2 Pianos, 2 Pianos

[springrite]

The double piano genre doesn't excite me as much as other two-instrument combinations. A single piano has such incredible diversity of range, dynamics, tempo, and counterpoint that two together doesn't seem to make as big an impact as other pairings.

My sentiment exactly.

But it is still better than... well, imagine this:

Toccata for Two Organs

[Szykneij]

My sentiment exactly.

But it is still better than... well, imagine this:

Toccata for Two Organs

Featured in the exciting Time/Life Dueling Wurlitzers collection!   

(After googling, I discovered there are more actual double organ toccatas than I imagined.) 

[Maciek]

What about Lutoslawski's Paganini Variations (might be on that Argerich set, dunno)?

You know, Bacewicz wrote a 2 piano transcription of Szymanowski's Harnasie - recorded quite recently on Dux. Quite interesting. (Well, I don't own the disc actually, but I believe I heard some of it on the radio. Or I'm imagining things. The work and recording do exist anyways.)

[Que]

On Érards as well - wonderful recording!

Q

[Guido]

Strange to mention the Stravinsky concerto for two pianos without mentioning the sonata for two pianos... Both are superb!

[The new erato]

Strange to mention the Stravinsky concerto for two pianos without mentioning the sonata for two pianos... Both are superb!

Yes they are, and totally underperformed and underrecorded.

[The new erato]

What about Lutoslawski's Paganini Variations (might be on that Argerich set, dunno)?

Unfortunately, it's not.

[The new erato]

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[asin]B00000147U[/asin]

Good one?

[Guido]

I love that recording.

[k-k-k-kenny]

Liszt: Concerto Pathétique, banged out by Nelson Friere and the divine Martha on EMI Classics 7243 5 57035 2 1 "Music from Saratoga"
Various bits and pieces on Duo Piano Extravaganza (Philips Classics - 446 557-2)
Surprisingly good (well, maybe not as it was arranged by Webern), Schoenberg played by Prague Piano Duo - Five Pieces Op. 16, Chamber Symphonies (Praga Digitals - PRD 250 119)

[Wanderer]

A superb transcription of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (for 3 pianos!) is included in the latest EMI collection from the Lugano Festival (2010 - Martha Argerich & co.). Argerich does not participate in that particular performance (which is nonetheless electrifying) but she does in a number of others in the set. In the music for 2 pianos genre the set includes Chopin's op.73 Rondo in C, Brahms' Variations on a theme by Schumann, Liszt's Les Préludes (Argerich/Rivera), Bartók's Sonata for 2 pianos & percussion (Argerich/Kovacevich) and Grainger's Fantasy on Porgy and Bess (an exquisite work in the best Lisztian paraphrase tradition).

[some guy]

Speaking of not forgetting, Berio's concerto for two pianos. Unfortunately, the spectacular recording by the Labèque sisters, with Berio conducting, only ever came out on LP. I saw them play that in LA back in the day, the day when Berio and Ligeti and Lutosławski were regular visitors to that town. They also have a recording out of Dvořák's Slavonic Dances.

Their career has not been as stunning nor as consistent as that of the the Kontarsky brothers, though. Up to a point (in time), you can find a ton of two piano music just by searching for Kontarsky. Weiss, Nono, Dessau (let's not forget Dessau), Ligeti, Boulez. As well as some older things. Saint-Saëns. Brahms. Mozart. Rachmaninoff.

Otherwise, there's Simeon ten Holt, who made a career out of multiple piano music. And Sándor Veress for those who like warmed over Bartók (and who doesn't, now and again).

I have this nagging feeling that someone, a Fluxus person maybe, did something for dozens or even hundreds of pianos, but I can't dredge up more than that from my swamp-like memory.

[karlhenning]

Morton Feldman: Piece for Four Pianos; Five Pianos

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[PaulSC]

Speaking of not forgetting, Berio's concerto for two pianos. Unfortunately, the spectacular recording by the Labèque sisters, with Berio conducting, only ever came out on LP. I saw them play that in LA back in the day, the day when Berio and Ligeti and Lutosławski were regular visitors to that town. They also have a recording out of Dvořák's Slavonic Dances.

Their career has not been as stunning nor as consistent as that of the the Kontarsky brothers, though. Up to a point (in time), you can find a ton of two piano music just by searching for Kontarsky. Weiss, Nono, Dessau (let's not forget Dessau), Ligeti, Boulez. As well as some older things. Saint-Saëns. Brahms. Mozart. Rachmaninoff.

Otherwise, there's Simeon ten Holt, who made a career out of multiple piano music. And Sándor Veress for those who like warmed over Bartók (and who doesn't, now and again).

I have this nagging feeling that someone, a Fluxus person maybe, did something for dozens or even hundreds of pianos, but I can't dredge up more than that from my swamp-like memory.

The performers angle is a good one. Piano Circus is another ensemble worth searching.

[Lethevich]

Now there's an option for more than two, I second Simeon ten Holt. His brand of minimalism is rather individual - instead of being based on gradually evolving sequences of repetitions like the American school, his pieces are made from clusters of variation-like themes which performers can choose how many times they wish to repeat and the degree of which they blend into each other.

[snyprrr]

Just listened to Boulez's Structures. Is this the POSTERChild for TotalSerialism?


I like this Thread, lots of great recommendations.

[DieNacht]

The Martinu Double Concerto for Two Pianos apparently hasn´t been mentioned; one of his best works, lots of drive and freshness in it, great playing in the old supraphon-recording by the Lejskova Duo; as far as I recall, there are later recordings as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-RyWWKsPc (This is not the Lejskova issue, it is much heavier/clumsier here)

Schnittke has also one, at least recorded on Erato, appropriately sinister of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWpAtqGX2c

And Malipiero composed a rather edgy one, it´s on you-tube also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HmMOHZFOIw

And there is one by Walter Piston.

[snyprrr]

The Martinu Double Concerto for Two Pianos apparently hasn´t been mentioned; one of his best works, lots of drive and freshness in it, great playing in the old supraphon-recording by the Lejskova Duo; as far as I recall, there are later recordings as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-RyWWKsPc (This is not the Lejskova issue, it is much heavier/clumsier here)

Schnittke has also one, at least recorded on Erato, appropriately sinister of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWpAtqGX2c

And Malipiero composed a rather edgy one, it´s on you-tube also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HmMOHZFOIw

And there is one by Walter Piston.

The Piston has, I think, his most most beautiful slow movement. Anyone?