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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => The Polling Station => Topic started by: Symphonic Addict on January 20, 2021, 11:58:48 AM

Title: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Symphonic Addict on January 20, 2021, 11:58:48 AM
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.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 12:06:22 PM
In no particular order: Poulenc, Falla and Martinů.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: amw on January 20, 2021, 12:38:35 PM
Bach D minor, A major & E major
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: pjme on January 20, 2021, 01:07:27 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 12:06:22 PM
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)....
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: André on January 20, 2021, 01:16:04 PM
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 ?
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 01:55:56 PM
Quote from: pjme on January 20, 2021, 01:07:27 PMMy choices aswell.

8)
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 01:56:57 PM
Quote from: André on January 20, 2021, 01:16:04 PM
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:

(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/uc/2h/xzliume9c2huc_600.jpg)

The recording with Zuzana Růžičková (w/ Neumann at the podium) is also worth looking into.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: DavidW on January 20, 2021, 02:51:29 PM
Quote from: amw on January 20, 2021, 12:38:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: André on January 20, 2021, 03:36:41 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 01:56:57 PM
Check out this recording:

(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/uc/2h/xzliume9c2huc_600.jpg)

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

Thanks, John !
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 04:13:33 PM
Quote from: André on January 20, 2021, 03:36:41 PM
Thanks, John !

À tout moment, mon amie.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: MusicTurner on January 20, 2021, 11:26:03 PM
Poulenc, Martinu (recordings vary in their attractiveness though), Kokkonen.

And B1052.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: vandermolen on January 21, 2021, 12:09:17 AM
Walter Leigh
Poulenc
Kalabis
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: ritter on January 21, 2021, 12:25:05 AM
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
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: André on January 21, 2021, 04:13:34 AM
Yes, the Gerhard is a scorcher !
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: DavidW on January 21, 2021, 05:33:38 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 20, 2021, 01:56:57 PM
Check out this recording:

(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/uc/2h/xzliume9c2huc_600.jpg)

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.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 21, 2021, 06:32:15 AM
Quote from: DavidW on January 21, 2021, 05:33:38 AM
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. ;)
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 21, 2021, 06:32:44 AM
Quote from: André on January 21, 2021, 04:13:34 AM
Yes, the Gerhard is a scorcher !

+1 I like this work quite a bit as well.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Mirror Image on January 21, 2021, 06:33:40 AM
Quote from: ritter on January 21, 2021, 12:25:05 AM
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.
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: vandermolen on January 21, 2021, 07:54:45 AM
Quote from: DavidW on January 21, 2021, 05:33:38 AM
This was going to be an Ives day for me but I think I will be listening to this recording instead.
Great soloist name.  8)
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Symphonic Addict on January 26, 2021, 03:03:34 PM
The Croatian Boris Papandopulo also wrote a fine concerto for this instrument. Actually, all I've heard from him has been so gratifying.

(https://artmusiclounge.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/cover-10.jpg)
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: vandermolen on January 26, 2021, 10:32:21 PM
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on January 26, 2021, 03:03:34 PM
The Croatian Boris Papandopulo also wrote a fine concerto for this instrument. Actually, all I've heard from him has been so gratifying.

(https://artmusiclounge.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/cover-10.jpg)
Looks interesting! Do you know the Walter Leigh concerto Cesar?
Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: pjme on January 27, 2021, 01:25:30 AM
For those who want to explore more (neo-classical) harpsichord concerti:

Frigyes Hidas: Harpsichord Concerto (1995)
https://youtu.be/59rXWkTCOiI
Joseph Horovitz - Jazz Harpsichord Concerto (1965) - + interview composer
https://youtu.be/67etuh97olw
William Mathias:
https://youtu.be/we1RnNGCDRY
Jean Françaix: Concerto pour clavecin et ensemble instrumental (1959)
https://youtu.be/eQjSQk9ml_w
Vittorio Rieti: Concerto per clavicembalo e orchestra (1957)
https://youtu.be/311pmRmp2QU
Bengt-Göran Sköld - Harpsichord Concerto
https://youtu.be/A8C2BNK1pG4
Michael Nyman:
https://youtu.be/GxrlebbOStY


Title: Re: Three favourite harpsichord concertos
Post by: Symphonic Addict on January 27, 2021, 04:08:49 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on January 26, 2021, 10:32:21 PM
Looks interesting! Do you know the Walter Leigh concerto Cesar?

Yes, I do, Jeffrey. Despite its short length (not more than 10 minutes) it's a very nice piece in a sort of neoclassical style.