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Re: composers playing their own concertos (was GG hagiography)



I am not sure I agree that a composer's own performance / interpretation is always a perfect one. I think this is especially true for works recorded in the early part of the century. The earliest recordings often required that the piece be adjusted to the recording technology. Instrumentation frequently had to be adjusted so it could be heard on the recording. I read in Arthur Nikisch's recording of Beethoven's 5th symphony in 1914 that tubas or some other instrument had to double the cellos so they would register on the record.  Sometimes whole sections had to be removed in a movement so that it would fit in the time allotted for a recording. Tempi also sometimes had to be adjusted. Listen to Rachmaninov's recording of his own third piano concerto and you will find in each of the movements noticeable cuts in the measures.  So a recorded performance may not be ideal from the composer's standpoint rather a pragmatic one to enable their work access to a wider audience.

 

 

Eric Cline

Sr. R & D Chemist

Graphic Arts Synthesis Group

REICHHOLD, Inc.

Global Coating and Performance Resins

Phone Toll Free: 1-800-448-3482 ext.8116

e-mail: eric.cline@reichhold.com

http://www.reichhold.com

(Click here to go to the Reichhold home page)

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Juozas Rimas [mailto:JuozasRimas@TAKAS.LT]
Sent:
Thursday, November 07, 2002 4:19 PM
To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
Subject: Re: composers playing their own concertos (was GG hagiography)

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Bradley P Lehman" <bpl@UMICH.EDU>

To: <F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU>

Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 8:11 PM

Subject: composers playing their own concertos (was GG hagiography)

 

 

> Yeah, somewhere I have the LP of Prokofiev playing his own 3rd.  Well

> done.  Also, even better, Shostakovich playing both his concertos.

>

> Please tell us you HAVE heard Rachmaninoff's recordings of all his own

> concertos and the Rhapsody!  If not, run get them...either the RCA or the

> newer Naxos.  And the way he conducted his 3rd symphony, wow!

>

> Ravel's own recording of "Bolero" is excellent, as well.

 

Are there examples when composers' own performances are worse than those by

other performers?

 

I thought the composer's own interpretation (provided he is competent enough

with an instrument!) is always perfect, even if he changes it drastically in

every performance. He is the only one who knows exactly how the music should

sound at that particular moment. Can anyone else know it better?

 

 

 

Juozas Rimas Jr (not the one playing)

http://www.mp3.com/juozasrimas (oboe, piano, strings)