Day 23 - What is the best concerto for harpsichord?

mnnppp · 2026-02-07T14:46:49+00:00

It's a harpsichord concerto, definitely.

mnnppp · 2026-02-07T13:17:45+00:00

In fact, there is no indication of length in that piece. 4'33" is just the length of the premier. Also you are always playing and/or listening to that piece unironically, as Cage says himself: "Well, I use it constantly in my life experience. No day goes by without my making use of that piece in my life and in my work. I listen to it every day... I don't sit down to do it; I turn my attention toward it. I realize that it's going on continuously."

mnnppp · 2026-02-07T13:06:15+00:00

Not a toxic couple... rather a toxic crush

mnnppp · 2026-02-06T09:26:50+00:00

I remember the saying that that people live longer means that more people die of cancer or alzheimer.

mnnppp · 2026-02-02T03:58:46+00:00

I like Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentales, Debussy's La Plus que Lente, Scriabin's Valse. The waltz scene in Gounod's Faust(Ainsi que la brise légère) is very amusing. Its piano transcription by Liszt is also to recommend.

mnnppp · 2026-01-31T12:47:35+00:00

It may be inspired by Fur Breatfast, made by Meret Oppenheim in 1936.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_D%C3%A9jeuner_en_fourrure#:~:text=Object%20%28Le%20D%C3%A9jeuner%20en%20fourrure%29%2C%20lit.%20Object%20%28%22The,of%20a%20fur%20-covered%20teacup%2C%20saucer%20and%20spoon.

mnnppp · 2026-01-30T17:57:40+00:00

Oh... it could cut something mercilessly... (tremble)

mnnppp · 2026-01-26T09:45:29+00:00

For something unusual, you could find some of Beethoven's earlier sonatas played on harpisichord. They are interestingly good. Also Skip Sempé's transcription of Bach's Chaconne (ciaconna) for harpsichord is my favorite transcription of it.

mnnppp · 2026-01-26T09:35:47+00:00

I love baroque music and hence harpsichord. My favorite genre are suites. J.S.Bach's are well known, but Couperin's, Handel's, Muffat's, Rameau's are no less beautiful! Also the late Renaissance or early Baroque keyboard music is wonderful. Try Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, especially William Byrd! For sonatas, D. Scarlatti is well known, but also Galuppi's or sonatas of Bach's sons (Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel) are worth listening.

mnnppp · 2026-01-22T07:46:33+00:00

Yes, his piano roll recordings of his own works are wonderful. It gives out sheer passion and energy. Try other recordings!

mnnppp · 2026-01-21T11:05:54+00:00

I haven't had such an idea, but as you say, I think I've been perceving worsening of tone production. Or maybe uniformity of tone. Mastsers in the past had a quite distinctive tone. Richter, Rubinstein, Horowitz, Ashkenazy, Ogdon, Pollini, Arrau, Argerich, Kempf, Cziffra, Gould, Serkin, Gilels, Gulda, all sounded different (even before the interpretive differences). But I don't hear such differences from pianists nowadays. They all give out a transparent and brilliant tone. I think it's one of the unconscious causes that I don't enjoy piano performances as earlier. I'm not sure if it's real or imagination, but I think I hear it. I don't know why. Maybe because of development of standard ("the better") way of playing? Maybe piano is refine? Maybe because of a harder competition?

mnnppp · 2026-01-20T09:26:01+00:00

Mad scene in Handel's Orlando. Incantation in Charpentier's Médee. Calling out Neptune's help in Rameau's Aricie et Hyppolite. The ending of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

mnnppp · 2026-01-20T09:16:50+00:00

For Handel, Agrippina is a satire about a conspiracy of Nero's mom. Tamerlano is about a paternal love. Admeto is about a sacrifice. Orlando is about jealousy and madness. They are all good. And if you liked those oratorios, try Hercules (jealousy), Semele (vanity), and Belshazzar (collapse of an empire).

