Ferdinand Hiller

[Alan Howe]

Yes, do tell! I'd certainly buy a recording!

[tpaloj]

I agree with Alan in that this concerto can be somewhat unrelatable and underwhelming, while being a lovely piece of music at the same time. There's a strong improvisatory feeling in how the piece unfolds (not necessarily a bad thing in itself) and this affects the form also. Opening movement follows sonata form but the form is somewhat muddled and lacks strong contrasts. The rondo is a lot of fun yet maybe slightly too long.

Hiller's melodies can be fine overall, even great, but in this piece as in some of his other works you likely won't remember them after the work has ended. The andante mvts main theme is beautiful though and remains memorable to me. I still maintain this concerto would work great in a real performance, pretty music overall as it is. The serene tutti opening, for example, I find remarkable.

Recording is planned a year from on, still ways to go and more details to come. I'll share more as I learn more, too.

[Alan Howe]

I'll definitely buy the recording! Do keep us informed - and thanks for all your great work. It's much appreciated.

[tpaloj]

The Schillerfest of 1859 was celebrated from 8 to 10 November. In Cologne, Hiller's festival cantata "An Schiller's Wiege" was performed just once on November 10, 1859, then forgotten.

I've always had some mixed feelings on Hiller as composer, but then again studying his orchestral scores have positively surprised me more often than not. This cantata is one of those pleasant exceptions and contains many finely written numbers and enchanting passages. I hope you might enjoy listening to it despite the fact that no real voices could be provided: vocal music really is difficult to put together convincingly with Noteperformer.

As for the work's sources: Goethe Universität in Frankfurt-am-Main has the autograph full score and copyist's parts of the soprano, alto and tenor soloists. Frustratingly, Hiller had not written in the words of the chorus in the score. It was very difficult to try adding the texts back in, and I had to give up with this in the finale, which is why I didn't typeset it and the video has manuscript images for that movement.

Youtube: An Schiller's Wiege (noteperformer rendition)

[eschiss1]

Thanks!
I haven't learned how but am told that Lilypond is pretty good with text inclusion. Not as good at midi synthesis, maybe.

[tpaloj]

Hiller's Die Klage der Oceaniden from 1869 is the second of a set of three unpublished orchestral Fantasiestücke, which at one point had been intended as Op.143*. This designation, written on the front cover of the autograph, is crossed over. The other pieces in this set are No.1 Meeresruhe and No.3 Corsarer. Autographs of these works can be viewed online at the website of Goethe Universität Frankfurt-am-Main.

The piece opens with some tremolo string patterns that continue to brew in the background, generating rhythmic motion throughout the work. The woodwinds, with their wailing melodies contrast the passion of the crashing waves underneath. The atmosphere of the piece is at times tender and foreboding, at times stormy and passionate. I hope you all will enjoy this short tone poem by Mr. Hiller!

YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/lW3-efMvAGs


* A set of 8 Gesänge were instead published as Hiller's Op.143.

[Alan Howe]

A very interesting and indeed exciting find, Tuomas. Interesting, because we hear Hiller experimenting with sounds more associated with, say, Liszt, albeit without the heavy brass writing of the New German school - or maybe along a line of influences from Mendelssohn (Hebrides Overture) to Abert (Symphony No.4 'Columbus')...

Thank you very much!

[tpaloj]

Thank you Alan.
In a hilarious turn of events, Youtube actually just took the video down. Their reason... according to the mail I received:

We wanted to let you know our team reviewed your content, and we think it violates our sex and nudity policy.

I always knew Hiller could write some rowdy music, but wow!

(Yes, the video's thumbnail painting by Doré: The Naiads of the Sea was the actual reason. I just had to change the thumbnail and the video is now back up.)

[Alan Howe]

Oh dear. But thanks for uploading the piece - rather fine, I thought, and I'd've been stumped to name the composer.

[Gareth Vaughan]

That Gustave Dore, he was such a wicked pervert. Quick, let's destroy all his illustrations - wouldn't want youtubers to be corrupted. Honestly! Words fail me.

[Ilja]

On a more general note, Tuomas, I do want to express my admiration for the way in which you continue to explore the works of this very important and very talented composer, and make it possible for others to hear his music.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Hear, hear! Thank you very much, Tuomas.

[Alan Howe]

Three cheers for Tuomas!

[tuatara442442]

Cheers again for Tuomas!

[Gareth Vaughan]

Incidentally, Tuomas, do you have any more news on the possible recording of Hiller's VC?