...wtf just happened O_o

I'm probably in the minority here, but Godowsky's versions of Chopin's etudes have always struck me as crass, tasteless and pointless. When I listen to something like this, I feel my ears clouding over. I can imagine what someone who doesn't particularly like classical music must generally hear: an endless barrage of notes that batter me down into submission.

(And this from someone who generally likes the thrill of lots of fast notes, from Chopin to Art Tatum to Nancarrow.)


-Jason

I think some of the Chopin/Godowski transcriptions are better than others. Listening to them regularly is not an activity I would relish, but the very fact that they were done and that they can be played by some artists are sufficient reason for their existence. The "Wow!" factor can be insanely entertaining, even if only momentarily and on occasion.

Regards,

I don't believe Godowsky was a dummy. If you get ahold of the books of these, or you look on IMSLP, he wrote lots of text explaining exactly what he was trying to accomplish.

I just think of them as studies based off of Chopin's etudes. I've heard some saying that Chopin's etudes shouldn't be tampered with because they're so sacrosanct, and I see where they come from: it's Chopin, and the etudes are perfect. But there are additional techniques Godowsky probably wanted to cover, and like I said, he was no dummy, being a very talented pianist and an experienced composer himself.

His study on 25/11 is GNARLY. I kind of like listening to it more than Chopin's original 25/11.

That's sick. Musically not really enjoyable but still entertaining if you know the original piece. It's like a very clever parody.

Not all the Godowsky studies sound as overblown as the one in the OP, and many are quite beautiful IMO.

Op.10 No.3 with some Narlee Viennese harmony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ytpA5NA1XE&feature=related

Op. 10 No.6 in E flat minor arranged for LH alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFe1pHY4S2s

Op. 25 No.4 arranged as a Polonaise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92jND9ArK4&feature=related

Nouvelle Etude No.1 for LH alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2jtehcDu0w

Op. 25 No.5 arranged as a Mazurka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jpljc6n4KQ&feature=related

Nouvelle Cuisine No.2 with Godowsky sauce
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2PjejC823Y

+1

I've read through all of them, most of them more than once, and some of them quite a few times. They are technically very interesting, but to me, there's something pathological and sometimes creepy about them, too. It's like his ideas are some weird parasitic growth engulfing Chopin's originals. Musically, they are mostly kind of meh...any interest they have for the listener is almost entirely dependent on the listener having some idea of the technical hurdles involved.

I like his left hand rewrite of Op. 10 no.6 though...that one is a gem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hif5X4N24fg

I've heard Hamelin play this transcription live. The beauty of the Chopin original is not lost in his interpretation which makes me think that is not just Godowsky's concepts that make these works astounding. There is an artistry that must be brought to them to make them valid musical works. In other words, for them to really "work" as musical entities, the performer needs to have a technique that is in no way inhibited by the formidable challenges. This, of course, can be said of any music that is performed: the performer's abilities must exceed the technical demands of the work.

That said, I still feel that some work better than others, some are more musical curiosities, but I do think that the cleverness of some of Godowsky's realizations is quite remarkable. Naturally, appreciation of them is enhanced by knowledge of the original Etudes.

Regards,

I just bought Hamelin's recordings of the Chopin/Godowsky Etudes. From a musical perspective, I didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I would. I think wr's assessment is dead-on. From a technical perspective, of course, they're incredible. Hamelin must be a technical god. His left hand probably glows in the dark.

I've played this one ( or played at it ) for about 10 years or so now; nowhere near tempo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Hfia3ZUE0&feature=related

Even at a greatly reduced tempo it's still an excellent piece for developing the LH with its stretches. The harmony is beautiful and very applicable to Jazz (what I do ) .
If I don't play it often though the muscle memory goes away real quick.

I remember buying the Hamelin boxed set of CDs years ago, right after he won the Grammy. I think I've listened to it all of maybe three times in that span.

Never particularly enjoyed listening to the Godowsky on a musical level but I'm certainly in awe of Hamelin's technical command of the instrument and these landmark recordings.