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Folks,

I am getting back into it after many years and have downloaded the well-known Brahms Waltz # 15 in A-Flat Major (Opus 39--I think.) One of the very helpful tools I use (since I have a tolerable ear and could not sight read "Mary Had a Little Lamb", if my life depended on it) is listening to a recording as I work.

Now, I know the score I have is for solo piano--however, most of the recordings available speak about 4 hands. In this regard (finding a good recording of the 16 waltzes), I have two questions:

1. Were these waltzes transcribed for both solo and 4-hand piano?

2. Can someone recommend a quality CD, still in "print" of a soloist performing these waltzes?

My regards and thanks in advance,

Russ

Here's my favorite recording of the A flat Waltz. Once when Kissin played this after performing a concerto he didn't realize that the orchestra had to be paid overtime(I think because the concerto was a very long one). So it apparently ended up costing mangaement 10K for this beautiful encore!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy6uV-eMOEs

Here's the link for Lipatti playing most of the 2H versions and all of the 4H ones:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lipatti+brahms+waltzes&search_type=&aq=f

Thanks, as always, pianoloverus (I keep wanting to spell it "virus" ). I still hope to find it on a CD as well, but this is a huge help.

I doubt anyone will ever pay 10K to hear me play it--although someone might pay 5 bucks for me not to.

Russ

The Waltzes were originally duets. Brahms transcribed them for 2 hands, and then transcribed them again in a simpler version, probably so it would sell better.

The recording I used to listen to is Walter and Beatrice Klien. It is still available, on CD or as a download. It is the duet, however.

Thanks, BDB--I hope what I downloaded from PianoSreet is the non-simplified version. I do know it has a couple of chords that require a stretch of a tenth--which my iddy biddy hands find hard, even with a roll.

Russ

The hard version starts with octaves in the right hand. The simplified version has single notes.

Then I have the non-simplified version--although not octaves--but close enough for government work.

And pianoloverus--I couldn't play the recordings at work (blocked) but did at home and I very much like Kissin's performance. Just me, but I do prefer not to watch.

Russ

Unlike the Waltzes, Brahms only transcribed the first 10 Hungarian Dances for piano solo.

Anyone know why?

Eduard Schütt transcribed 11-21.


Mel

No idea--except for the fact that, having heard Kissin play one of them (# 1?), there is no doubt in my mind that two hands are simply not enough.

I think the simplified version of #15 is in A major, not Ab. At least the version at imslp.org is in A major.

Sam