Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960)

[kyjo]

You're making me want to relisten to those works! According to my notes, the Violin Concerto No. 1 was more enjoyable, but the others didn't hold my attention. I'll need to refresh my memory with the concertos then, including the Suite in F sharp minor.

If you aren't "blown away" by the VC no. 2, I'll eat my hat! I find it a more individual and succinct work overall than the first one.

[Symphonic Addict]

If you aren't "blown away" by the VC no. 2, I'll eat my hat! I find it a more individual and succinct work overall than the first one.

So, be prepared to taste it very well. 

I'm kidding. I'm gonna give it a listen today later or tomorrow.

[Symphonic Addict]

Well, today relistened to his VC 2, but alas, I remain unconvinced. I didn't feel anything particularly distinctive. In some aspects it's a sober piece. The movements with more appeal to me were III and IV. It's not a bad piece by any means, just that I don't find it interesting. His symphonies and most of his chamber music are much more of my taste without doubts.

[Mirror Image]

Well, today relistened to his VC 2, but alas, I remain unconvinced. I didn't feel anything particularly distinctive. In some aspects it's a sober piece. The movements with more appeal to me were III and IV. It's not a bad piece by any means, just that I don't find it interesting. His symphonies and most of his chamber music are much more of my taste without doubts.

I'm certainly inclined to agree, Cesar, but, honestly, I haven't heard any work from Dohnányi that hasn't too interesting or worth revisiting. In fact, I found a lot of the music just plain dull.

[kyjo]

Well, today relistened to his VC 2, but alas, I remain unconvinced. I didn't feel anything particularly distinctive. In some aspects it's a sober piece. The movements with more appeal to me were III and IV. It's not a bad piece by any means, just that I don't find it interesting. His symphonies and most of his chamber music are much more of my taste without doubts.

It's always interesting to see where our opinions diverge! To my ears, the work is the very opposite of "sober" - very colorful and with a character all its own.

[Mapman]

Here are my comments from my first listen to the 1st symphony. I didn't read anything about this symphony before I listened.

Going back through the last couple pages of this thread, I'll need to check out the American Rhapsody and Symphony #2!

Dohnányi: Symphony #1
Bamert: BBC

Dohnányi doesn't seem to entirely know what style he wants to write in; the most obvious influences are Dvořák and Bruckner. The first movement (of 5) starts out somewhat like Dvořák, with wonderful melodies, and the end of the movement treats them in a Brucknerian way. The second movement seemed the least cohesive and successful to me, but it has extensive solos for bass clarinet. The scherzo is fun and rhythmically interesting. (There are brief 5/4 passages!) The fourth movement is a nice viola solo. The final movement is possibly the most impressive: it starts with a dramatic introduction followed by a theme and variations and a fugue on a fun subject. I think I noticed reuses of material from the 2nd and 3rd movements; there's probably more that I missed. Overall an excellent symphony, and worth hearing in my opinion.

[kyjo]

Here are my comments from my first listen to the 1st symphony. I didn't read anything about this symphony before I listened.

Going back through the last couple pages of this thread, I'll need to check out the American Rhapsody and Symphony #2!

Very much agree with your comments regarding the 1st Symphony, an eclectic piece, for sure, but a highly enjoyable one at that. The finale is particularly exciting with its imposing, timpani-driven coda. Don't miss the wartime (WWII) 2nd Symphony, which is an even more impressive work, and similarly eclectic - it consists of a stormy first movement, a lush, Korngoldian slow movement, a sardonic, Bartokian scherzo, and a mega-edifice of a finale which consists of a set of variations on a Bach chorale and a triumphant, martial coda.

[Franco_Manitobain]

First listen to this disc.  Absolutely stunning music from start to finish!

[Jo498]

If you like the piano quintets, try the sextet (horn, clarinet, piano, string trio). There is a decent recording on Naxos but there are quite a few of them overall. The string quartets are also worth listening to although not quite as distinctive (except the 3rd and last, maybe). None of Dohnanyi's concerti (but I have not heard all) has impressed me like his chamber works.

[kyjo]

Indeed, Dóhnanyi's chamber music is of a uniformly high quality (though it's been a while since I've listened to his first two SQs or Violin Sonata). It's fun to chart his stylistic evolution from the Brahmsian (but not too derivative!) Piano Quintet No. 1 to the more individual SQ No. 3 and Sextet from the 1920s and 30s. While still broadly written within the late-romantic tradition, these latter two works have a harmonic piquancy, occasionally "jazzy" rhythmic edge, and a delightful sense of humor (in their finales) which is incredibly appealing to me.

