Mozart Piano Concertos (using string quartet)

[mn dave]

Since this went unanswered in the "what are you listening to" thread...

I own piano/string quartet versions of Mozart's p ctos, played by Jean-Philippe Collard and Quatuor Muir, and wondered who else has recorded chamber versions of the ctos. I'm assuming they don't get this treatment often.

I like it.   0:)

[Gurn Blanston]

In addition to your disk (which is on the way), I have the concertos #11 & 13 played by Finchcocks Quartet with Richard Burnett on Fortepiano. This is on Hännsler. I am not aware of other versions.

For those who are not familiar with Mozart's early/middle piano concertos' history, he intentionally wrote them for 4 voices + piano so that they could be performed "at home" by a family and friends grouping without losing any of the music. He did this to bolster sales of the sheet music, of course. So these "arrangements" are not arrangements at all, they are the original parts as written by Mozart, and this performance style has as much or more validity than the "big band" style usually heard. They are very nice and homey, I find then very enjoyable indeed.



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Listening to:
London SO \ Maag - Op 56 Symphony in a #3 "Scottish" 4th mvmt - Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai

[mn dave]

In addition to your disk (which is on the way), I have the concertos #11 & 13 played by Finchcocks Quartet with Richard Burnett on Fortepiano. This is on Hännsler. I am not aware of other versions.

For those who are not familiar with Mozart's early/middle piano concertos' history, he intentionally wrote them for 4 voices + piano so that they could be performed "at home" by a family and friends grouping without losing any of the music. He did this to bolster sales of the sheet music, of course. So these "arrangements" are not arrangements at all, they are the original parts as written by Mozart, and this performance style has as much or more validity than the "big band" style usually heard. They are very nice and homey, I find then very enjoyable indeed.

Thanks for this, Gurn. So then, he didn't do this with the later concertos.

[bwv 1080]

Do you have the concertos 20 & over?  Would think that the wind writing in those would make the PQ renditions less worthwhile.  Most of the earlier Mozart PCs have no winds, so it is piano + string orchestra - a natural reduction to PQ

[mn dave]

Makes sense.

[Gurn Blanston]

Do you have the concertos 20 & over?  Would think that the wind writing in those would make the PQ renditions less worthwhile.  Most of the earlier Mozart PCs have no winds, so it is piano + string orchestra - a natural reduction to PQ

Thanks for this, Gurn. So then, he didn't do this with the later concertos.

No, he had a totally different purpose for the later works, which is to perform them in public as a virtuoso. In the first of the Vienna concerti (11-13 specifically), he was writing for his students and to sell scores through publishers and by subscription. At that time, he wasn't a big, well-known public performer yet, and he was making his living selling scores and giving lessons. So he had to appeal to the broadest audience. I agree, it would be damned difficult to get the beauty of the later concertos without the wind parts, which were revolutionary in their time. One of the very few times that we can call Mozart a revolutionary!



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Listening to:
London SO \ Maag - Nocturne, op.61 no.7

[mn dave]

I certainly hope there are more recordings than those listed so far.

[Opus106]

I have this. I haven't listened to this disc in a long time, though.

And K. 466 without the oboe... now that would be bland!

[Bulldog]

I certainly hope there are more recordings than those listed so far.

Yes indeed.  BIS has four discs available of chamber arrangements of Mozart piano concertos by Hummel.  Included are Mozart's more mature concertos - nos. 20-22-24-25 etc.  Be warned that there's a flute in the mix.