Three favourite harpsichord concertos

[Symphonic Addict]

What are your three favourite harpsichord concertos? There are no as many as with other instruments, so I thought three or five would be a fair number to include. I find fascinating how this instrument blends into and interacts with an orchestra. There are nice and quirky instances in the genre, like Martinu's and de Falla's. I wish Hindemith and Arnold had composed each a concerto. I really enjoy the timbre of this instument, I feel it like sharp-and-metallic-sounding. Kudos for the composers who composed and those who keep writing works like these.

Having said that, mine are:


Poulenc: The level of quirkiness and depth and how both are represented into the work leaves me with a big smile on my face. Utterly charming creation.

Nyman: This is a sound beast, it's like LSD in music. The writing for the soloist is just insane, an incredibly tricky and complex work. It's about moods, mostly, and requires a challenging playing. Only solid players could play this. Few like or enjoy Nyman, but I do. He's certainly one of my favorite minimalist composers.

Kalabis: I don't have strong memories of this, but I remember being impressed when I heard it.

[Mirror Image]

In no particular order: Poulenc, Falla and Martinů.

[amw]

Bach D minor, A major & E major

[pjme]

In no particular order: Poulenc, Falla and Martinů.

My choices aswell.

Allow me to add:
Hugo Distler : a composition (harpsichord and strings) from 1935. The fast movements are very motoric, almost manic. The last movement is an incredible "tour(billon) de force", a crazy whirlwind. The Andante poco Adagio is sad and mysterious.
Maurice Ohana: Sarabande for harpsichord and orchestra (1950). Short (ca 8 minutes), serious and rather spooky...
(Frank Martin's concerto and the Petite symphonie concertante, of course)....

[André]

Kalabis, Poulenc and Falla.

I haven't heard the Distler (hard to find and/or very expensive) but Distler is a favourite composer I've enthused about for his choral and organ music.

I don't know the Martinu either. Suggestions ?

[Mirror Image]

My choices aswell.

[Mirror Image]

Kalabis, Poulenc and Falla.

I haven't heard the Distler (hard to find and/or very expensive) but Distler is a favourite composer I've enthused about for his choral and organ music.

I don't know the Martinu either. Suggestions ?

Check out this recording:



The recording with Zuzana Růžičková (w/ Neumann at the podium) is also worth looking into.

[DavidW]

Bach D minor, A major & E major

Yup same here.  And if I exhaust Bach then it is... CPE Bach.  And I believe Haydn's early keyboard concertos are typically played on harpsichord.

I will say for those thinking outside the Bach  try Gorecki's harpsichord concerto.  It is pretty neat.

I wonder if anyone will mention Carter's double concerto.

[André]

Check out this recording:



The recording with Zuzana Růžičková (w/ Neumann at the podium) is also worth looking into.

Thanks, John !

[Mirror Image]

Thanks, John !

À tout moment, mon amie.

[MusicTurner]

Poulenc, Martinu (recordings vary in their attractiveness though), Kokkonen.

And B1052.

[vandermolen]

Walter Leigh
Poulenc
Kalabis

[ritter]

My list (all 20th century):

Elliott Carter: Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano with Two Chamber Orchestras
Roberto Gerhard: Concerto for Harpsichord, Percussion and Strings.
Francis Poulenc: Concert champêtre

[André]

Yes, the Gerhard is a scorcher !

[DavidW]

Check out this recording:



The recording with Zuzana Růžičková (w/ Neumann at the podium) is also worth looking into.

This was going to be an Ives day for me but I think I will be listening to this recording instead.

[Mirror Image]

This was going to be an Ives day for me but I think I will be listening to this recording instead.

An excellent choice if I do say so myself.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, the Gerhard is a scorcher !

+1 I like this work quite a bit as well.

[Mirror Image]

My list (all 20th century):

Elliott Carter: Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano with Two Chamber Orchestras
Roberto Gerhard: Concerto for Harpsichord, Percussion and Strings.
Francis Poulenc: Concert champêtre

Nice list, Rafael. I'm quite surprised to see that Falla wasn't on your list given your affinity for this composer.

[vandermolen]

This was going to be an Ives day for me but I think I will be listening to this recording instead.

Great soloist name. 

[Symphonic Addict]

The Croatian Boris Papandopulo also wrote a fine concerto for this instrument. Actually, all I've heard from him has been so gratifying.