Debussy Preludes - early pianos [Archive]

vinteuil

06-06-12, 15:28

Caliban

06-06-12, 15:31

CD Review this Saturday 9 June has as Disc of the Week - Debussy, Complete Preludes : Alexei Lubimov [1925 Bechstein; 1913 Steinway].

I shall be interested to hear how this compares with the harmonia mundi disc I have of Alain Planès - who performs these works on an 1897 Bechstein. ( The marvellous 5 CD Planès box of Debussy - l' œuvre pour piano - also has the Images / Arabesques / Children's Corner / Suite Bergamasque on a 1902 Blüthner )

I have a 1911 Bechstein. When I play "La fille aux cheveux de lin", am I therefore being frightfully HIP? :biggrin:

vinteuil

06-06-12, 15:35

I have a 1911 Bechstein. When I play "La fille aux cheveux de lin", am I therefore being frightfully HIP? :biggrin:

You are (as long as you're wearing the right clothes, drinking the right kind of absinthe , &c, &c... ) - and I envy you hugely....

Caliban

06-06-12, 15:42

You are (as long as you're wearing the right clothes, drinking the right kind of absinthe , &c, &c... ) - and I envy you hugely....

Clothing - tick! Absinthe - tick!

It spent 50 years in the relevant maiden aunts' cold Bradford front room not being played much. It's taken 10 years to coax back up to pitch. The sound board is slightly cracked, some of the keys have a sticky tendency and the (original) strings keep going (several notes are reduced to 2 instead of 3). It really needs a proper fettle which means it going on a trip to Poland and expenditure running into a fat four-figure sum. Not likely to happen soon :erm: and perhaps not all that enviable!

However it was tuned a week ago and is sounding very sweet. The last thing I played was in fact by CD - 'Clair de lune' the other evening.

ferneyhoughgeliebte

06-06-12, 15:46

It spent 50 years in the relevant maiden aunts' cold Bradford front room not being played much. It's taken 10 years to coax back up to pitch. The sound board is slightly cracked, some of the keys have a sticky tendency and the (original) strings keep going (several notes are reduced to 2 instead of 3). It really needs a proper fettle which means it going on a trip to Poland and expenditure running into a fat four-figure sum.
Last time I saw him, my GP said something very similar about me!

Serial_Apologist

06-06-12, 15:48

[COLOR="#0000FF"]Clothing - tick! Absinthe - tick!

It spent 50 years in the relevant maiden aunts' cold Bradford front room not being played much. It's taken 10 years to coax back up to pitch. The sound board is slightly cracked, some of the keys have a sticky tendency and the (original) strings keep going (several notes are reduced to 2 instead of 3). It really needs a proper fettle which means it going on a trip to Poland and expenditure running into a fat four-figure sum. Not likely to happen soon :erm: and perhaps not all that enviable!

In the meanwhile you'd still have the clobber and the tipple - the absinthe would make the heart grow fonder.

vinteuil

06-06-12, 15:54

The sound board is slightly cracked, some of the keys have a sticky tendency and the (original) strings keep going (several notes are reduced to 2 instead of 3). It really needs a proper fettle

... sadly my 1865 Broadwood is now, I fear, beyond redemption.

If my premium bonds ever come up, I think a repro Walther or Graf wd be nice :ok::whistle:

waldhorn

06-06-12, 16:11

a trip to Poland
Good grief, Caliban, is that where Bechsteins are made these days?:yikes:

Caliban

06-06-12, 17:08

Good grief, Caliban, is that where Bechsteins are made these days?:yikes:

No - but it is where the world centre of piano refurbishment is located, in the town of Kalisz (several enterprises, used by all the main manufacturers... so I am informed) This seems to confirm it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stevlvhev4M

See also: http://www.jspianos.com/hire/piano-restoration?gclid=CLXHgrD_ubACFUUhtAodb0Nt9w

MickyD

06-06-12, 17:51

I believe the first CD of Debussy préludes on a period piano was in 1993 by Jos Van Immerseel on Channel Classics, using an 1897 Erard. The CD liner notes are fascinating, recounting the story of how the instrument was discovered in immaculate condition by Immerseel in 1976.

amateur51

06-06-12, 20:48

CD Review this Saturday 9 June has as Disc of the Week - Debussy, Complete Preludes : Alexei Lubimov [1925 Bechstein; 1913 Steinway].

I shall be interested to hear how this compares with the harmonia mundi disc I have of Alain Planès - who performs these works on an 1897 Bechstein. ( The marvellous 5 CD Planès box of Debussy - l' œuvre pour piano - also has the Images / Arabesques / Children's Corner / Suite Bergamasque on a 1902 Blüthner )Cheapest price is currently ...

http://www.amazon.fr/Debussy-Loeuvre-pour-piano-Claude/dp/B0027YUK84?SubscriptionId=AKIAIVGTH525N57WM2NQ&tag=galenicom0e-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0027YUK84

:smiley:

Eine Alpensinfonie

06-06-12, 23:17

I have a 2003 Steinway. What music am I permitted to play on it? :erm:

MrGongGong

06-06-12, 23:20

I have a 2003 Steinway. What music am I permitted to play on it? :erm:

La Monte Young's Piano Piece for David
Tudor #1, written in October 1960,
instructs: "Bring a bale of hay and a bucket
of water onto the stage for the piano to eat
and drink. The performer may then feed the
piano or leave it to eat by itself. If the
former, the piece is over after the piano
has been fed. If the latter, it is over
after the piano eats or decides not to".

