Quiz: Mystery scores

[Mark G. Simon]

Although in the Library of Congress transliteration, he would be disqualified 

LC still uses "Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilich" as the main entry (because it's the form most commonly used in English language reference sources).

[lukeottevanger]

Of course, there are many relatively little-known Tchaikovsky works for orchestra outside the warhorses (by which I mean the symphonies, the ballet suites, Romeo+Juliet, the 1812, the Marche Slav, the Violin Concerto, the Piano Concerto no 1, the Rococo Variations and so on)... there's Francesca da Rimini, of course, an older score sample of mine, though that's quite well known, I suppose. But plenty of others too, some of them much better than the Danish piece and every bit as fine as the more famous works.  And I have the scores to all these pieces, I think..... 

[lukeottevanger]

Morning Guido!

[(poco) Sforzando]

Of course, there are many relatively little-known Tchaikovsky works for orchestra outside the warhorses (by which I mean the symphonies, the ballet suites, Romeo+Juliet, the 1812, the Marche Slav, the Violin Concerto, the Piano Concerto no 1, the Rococo Variations and so on)... there's Francesca da Rimini, of course, an older score sample of mine, though that's quite well known, I suppose. But plenty of others too, some of them much better than the Danish piece and every bit as fine as the more famous works.  And I have the scores to all these pieces, I think..... 

Have you noticed that in concert, despite his enormous popularity, one rarely hears much Tchaikovsky at least in the U.S. beyond three symphonies, two concertos, and an overture? The ballets are in the active repertories of most classical ballet companies, but they're not performed much in concert that I've ever been aware, and perhaps two of the operas are in the standard repertory. But I don't think much is played beyond that; correct me if I'm wrong.

[lukeottevanger]

No you are right - that part of my point. The orchestral suites, for example, are almost ignored, even though they are symphonic in scale and ambition. Taruskin describes these and similar piece particularly lovingly, applying to them the term 'epicurianism' to describe the delight in sheer exotic sonority that T explores in these pieces - a little taste of this, a little sip of that.... It's the sort of thing that is best known to the world from the Nutcracker suite (coffee, tea, chocolate, Russia, Arabia, China...), but its a big part of Tchaikovsky's style. Taruskin sees this epicurianism as just as integral to Tchaikovsky's musical personality as the Fate-beset music of the last three symphonies which tends to dominate our image of him.


The other part of my point is that the post of mine that you quote is there as hint, btw, especially its last line...  hence the 

[karlhenning]

LC still uses "Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilich" as the main entry (because it's the form most commonly used in English language reference sources).

Thanks, Mark. Who is it spells it Chaikovsky, do you know?  I plum forget.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Thanks, Mark. Who is it spells it Chaikovsky, do you know?  I plum forget.

Joseph Kerman does in his book on the concerto. It's possible the usual English spelling derived from the German "Tschaikowsky," as "ch" as pronounced in English is not usually encountered in German that I know (I'm sure M will correct me on this). I have an American friend, probably of Polish descent, who spells his name "Czajkowski" (and speaks it with a w rather than a v sound). In German, btw, one also sees "Prokofjew," which of course sounds like our transliteration "Prokofiev," but which also lends an unexpected overtone to the Overture on Hebrew Themes.

But there's more Tschaikowsky/Tchaikovsky/Chaikovsky/Czajkowski in the excerpts? Wouldn't be surprised if pieces like Hamlet or Fatum are in the mix, but I'm away from my scores and CDs until this evening.

[lukeottevanger]

In German, btw, one also sees "Prokofjew," which of course sounds like our transliteration "Prokofiev," but which also lends an unexpected overtone to the Overture on Hebrew Themes.

Better that than Porkofjew, a typo I can too easily imagine...

But there's more Tschaikowsky/Tchaikovsky/Chaikovsky/Czajkowski in the excerpts? Wouldn't be surprised if pieces like Hamlet or Fatum are in the mix, but I'm away from my scores and CDs until this evening.

There are more by said Russian composer, yes, with whichever spelling you choose.

[karlhenning]

Joseph Kerman does in his book on the concerto. It's possible the usual English spelling derived from the German "Tschaikowsky"

"Tch" is the French transliteration of the Cyrillic consonant Ч

[(poco) Sforzando]

"Tch" is the French transliteration of the Cyrillic consonant Ч

Ah. Another language that doesn't have that sound (unlike Spanish or Italian). Is the Italian spelling more like Ciaikovski?

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, I think that's how it is on Italian scores.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

All wrong, gentlemen, you got it all wrong - it's Tsjaikofski (Dutch).

[lukeottevanger]

When I was really young (please, emphasize the 'really') I would listen to my father's Melodiya LPs and wonder who this wonderful unheard-of composer called bax was, who always seemed to be coupled with Bach. Later, of course, I realised how foolish I'd been - of course there's no such thing as a 'wonderful unheard-of composer called bax' 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

When I was really young (please, emphasize the 'really') I would listen to my father's Melodiya LPs and wonder who this wonderful unheard-of composer called bax was, who always seemed to be coupled with Bach. Later, of course, I realised how foolish I'd been - of course there's no such thing as a 'wonderful unheard-of composer called bax' 

Johann Sebastian Bax - the mind boggles...

(Completely OT - an entry in a music lexicon read: Harriet Cohen (see under Bax). This seems to have amused RVW...)

[Guido]

Johann Sebastian Bax - the mind boggles...

(Completely OT - an entry in a music lexicon read: Harriet Cohen (see under Bax). This seemed to have amused RVW...)

Hahaha!!

[(poco) Sforzando]

- of course there's no such thing as a 'wonderful unheard-of composer called bax' 

I would certainly agree with that! 

[karlhenning]

There's such a wealth of variety the ways in which one might agree with that . . . .

[lukeottevanger]

Luke - bringing the forum together.  0:)

Clues in a while, perhaps? What do you think?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Yes, please! I am not making any headway at the mo.

[lukeottevanger]

OK, some pretty crap clues:

294 Not as well known as a composer as for his other musical activities, and not born at 39°35'19''N  89°26'58''W despite appearances. Was once recorded, as pianist, on an LP in which in order to save space, upon reaching the end of the first movement exposition, he calls out to the listener to 'return to the beginning of the record. Second time:' before continuing with the development section.

295 No clues yet. The composer isn't obvious, but he's famous, and examination + imagination ought to help with some educated guesses.

296 Yes, as Sforzando said, 'a pretty literal piano arrangement of the Prize Song, without Lisztian flourishes'. This is actually a very good summary, and putting the implications of the two halves of the statement might throw up the composer's name.

297 According to Wiki, this composer is a character on Babylon 5. But I'm not sure that's right.... Ah, that's more like it. Spent some of his childhood in Madagascar; grew roses and developed an award-winning hybrid; lost them in a freeze so took up growing cacti instead.  Glenn Gould admired him and thought him a 'looming personality in 20th century music'

298 Another of those best-known as a pianist. This piece has been recorded recently by a very well-known pianist, and indeed gave its name to the disc it appears on.

299 Close in name to another composer in this set, though there is a difference which, were I to make it the basis of a 'clever' clue, would probably lead you straight to the answer. So I won't. He's hardly obscure, but he's almost never discussed round these parts - as is the case with Rossini and others of that sort, I suppose.

300 This is the one that I said was very hard at the same time as being very nearly easy.

301 No clues yet  - this is a well-known piece round these parts, I imagine. We're all fairly well-listened, after all.

302 Ditto, though possibly slightly less well-known.