Robert Kahn's 1160 good reasons to survive World War II

[fahl5]

I would like to introduce one of my by far largest projects:
Robert Kahns: "Tagebuch in Tönen"

Writing my thesis about Kahn I discovered this incredible lage collection of mostly best late romantic Pianomusic in an old suitcase owned by the descandants of Kahn. To me it is just an unbelievable witness of a musician surviving the darkest years of our continent.

I recently managed to produce recordings of 100 of the 1160 Pieces Kahn composed in the years and after Nazigermany. If ever I might produce another 100 Recordings every year, I will finish this project in 11-12 years (two years less than Kahn needed to compose ist!) Since I dont want to let you wait that long I mention the first 100 finished Recordings here.

best
fahl5

[matesic]

Hello Steffen
What an extraordinary project. I'm looking forward to hearing many of these pieces, but several questions immediately come to mind. Are they all for solo piano, as Wikipedia seems to suggest? Are you able to create scores as well as midi files? About 18 months ago I started to play through (and multi-track) his Op60 string quartet but for some reason gave up after the first movement. Unless you know of a commercial recording I'll certainly go back to it (also to Op8) and see if I can make a rendition suitable for uploading to imslp. I see that he died just a few miles from me in Biddenden, Kent. It's just possible there may be some UK connections I could investigate.
Many thanks and best wishes
Steve

[fahl5]

Hello matesic
Thank you for your friendly response.
@ solopiano?
Nearly all pieces are for solopiano. There is only one single piece for Violin and piano (Nr.1132). And two more or less sketches with out numbers for short Vocal compositions. One not really serious Canon about buying "Lebertran" (=cod-liver-oil) and a mourning song for Beethoven based on the slow movement of the appasionata. All other pieces are for the piano. Still i do think many of thoses Pianopieces do reflect several Aspect of Kahns compositions for other Instruments or ensembles. (I have shown some examples in my presentation about the Tagebuch on my website.)
@Scores and midis
One after the other. Yes I do have to write down all pieces in notationsoftware before I record them, but those transcritpions are not yet clean enough to be presented publicly. so please be ab bit patient with me thinking of the scores.
@op.60
I recommended it already an very talented Quartett for their next Kahn-recording they are planing for Kahns 150th birthday. I will also try it (and op8) myself, but that will take some time to.
@ Biddenden
Wonderful that you live quite near to Kahns exile. As far I found and also others who have tried it is pretty difficult to find any traces of Kahn in Biddenden now. When Kahn arrived in Kent he was already 74. I have the impression, that his diary in music was perhaps the most important part of his musical and presumably also his regular daily life in exile. To me this makes his "diary in music" on one hand so extraordinary but on the other hands this makes ist so difficult to find out any other information about his life in Kent.
best whishes
Steffen

[matesic]

They're all such interesting pieces, and remarkable for their serenity which transcends the circumstances in which they were written. But of course from a performance perspective they're too short to stand individually and hard to digest in bulk. Any potential performer is going to need help deciding how to present them. Did you consider collecting groups together, maybe 20 or so, to create a cohesive work with a particular key structure? I'm thinking of Carnaval, or perhaps Chopin's 24 Preludes. They might then make a vivid statement as to how the creative spirit can survive persecution and forced exile.
I see you have pictures of Kahn's two residences in Ashtead. If you know his address in Biddenden I could take a photo and maybe even inquire whether the occupant has any knowledge of him?
Best
Steve

[Simon]

Hi,

So I'm bringing back this topic. The Royal College of Music's YouTube channel offers a few recordings by pianist Maksim Štšura, performing some of these pieces. Certainly worth hearing.

No. 2 in A minor - Moderato – Fughetta
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HJuYNhTMRPY

No. 4 in C sharp minor – Andantino con moto – Quasi Improvisato
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zfpZlDIX3lM

No. 53 in E major – Allegretto con moto
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1f7vXpCqFiI

No. 172 in A minor – Allegro risoluto
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZTpNnbGk7I

No. 173 in B flat major- Allegretto vivace
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NEQHsnY1jKc

No. 337 in B flat minor – Moderato
No. 338 in D flat major – Lento religioso
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjgMjXtmIY