GMG’s Favourite Piano Concertos

[karlhenning]

Well, the Schnittke and Wuorinen certainly do have melody.

And at least the Carter pounds in exhilirating atonality! : )

[Amfortas]

I admit, I am biased. It is hard for me to be objective about some (not all) modern music. For me, if the melody is absent, I find the music hard to listen to - pure torture. The music that Karl highlighted lacks that entirely. Or do you think this is not the case?  Thus, there must be some other reason you and he like the music.

EDIT: As to melodramatic pounding - At least the romantics pound in harmony!

For me, there can be other things to enjoy besides (or instead of melody). Take the Wuorinen concerto, the first movement has a Bartokian drive that is exhilirating (to me). I confess a slow movement in such a work is always harder for me, so I concentrate on use of instrumental color or mood. Music has got to be the most subjective of the arts, there is no clear-cut answer as to why some of us like non-tonal music.

[karlhenning]

Glad you enjoy it, Amfortas: that first movement to the Wuorinen is one heck of a ride!

[Amfortas]

Glad you enjoy it, Amfortas: that first movement to the Wuorinen is one heck of a ride!

And the Third Movement ain't bad neither!  Whoo! Wish I could play something like that!

[mc ukrneal]

I don't listen for a melody, or more precisely a certain kind of melody.  Some works grab me more than others, but what I have discovered that is fairly consistent and general - I react best to a work which is not (what I consider) overstated.  Which is why I prefer Poulenc to Liszt.  I think it is a characteristic of 20th century music that there is a priority for compact gestures instead of the BIG STATEMENT, and this too appeals to my aesthetic sense.

Your YMMV - as I am sure it does.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

[mc ukrneal]

It struck me after writing that, that the same qualties are found in the Classical period composers, and after the 20th century this period, say 1750-1830 is my favorite.  I kind of blow past most of the 19th century except for a few composers' music.

This makes sense, since there is usually a backlash against previous generations and thus, what was in, goes out, and something else takes its place. But wait long enough and what was out comes back into style/vogue.

[Lethevich]

After: Wanderer

+3 Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
+2 Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
+1 Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
-1 Copland: Piano Concerto
-2 Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie

27   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
23   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
21   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
22   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
22   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
18   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles…
17   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
14   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
11   Copland: Piano Concerto
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
11   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
10   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
08   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
07   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15
-1   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie (do we do minuses here?)

[Cato]

Would not a +3 send Stravinsky to List Heaven?

[Lethevich]

Would not a +3 send Stravinsky to List Heaven?

Indeed, then I can spam my Liszt votes again

[karlhenning]

These threads are great practice for balancing one's checkbook!

[Cato]

Yes as long as you don't also vote +2 for the Tcherepnin.

Tempting, but...   

From the Wannabe List as it now stands after Lethe, how much are you members surprised by the presence (or low standing) of certain concertos?

Besides the Tcherepnin Second!   

I am surprised by the Beethoven First and the Bach Concerto lingering in the basement for so long.

[karlhenning]

. . . And we hope to add some day Karl Henning Piano Concerto I  which - one would assume - is awaited by many many people! 

Thanks for the kind thought, Cato! I should really enjoy writing a piano concerto (even just one) : )

[Luke]

After: Lethe

+3 Messiaen: Turangalila
+2 Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
+1 Schnittke
-1 Copland: Piano Concerto
-2 Villa Lobos

27   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
23   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
21   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
22   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
22   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
18   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
17   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
14   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
10   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
10   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
09   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
07   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15

[Amfortas]

I thought the Stravinsky Capriccio had been promoted....no?

[Conor71]

After Luke


Bach 1054 +3

Mozart 21 +2
Messiaen Canyons +1
Tcherepnin -1
Liszt -2

27   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
24   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
24   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
21   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
21   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
19   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
17   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
14   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
10   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
10   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
09   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
07   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15

[kishnevi]

After: Conor71

Villa Lobos +3
Mozart PC 21 +2
Prokofiev PC 5 +1
Bach BWV 1054 -1
Stravinsky -2

26   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
25   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
23  Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
21   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
21   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
19   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
17   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
15   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
12   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
10   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
10   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
07   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15

[Cato]

After: Jeffrey Smith

+3 Tcherepnin II
+ 2 Bach MLIV
+ 1 Mozart XXI

27   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
25  Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
25   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
24   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
21   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
19   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
17   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
15   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
12   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
10   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
10   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
07   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15
[/quote]

[Lethevich]

After: leon

+3 Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
+2 Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
+1 Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124

28   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
27   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
25   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
23   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
22   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
21   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
19   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
15   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
12   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
11   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
08   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
06   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15

[Wanderer]

After: Lethe

+3 Medtner 3
+2 Liszt 1
+1 Tchaikovsky 2
-1  Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
-2 Stravinsky


27   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
26   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
25   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
24   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
23   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
20   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
20   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
15   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
12   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
11   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
09   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
08   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15

[Mirror Image]

After Wanderer:

Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra +3
Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35 +2
Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra +1
Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles... -2
Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054 -1

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

27   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 21 in C major, K.467
27   Stravinsky: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
24   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D Major, BWV 1054
24   Liszt: Piano Concerto № 1 in E flat major, S.124
23   Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto № 2,  op.22
20   Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto № 2 in G major, op.44
18   Messiaen: Des canyons aux étoiles...
15   Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, op.33
15   Prokofiev: Piano Concerto № 5 in G major, op.55
15   Villa-Lobos: Choros № 11 for piano and orchestra
12   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
11   Carter: Double Concerto for piano, harpsichord and two chamber orchestras
11   Schnittke: Concerto for Piano & String Orchestra (1979)
10   Berg: Chamber Concerto for Piano & Violin with 13 Wind Instruments (1923-25)
10   Copland: Piano Concerto
10   Shostakovich: Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings in C minor, op.35
09   Medtner: Piano Concerto № 3 in E minor, op.60
08   Ireland: Piano Concerto in E flat major
08   Wuorinen: Piano Concerto № 3 (1983)
05   Scriabin: Prométhée: Le Poème du Feu, op.60
04   Bach: Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1052
04   Mozart: Piano Concerto № 27 in B flat major, K.595
03   R.Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra
02   Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
02   Beethoven: Piano Concerto № 1 in C major, op.15
02   Schulhoff: Concerto for piano & small orchestra, op.43
02   Hindemith: Kammermusik No.2, op.36/1 (1924)
00   Tovey: Piano Concerto in A major, op.15