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Messages - MHBallan

#1
It is interesting that the composer, in his original recording of the work, also 'missed off' the 'God Save the Tsar' ending in the coda......but not sure why Sukach does the same in the YouTube recording, beyond possible political sensibilities between Ukraine and Russia ?  I know Ukraine have a complete copy of the symphony as I provided the score, but beyond that I have no idea why that tune was excluded.  The definitive recording can be heard on the Hyperion label, conducted by Brabbins.

Malcolm
#2
I believe the Cello Sonata and Cello Suite still exist.............as do a number of his works that are still deemed  missing like his opera 'Akrobaten'.  But like any detective story there are often many blind alleys, and it takes a lot of time and patience to locate scores (took me over 5 years to find the symphonies as it was).  I'm currently trying to locate the Olympic Scherzo / Overture and think I now know where a copy resides (fingers crossed).  As libraries and archives digitalise their card indexes, it does help to increase the chances of finding these works - recently found some Wieniawski that had also been deemed missing - so you never know what tomorrow will bring !

Malcolm   

#3
Composers & Music / Re: Bortkiewicz - Various pieces
Sunday 17 April 2016, 09:43
Semloh.......the Bortkiewicz Lyrical Intermezzo score/manuscript is currently missing, hence why it has been deemed lost, but as I have found numerous scores by the composer that were also classified as 'lost', like the two symphonies or the recent piano pieces recorded by Nadejda Vlaeva, it will be only a matter of time before either myself or someone finds it (I hope).  Out of interest those late piano pieces by the composer on the Vlaeva recording are to be published by Boosey & Hawkes very shortly.
 
The recording I obtained many years ago, via Austrian radio, on a DAT tape but did not have the equipment to transfer or listen to that music - and Christopher kindly got that copied into a format we could all enjoy (my grateful thanks to him for undertaking this for me).  Of course it may be possible to notate the score from the recording.

I hope that helps to clarify the matter ?

Malcolm



 
#4
I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to Christopher for sharing the full Kosenko piano concerto on UC.  I had only ever heard the 1st movement (which I really liked and surprised it has not yet received a modern recording) and wanted to hear the remaining two movements to gain a full perspective of the whole work.  So very grateful to you for uploading this work.  I also was very pleased to see you have uploaded some works by Stepovy, Akimenko and Barvinsky (I have a fair collection of piano scores by these composers) so shall be eager to listen to these through the week.  It is by only hearing these works that we can gain a fuller understanding of these composers, and whether they weave their magic into our souls.

The Akimenko was a revelation - ravishing beautiful music.  I know his piano music well, but beyond the short Nocturne mentioned had never heard any of his major orchestral works, and the two pieces posted are simply stunning.  I have not stopped playing them since I downloaded them, so my grateful thanks for posting these.  Akimenko wrote extensively for orchestra so I can only hope that more may get recorded in time, as I am amazed, from what I have heard, that he has remained in obscurity for so long.   

One question - the Dawn Poem by Kosenko.........I had never heard of this piece and was curious if anyone had any information on this work ?  Of his orchestral works - beyond the two concertos - I was only aware of the Heroic Overture and Moldavian Rhapsody, plus some works / sketches for film and theatre.  Any information would be much appreciated.

Malcolm
#5
I believe it will appear on Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series, but not sure what volume number or proposed date of release [it has been recorded to my knowledge].

Malcolm
#6
Composers & Music / Re: Unsung Piano Sonatas 1860-1910
Tuesday 25 November 2014, 15:49
eschiss 1 & Aramiarz

The Pachulski 3rd sonata is currently being typeset as it proved rather difficult to learn the score from the manuscript.  Happy to share with members once that is finished and the commercial recording is completed.

Yes, it will be done by Acte Prealable [but different pianist to the 1st CD] -   likely works to be covered on the 2nd disc will be some of the following: 2 pieces op. 9; 3 pieces op. 3; 2 pieces op. 11; Phantastische Marchen op. 12; Feuille d'album op. 16; Octaven-Etude; 2 Mazourkas op. 18,
plus some of the orchestral arrangements either for piano solo or piano / 4 hands i.e. Polonaise op. 5; Suite op. 13 and Meditation Op. 25.  The 3rd sonata will appear on a separate CD at some stage.

