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It was an epochal sort of three-way love at first sight when Johannes Brahms first showed up on the doorstep, and then at the piano of Clara and Robert Schumann in 1853.
It was a "secret union of kindred spirits," genius and love in many dimensions, and something more: Schumann, who was 43, saw a successor to Beethoven in the 20-year-old Brahms, but more than the "new eagle" of German music he saw "another John the Baptist," a savior whose revelations would stymie the world for centuries. Clara, who was 33, saw a rare and beautiful character in Brahms, sent by God and transfigured by his own music.
In Robert Schumann, young Brahms saw a mentor on the way to madness; in Clara he saw the love of his life-a woman who didn't promise heaven but revealed it to him. Together they lived the mysteries of romantic passion and wove them into every theme and variation of romantic music. Join us for A musical triangle for all time. (Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
Originally posted by 8ude: [b] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Sonata: [qb]
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Brahms was also friends with Schumann. When Schumann tried to kill himself, failed, and went to the looney bin (where he died), Brahms was in the process of writing his first (D Minor) piano concerto, and he was so depressed about his friend. You can hear this intense sadness and anger in Brahms's first concerto.
Brahms must have also been slightly relieved, though, because after Robby died, Brahms moved in with Clara (Mrs. Schumann). [/b]
i heard Brahms and Clara were gettin' it on soon after Robby went to the nuthouse! :rolleyes:
"musical training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythym and harmony find their way into the inner places of the soul" -Plato
Lang Lang is pure garbage, he's just a commercial pianist, there is no soul in any of what he plays, Ive heard him play Rach 2 , Paganini Variations and Tchaikovsky. There's nothing there to enjoy, no story being told, just notes being hit at the right time. As far as best Concerto's go, its really difficult to rank them....some nights Beethoven tears my heart, others Rach fills it..but if I had to, Rachmaninov's are the most fun to play, and listen to as stories and tales....Like Tchaikovsky. Beethoven and Brahms make you wanna cry, very Classical, along with Mozart. Prokofiev is just pure nut-case, energy, fairytale, imagination at its finest....ohhh if only Stravinsky wrote a piano concerto!!!!
For Beethoven it was Bach - For me, its Rach...the Idol
In no particular order. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major
Other great concertos worth mentioning(simply because 10 is too little) Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor Mozart Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major Bach Keyboard Concerto in A major, BWV 1055 Bach Keyboard Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056
I will list my favourites and also my favourite recordings of them
1. Schumann - Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 - Van Cliburn 2. Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 - Van Cliburn 3. Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83 - Van Cliburn 4. Grieg - Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16 - Richter 5. Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 - Van Cliburn 6. Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23 - Van Cliburn 7. Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 - Shelley 8. Dvorak - Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 33 - Richter 9. MacDowell - Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 23 - Van Cliburn 10. Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 - Van Cliburn
As you can probably see from above, I absolutely adore the American pianist Harvey van Cliburn who was hailed as "The Texan who Conquered Russia". I like his unique playing style it is very passionate and emotional. Other pianists I like include Howard Shelley who I feel is a truly underrated musician and of course there is Richter who is truly sensational.
As for my choices...
The Schumann piano concerto is my favourite piece of music. I am currently practising it and I like it for the clearness in which Schumann expresses his emotions in this piece. Van Cliburn's expressive playing style really suits this wonderful composition.
The Rachmaninoff concerto is brilliant for its' lush romantic melodies and the Brahms is just awe inspiring to listen to.
As well as the pieces listed I enjoy many more as the concerto is my favourite genre from the classical (Including baroque, romantic and 20th century) oeuvre.
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.â€
1. Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto "Emperor" 2. Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto B flat 3. Barber's Piano Concerto 4. Tveitt's Piano Concerto No. 1 5. Mozart Concerto No. 20 6. Liebermann Piano Concerto No. 2 7. Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 8. Micheal Daugherty Deux Ex Machina(piano concerto) 9. Stokowski Piano Concerto No. 2 10. Gerswhin/Ravel piano concerto, truly was a tie, could not pick between the two.
There is no top 10. There are only 2 that properly understand what a concerto *for* piano is supposed to be.
Chopin 1 Chopin 2
The rest are wonderful orchestration works that include the piano. Paganini knew what a violin concerto is supposed to be just like Chopin with the piano.
I'm starting the solid wooden keys revolution in digital pianos. Get'em now or be square!
There is no top 10. There are only 2 that properly understand what a concerto *for* piano is supposed to be.
Chopin 1 Chopin 2
The rest are wonderful orchestration works that include the piano. Paganini knew what a violin concerto is supposed to be just like Chopin with the piano.
You include the Bach keyboard concertos in this sweeping dismissal? He only invented the 'keyboard concerto' after all!
There is no top 10. There are only 2 that properly understand what a concerto *for* piano is supposed to be.
Chopin 1 Chopin 2
The rest are wonderful orchestration works that include the piano. Paganini knew what a violin concerto is supposed to be just like Chopin with the piano.
You actually find fun in music where the orchestration is rather basic and just tags along for the ride? That's the whole REASON Brahms is my favorite!! (Well, not the whole reason, but definitely one of the reasons).
EDIT: I don't dislike the Chopin concerti, I like them a lot... Just not always the concept of orchestra primarily just accompanying the piano...
Last edited by Orange Soda King; 07/25/1305:45 PM.
There is no top 10. There are only 2 that properly understand what a concerto *for* piano is supposed to be.
Chopin 1 Chopin 2
The rest are wonderful orchestration works that include the piano. Paganini knew what a violin concerto is supposed to be just like Chopin with the piano.
You include the Bach keyboard concertos in this sweeping dismissal? He only invented the 'keyboard concerto' after all!
The public likes romantic works with an orchestral background. Frankly, my intention is to be a cheap Chopin imitator and use his formula to produce 3 more Chopinistic concertos. The days of idealism are over. What have the clowns in the conservatories and university produced?
I'm starting the solid wooden keys revolution in digital pianos. Get'em now or be square!
The public likes romantic works with an orchestral background. Frankly, my intention is to be a cheap Chopin imitator and use his formula to produce 3 more Chopinistic concertos. The days of idealism are over. What have the clowns in the conservatories and university produced?
You're right; nobody cares about integrity in music. Let's just worry only about the public and make money.
In fact, forget Chopin all together, let's do something more radical!! Like this genius:
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