[Scion7]

I was unaware of this American televison programme!
A few years before the composer's demise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RJiQjznrfM

[SonicMan46]

Well, just getting around to my Dohnányi collection after a number of years - currently own the recordings in the attachment, about a dozen - have listen to the ones below so far.  From this Wiki Article the PDF attached is a list of his instrumental compositions (not that large) - I've bolded the ones in my possession - curious about any new discoveries, recommendations or other comments - Dave

[Spotted Horses]

Wow. I started this thread in 2010. I forgot about the music I mentioned in the OP, and I should get that Praga set that Erato suggested.

note added: actually I do have the Praga discs now!

[VonStupp]

Well, just getting around to my Dohnányi collection after a number of years - currently own the recordings in the attachment, about a dozen - have listen to the ones below so far.  From this Wiki Article the PDF attached is a list of his instrumental compositions (not that large) - I've bolded the ones in my possession - curious about any new discoveries, recommendations or other comments - Dave

Some of your Chandos recordings of Dohnányi were since boxed up, if any of the others are appealing to you enough to update and replace.

Otherwise, Capriccio have set down a handful of recordings since, if they don't replicate what you have already have and depending on how eager you really are for more from the composer.
VS

[SonicMan46]

Some of your Chandos recordings of Dohnányi were since boxed up, if any of the others are appealing to you enough to update and replace.

Otherwise, Capriccio have set down a handful of recordings since, if they don't replicate what you have already have and depending on how eager you really are for more from the composer.
VS

 

Hi VS - yes, I was just looking at that 5-disc Chandos box on Amazon - already own 3 of those CDs (boxed ones above in new insertion), and have both piano & violin concertos on other discs - need to look at some reviews on the concertos to see if I want to cull & add?  Thanks - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Martin Roscoe - Piano Music in 4 volumes (first row of pics below) - the listing below of Dohnanyi's piano works are from the source given - what I put in bold are the pieces performed by Roscoe - he does a few more not listed there, and some on the list are not recorded; but overall a well done and near complete production.

Now looking on Amazon today I came across Sofja Gülbadamova who has released the 4 recordings at the bottom, a mixture of solo and orchestral piano - has anyone compared the two (and I'm sure there are others including old recordings of the composer himself).  Dave

ADDENDUM: Put together a Spotify playlist of the 4 Gülbadamova recordings shown below - listened to the first two (3 discs) and thought her solo piano performances were excellent certainly comparable to Roscoe but since I already own his 4 CDs will not add her to my collection - however, if you own none and want a sampling the 2-CD set is recommended.

Piano (Source)
* Four Pieces, Op. 2 (1897, pub. 1905)
* Waltzes in F♯ minor for four hands, Op. 3 (1897)
* Variations and Fugue on a Theme of E[mma].G[ruber]., Op. 4 (1897)
* Gavotte and Musette (WoO, 1898)
* Albumblatt (WoO, 1899)
* Passacaglia in E♭ minor, Op. 6 (1899)
* Four Rhapsodies, Op. 11 (1903)
* Winterreigen, Op. 13 (1905)
* Humoresque in the form of a Suite, Op. 17 (1907)
* Three Pieces, Op. 23 (1912)
* Fugue in D minor for left hand (WoO, 1913)
* Suite in A minor "Suite in the Old Style", Op. 24 (1913)
* Six Concert Etudes, Op. 28 (1916)
* Variations on a Hungarian Folksong, Op. 29 (1917)
* Pastorale on a Hungarian Christmas Song (WoO, 1920)
* Valses nobles, concert arrangement for piano (after Schubert, D. 969) (WoO, 1920)
* Ruralia hungarica, Op. 32a (1923)
* Waltz for Piano from Delibes' "Coppelia" (WoO, 1925)
* Six Pieces, Op. 41 (1945)
* Waltz Suite, for two pianos, Op. 39a (1945),
* Limping Waltz for solo piano, Op. 39b (1947)
* Three Singular Pieces, Op. 44 (1951)
* Twelve Short Studies for the Advanced Pianist (1951)

[SonicMan46]

Finishing up my collection today:

Symphonies with Matthias Bamert and the BBC PH & Violin Concertos w/ Michael Ludwig and JoAnn Faetta/Royal Scottish NO - reviews attached for those interested.  Dave

[Spotted Horses]

Having revisited he works I mentioned in the OP, the second piano quintet and the serenade for string trio, I find my initial reaction confirmed. Beautifully wrought pieces. But somehow, I am not strongly drawn to continue because they are generally in the same vein as my standard preferences. Chamber pieces by Koechlin and Honegger have a strong immediate appeal to me because they are more off my beaten path.