:biggrin:

JohnSkelton

07-06-12, 06:47

I have a 2003 Steinway. What music am I permitted to play on it? :erm:

In the privacy of your own home ... anything! Even (shudder) Bach :biggrin:.

I bought the Planès recordings as they came out and they shouldn't be missed as Debussy playing by anyone who cares about Debussy's piano music (IMO). Some pianists seem to go to elaborate lengths to miss the point with Debussy, Planès gets most things beautifully right. And for HIPP-sceptics - they are proper pianos :smiley:.

Eine Alpensinfonie

07-06-12, 09:22

In the privacy of your own home ... anything! Even (shudder) Bach :biggrin:.

I bought the Planès recordings as they came out and they shouldn't be missed as Debussy playing by anyone who cares about Debussy's piano music (IMO). Some pianists seem to go to elaborate lengths to miss the point with Debussy, Planès gets most things beautifully right. And for HIPP-sceptics - they are proper pianos :smiley:.

That's OK then. :smiley:

ferneyhoughgeliebte

07-06-12, 10:15

La Monte Young's Piano Piece for David
Tudor #1, written in October 1960,
instructs: "Bring a bale of hay and a bucket
of water onto the stage for the piano to eat
and drink. The performer may then feed the
piano or leave it to eat by itself. If the
former, the piece is over after the piano
has been fed. If the latter, it is over
after the piano eats or decides not to".

:biggrin:
Mr GG, I'm shocked! The Piano that Young would have expected to eat the hay was a very different instrument from that of 43 years later. Changes in Pedal action alone would have a subtle but noticeably different effect on the sound of the Piano's digestive system. I strongly advise a comparison of David Tudor's "Live" recording (made shortly after the premiere, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COMPOSER) with that of Ian Pace in 2005. Admittedly, differences in recorded sound exacerbate the problems, but the gentler ruminations of the Tudor are still obvious even to the most casual (That's enough HIPP parody - Ed.)

ferneyhoughgeliebte

07-06-12, 10:16

I have a 2003 Steinway. What music am I permitted to play on it? :erm:
Anything you like, Alpie. :smiley:

(But just remember ..... WE'RE WATCHING YOU!)

amateur51

07-06-12, 10:18

Mr GG, I'm shocked! The Piano that Young would have expected to eat the hay was a very different instrument from that of 43 years later. Changes in Pedal action alone would have a subtle but noticeably different effect on the sound of the Piano's digestive system. I strongly advise a comparison of David Tudor's "Live" recording (made shortly after the premiere, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COMPOSER) with that of Ian Pace in 2005. Admittedly, differences in recorded sound exacerbate the problems, but the gentler ruminations of the Tudor are still obvious even to the most casual (That's enough HIPP parody - Ed.):ok::laugh:

Careful ferney, you'll fall foul of The Childishness Police so prevalent on here of late if you're not careful :biggrin:

doversoul

07-06-12, 10:21

Anything you like, Alpie. :smiley:

(But just remember ..... WE'RE WATCHING YOU!)

...and we are talking about Early Music (just another reminder) :winkeye:

MrGongGong

07-06-12, 10:38

Mr GG, I'm shocked! The Piano that Young would have expected to eat the hay was a very different instrument from that of 43 years later. Changes in Pedal action alone would have a subtle but noticeably different effect on the sound of the Piano's digestive system. I strongly advise a comparison of David Tudor's "Live" recording (made shortly after the premiere, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE COMPOSER) with that of Ian Pace in 2005. Admittedly, differences in recorded sound exacerbate the problems, but the gentler ruminations of the Tudor are still obvious even to the most casual (That's enough HIPP parody - Ed.)

:laugh:

Actually there will come a time where it's harder to do Cage's prepared piano pieces , "rubbers" these days (settle down at the back now :yikes:) aren't made of rubber so to get the "authentic" sound that Cage wanted will be tricky ....... (perish the thought you might say !)

Pianorak

08-06-12, 12:59

I have a 2003 Steinway.
A Steinway? So last year! Get with it, hip not HIPP :winkeye:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18303012

Come to think of it, my 1996 Steinway probably qualifies for HIPP. :whistle:

amateur51

08-06-12, 13:04

:laugh:

Actually there will come a time where it's harder to do Cage's prepared piano pieces , "rubbers" these days (settle down at the back now :yikes:) aren't made of rubber so to get the "authentic" sound that Cage wanted will be tricky ....... (perish the thought you might say !)Perishable rubbers? - no thanks !:yikes:

amateur51

08-06-12, 13:07

A Steinway? So last year! Get with it, hip not HIPP :winkeye:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18303012

Lovely stuff, Pianorak - sound sad it was invented too late for Brendel :biggrin: