played on the violin. I never heard this one, but I do have the score and it seems to be very interesting (as well as ridiculously difficult).

[Harry Collier]

And there is also, of course, the Grosse Fuga from the Op 130 Beethoven quartet (Op 133). Arranged notably by Weingartner and recorded by him, Klemperer, the Busch Chamber Players, and Furtwängler. Quite successful in its way; it loses the sense of struggle in the string quartet original, but one can also admire the sound of the parts a little more.

[Ciel_Rouge]

I suppose it would be interesting to create a place where all transcription links would live We all know they exist, they are scattered all over YouTube, but let's take a closer look. I also wonder if any transcriptions are recorded on CDs.

For starters:

Mahler - Die zwei blauen Augen - choral:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUvfd7OAwc

Schubert - Ihr Bild - symphonic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZtthc1kr4

Schubert - Die Stadt - piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwIATPjhc_c

Schubert - Wandrers Nachtlied - violin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYX1Qz5S6E

Händel - Sarabande in D minor - piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_YFSiHZtYQ

Mendelssohn - Hexenlied - violin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upETxhpR3iU

[greg]

Interesting. I also happened to find a choral transcription of the Adagietto of Mahler's 5th:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H4pNFF5nBM&feature=related

[Antoine Marchand]

J.S. Bach — Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639. One of the most moving choral preludes of the Orgelbüchlein (organ).


On piano:


http://www.youtube.com/v/-fhqqxEQRRY


On cello (w/piano accompaniment):


http://www.youtube.com/v/ApN31QRqgIk