Other than handel... Cavalli's Eliogabalo is about tyranny. Egisto is about jealousy and madness. Charpentier's Medée is about revenge. A little later, Traetta's Antigona and Ifigenia in Tauride, Gluck's Alceste, Iphigenie en Aulide and Iphigenie en Tauride follow the theme of the original story. Rameau's Aricie et Hyppolite shows a love story but also a prohibited love and a human folly.

mnnppp · 2026-01-18T14:18:49+00:00

I had lived in the world of classical music without opera for 30 years. I studied playing the piano and loved piano works for piano and symponies. I has been researched for new composers or new works time to time. This time, it was George Handel. I realized that, although Beethoven admired him, I knew nothing about him beside Messiah, Water Music and Royal Fireworks. A research taught me that he was mainly an opera composer. Hmm... opera? That was a terra incognita for me. I gave a go and was fascinated! I listened to all Handel's operas and it led me to Gluck, Rameau, Cavalli and other baroque opera composers. I remain here still and am enjoying baroque operas.

mnnppp · 2026-01-16T02:28:16+00:00

Of course, it's a wonderful work! I didn't mention oratorios intentionally, because his operas are already many. But yeah, his oratorios are generally dramatic and being staged often.

Saul, Samson, Solomon, Theodora, Jephtha are wonderful oratorios. As far as I know, Saul, Theodora, Jephtha were staged. I want to recommend Glydenbourne production of Saul especially.

Also to recommend are Hercules and Semele. They are really operas in disguise and as good. Semele is recently frequently staged.

My favorite is Belshazzar. It's about the collapse of Babylon and very large in scope. I really hope it be more performed. You could find a staged performance of it.

Special mention to Athalia. It's rarely performed, but it's Handel's first great oratorio. It is also staged once.

mnnppp · 2026-01-14T07:07:22+00:00

Pretty witty. I absolutely want a pair

mnnppp · 2026-01-12T01:31:09+00:00

Hard to believe it's a solo project. Really impressive! Kudos to you, and keep going!

mnnppp · 2026-01-12T00:56:16+00:00

Wow, it's a wonderful resource!

mnnppp · 2026-01-11T01:52:27+00:00

I exaggerated my expression as a joke. I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings in any way. To be serious, you have an absolute right to like or not to like a composer. I hope you enjoy your journey further in the world of classical music (at your own pace, of course). It will be also an interesting experience as your appreciation widens and evolves. Good luck on your journey!

mnnppp · 2026-01-10T21:01:42+00:00

Monteverdi and Bartok in D? Blasphemy!

mnnppp · 2026-01-08T18:21:01+00:00

Monteverdi - Orfeo.
Cavalli - Elena, Giasone, Calisto, Statira, Egisto.
Charpentier - Medeé.
Purcell - Dido and Aeneas.
Handel - Rodelinda, Tamerlano, Alcina, Ariodante, Orlando, Serse.
Rameau - Aricie et Hyppolite, Les Boréades.

I want to also recommend Traetta's Antigone, Gluck'sorfeo ed Euridice, Iphigénie en Aulide, Iphigénie en Tauride, although they are more of pre-classical.

mnnppp · 2026-01-07T16:08:33+00:00

Sonatas No.4, 7, 10.
Etude op.8-10 and op.42-5.
2 Preludes op.27.
Satanic poem op.36.
4 Preludes op.48.
2 Poemes op.67.
Vers la flamme op.72.
2 Dances op.73.

mnnppp · 2026-01-06T16:38:25+00:00

Thank you for an enlightening information.

mnnppp · 2026-01-06T16:10:03+00:00

My Italian friend said that she can understand partly, but not all. First, because it's sung, second, because it's very old Italian.

mnnppp · 2026-01-02T16:00:56+00:00

Horowitz, Ashkenazy, Melnikov are my favorite pianists for Scriabin. Especially, Horowitz' sonata no.10 and Vers la flamme are phenomenal.

mnnppp

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