The problem has been with some of these works is actually locating the scores and then getting a copy for performance [surprising the libraries that say no despite the work being out of copyright]!!  Beyond the 3rd sonata Op 32, which I was able to track down, there are still two works missing - Op 30 Scherzo for piano and Op 31 Three Pieces for piano [prelude, etude & polonaise no. 2]......I do have a copy of the etude but the other two pieces from Op 31 are proving to be extremely difficult to locate]. 

Malcolm

#7
Composers & Music / Re: Unsung Piano Sonatas 1860-1910
Thursday 20 November 2014, 10:46
I saw mentioned earlier on this thread the two piano sonatas by Pachulski - not sure if members are aware but there is a 3rd piano sonata [Op 32] that the composer wrote just prior to his death.  Unfortunately it was never published, although I was able to recently track down a copy of the manuscript and it will be recorded before Christmas by Acte Prealable.  So one to watch out for in the new year.

Malcolm
#8
Christopher

I shall check my records regards the performance of Acrobats and let you know as soon as possible.

Malcolm
#9
Composers & Music / Re: Bortkiewicz : 2 Symphonies Score
Monday 17 November 2014, 19:03
There were a couple of poor recordings made from concerts in Ukraine [I was fortunate to attend these performances during a Bortkiewicz Festival in 2002].  Think you can find copies of these concerts on-line [think its the Rusian site....Classics On-line or something similar].

I did raise this question with Hyperion and there was a possiblility of them being recorded at some stage [although no promise].  They were keen to have the Lyrical Intermezzo to compliment the violin concerto, but as I said that still remains missing.  Maybe a few e-mails from members to Hyperion might push this up their agenda for a recording !   Like you, I can only hope, as I think both works are very beautiful and crying out for a professional recording.

Malcolm

#10
Christopher

Unfortunately, there are still a number of scores by Bortkiewicz that remain missing - Piano Trio, Cello Suite and Sonata, the original manuscripts of the symphonies, as well his opera Acrobats amongst several other works.  To my understanding these remain 'missing' as oppose being destroyed or lost, in the same way as the symphonies were deemed missing or destroyed in WW II until I located them; and also some of his later piano works, which have recently come to light.  All the scores were deemed still available as I hold copies of the Austrian Bortkiewicz Society papers and these works are listed and were performed even after the compsoer's death [along side the composer's own works list].  There are still many archival / libray holdings still to be fully digitalised and catalogued, and / or it may be they are held by private collectors [a certain gentleman, for example, in Hong Kong holds several Bortkiewicz manucripts - the original left-hand version of the 2nd piano conerto and some piano pieces for left hand - but will not allow any one to view them].  I also hope as libraries improve their electronic holdings that some of these scores may come to light.  For example, the Olympic Scherzo / Overture written for the Olympic Games in 1948 is here somewhere in England.  It was performed in 1971 by the Lancashire Youth Orchestra, but unfortunately the conductor does not know where the leader of the orchestra obtained the score although I suspect somewhere in the North West [and the leader is now deceased].  I have tried looking on line through OPAC and checked with numerous libraries with no success, yet am positive it must be in the area and likely on a card catalogue waiting to be re-discovered !!

I never say never..............I believe Acrobats is out there somewhere.  Of interest, Acrobats was recorded by Berlin Radio, but again no copy of that recording has yet come to light.

Malcolm             
#11
Composers & Music / Re: Bortkiewicz : 2 Symphonies Score
Sunday 16 November 2014, 10:26
I do have a scanned copy of Symphony No. 2 and happy to share with members - just e-mail me and I will send you the link to down-load the score.

malcolm.ballan@gmail.com

The scores of both symphonies in the Fleisher collection are actually photocopies made by the composer in 1950 - the originals have yet to be found.  The scores are only available in manuscript.     

Malcolm
#12
Thal kindly drew this to my attention.  The Op 44 Lyrical intermezzo is still in manuscript and has been on my search list for many years [I can assure you Thadani did not have a copy of the score nor made any recordings of this work].

I did obtain a recording from Austrian Radio - this was taken from the composer's 70th birthday concert and performed by Jaro Schmied - but alas the original recording was slightly damaged just at the climax of the work.  I did managed to contact Jaro but unfortunately, he did not have a copy of the score (although he clearly remembered the composer with much admiration). 

I do have a copy of the work on disc but unfortunately, my disc drive on my pc is broken, so unable to upload it at this stage [I'll speak with the friend to see if I can use his pc].  I will inform folk as and when I have a digital copy I can share.  By the way the concert also includes the Overture to a Fairytale Opera and Symphony No. 1..........all three works were conducted by the composer, which makes it a very unique recording.