...forthcoming from BIS (featuring fortepiano):
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9377883--johann-wilhelm-wilms-the-piano-concertos-vol-2
Try Op.55 in E flat. Wonder who he'd been listening to?!! Plagiarism corner...
Fascinating! And attractive music - pity about the fortepiano. I cannot believe Wilms would have been other than delighted to hear his concertos played on a more modern instrument.
Sorry, Gareth but I think it sounds gorgeous - and I love the fortepiano! I'm sure Wilms would have been delighted to hear his music played so wonderfully on the instrument for which it was written. ;D
Well, we can't agree about everything. I am glad you like the sound. I just don't think it serves a grand and obviously Beethoven inspired creation as well as would a modern concert grand. To my ears it works better for the earlier concertos recorded on the first BIS disk.
I agree with Gareth but, unlike the 'tinkly' first volume, this is a must for me on account of the later concerti featured.
I thought that volume one could safely be given a miss for the same sort of reasons, but I reckon I will have to have this one, as we are into our territory here.
I have changed my mind, and will be getting both volumes. The reasons are:
1) I forgot that this is his 250th anniversary
2) I read on amazon.de a couple of complimentary reviews about the musical intelligence of vol 1
3) it would be good to listen to his musical progression over the whole cycle.
I intend to listen to them myself, and also that Concertzender, if they are still doing those Dutch Composer of the Month series and if they update them (they had a fine series on Wilms quite awhile back, but before these discs were recorded), will include parts of them in a later run :)
I see from the worklist at IMSLP that Wilms wrote 2 further PCs, both without opus number: one in E minor (1815) and one with no key ascribed to it, dated 1823. I wonder if these exist and whether they will comprise a Volume 3.
The Nederlands Muziekinstituut lists another (https://opac-gonext.oclc.org/DB=9/SET=6/TTL=1/SHW?FRST=2) in C major, Op. 12 from about 1803. The listing is a bit unclear as to the condition of the material, claiming that there are "only the cello and double bass parts", but also mentioning "14 parts".
The C major, op. 12 is recorded on Vol. 1, together with the op. 3 harpsichord concerto in E major (played on fortepiano) and the D major piano concerto, op. 26.
Ah, missed that. Thanks.
The E flat concerto is an absolute hoot. How to write a complete rip-off the Emperor concerto with a fraction of Beethoven's genius. Well worth a listen, though...
I am longing to hear it,Alan, when Presto finally get round to despatching my order. Can't wait!
QuoteWell worth a listen, though
I couldn't agree more. It's thoroughly derivative but thoroughly enjoyable, despite the forte piano.
Ronald Brautigam plays superbly, though. Wonderful articulation and pearlescent runs! (Do I get into Pseuds Corner for that description? ;) )
I had the pearlescent runs once, it wasn't pleasant! But seriously, yes, Brautigam is excellent.
Very nasty!
On further listening, Wilms' E flat concerto turns out only to be superficially Beethovenian; OK, it has obvious copyings, but mostly it's in the more florid tradition of, say, Hummel. In that respect I find it rather schizophrenic. Both the heroic (Beethoven) and florid (Hummel) are present, but what is the work's true identity?
Wilms has neither Beethoven's nor even Hummel's originality and his concerto is a celebration of eclecticism, it's a work reflecting the dominant trends in music at the time. That's its identity, to be a mirror. But enjoyable, for all that.
I'm glad it's been recorded, but the only reason for doing it again would be to have a version with piano.
True.
For all its shortcomings I'm still glad this is being recorded, not least because Wilms was a very important composer for the development of Dutch music. He introduced a lot of German and central European music to the country, and also wrote the music to the national anthem (Wien Neêrlands Bloed door d'aadren vloeit, van vreemde smetten vrij / "For whom Dutch Blood flows through their veins, free from foreign blemishes") that was in use until 1938.
I always think that anthem should be played before Belgian concerts begin. Or perhaps a healthy dose of Litolff's Third?
My inner Jeremy Clarkson is getting the upper hand.............
I rather think his best music is in his symphonies, e.g. No.7 in C minor (1835):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfWEenkikpw
OK, it's probably rather passé for its date, but there's no 'prettifying' here.
I like that Symphony. I am not giving up on him. His works for flute and orchestra stand up pretty well too.