Quiz: Mystery scores

[(poco) Sforzando]

It's not an original Guido no, unless you are talking about my avatar (yay GCSE art!).

Okay I'll give you some more clues about mine.

The first one has never been published, but has been recorded at least three times. It is very short. The similarity with Saul is the most obvious one that one could make, and there are possibly other similarities, though I don't know where Saul has lived in the past. In all other respects they are at opposite ends of the spectrum (talent being the most obvious!) Now I'm getting really cryptic, and making it more Saul based than it should be, but in some respects this composer could also be compared to Mendelssohn in how his musical achievement is normally viewed.

Jewish composer?

[Guido]

Jewish composer?

Of course! I've given you enough clues for you to give me more than that though!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Bernstein!?

[Guido]

Bernstein!?

Nope.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Ernest Bloch?

[Guido]

Nope! The Mendelssohn thing is actually not very cryptic.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Korngold was a child prodigy, too. And Jewish. And 'with great heartness' sounds like Korngold, alright.

Last try...

[Guido]

YES!!! Should be easy to find the name of the piece now.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Romance-Impromptu for cello and piano

The only thing that fits the bill (apart from the Cello Concerto turned into a cello sonata, that is...).

[Guido]

Romance Impromptu is correct. This was written for the Bette Davis film Deception in 1946 - the cello concerto derives from the same film score. The Romance Impromptu was never used in the actual film because the actor was too bad at synchronising his movements on the cello with the music.

[Mark G. Simon]

The third piece is a gorgeous little cello concerto written in the first half of the last century by a very famous composer. It's very bright and breezy and rather jazzy in parts and quite undeserving of it's neglect. Tends to be a favourite amongst fans of this composer's work as far as I can gather.

Without even looking back at the score, I'm going to say it's Martinu.

[Guido]

Nope.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Nope.

Wild guess - Kabalevsky.

I'll work on how "Saul" is a clue for "Korngold" later. 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'll work on how "Saul" is a clue for "Korngold" later. 

Yes, tough one. 

[lukeottevanger]

I'll work on how "Saul" is a clue for "Korngold" later. 

I think it's very clear:

1) Jewish

2) child prodigy

[Guido]

I think it's very clear:

1) Jewish

2) child prodigy

No not Kabalevsky either. I'm not aware of Kabalevsky being particularly Jazzy, but then I've only heard a few of his pieces. Surprised that you all know such extremely obscure scoresand composers, but not this one. This even comes from the opening of the piece!

I think the other one is very clear.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I think it's very clear:

1) Jewish

2) child prodigy

Saul is Jewish?

[(poco) Sforzando]

No not Kabalevsky either. I'm not aware of Kabalevsky being particularly Jazzy, but then I've only heard a few of his pieces. Surprised that you all know such extremely obscure scoresand composers, but not this one. This even comes from the opening of the piece!

I think the other one is very clear.

The easiest ones are the hardest to guess.

[lukeottevanger]

The easiest ones are the hardest to guess.

Yeah, like this one - suffer finding this one, fools! 

[lukeottevanger]

(erm, that one doesn't really count, btw)