schumann godowsky

Schumann’s “incomprehensible lack” of tempo judgment

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Famous pianist Godowski wrote in his 1915 edition of Schumann’s Kinderscenen that Schumann had “an incomprehensible lack of judgment in deciding the speed of every number”. In other words: a great composer, but a musical ignorant…? We may not say or write these kind of things anymore but… we still act in our performances accordingly, not paying attention to Schumann’s carefully given metronome numbers.
Let’s dive into this fascinating subject together and, really first time here on the channel, I’ll demonstrate some pieces on my 1866 Erard piano.

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Otto Klemperer: Closer to Bach Than We Think?

Otto Klemperer: Closer to Bach Than We Think?

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Otto Klemperer, one of the greatest conductors of all time, but a name we never connect to an ‘authentic’ performance, certainly not of Bach, where a name as Ton Koopman does ring a bell. But is Klemperer really off track in all aspects? Let’s skip a b/w discussion here and see what happens if we compare the last choir of Bach’s Matthaus Passion with a version of Ton Koopman.

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How fast Haydn really played

How Fast Haydn really Played – A Unique Source!

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Joseph Haydn is a composer that often is played with crispness and speed. But is that really so? In this video I share with you a unique contemporary source that will nail you to the ground (for a moment).

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Beethoven, Piano Sonata n°3 (1) in Czerny's tempo : Wim Winters, clavichord

Beethoven, Piano Sonata n°3 (1) in Czerny’s tempo : Wim Winters, clavichord

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“Beethoven Like You’ve Never Heard Before”, as the title of a popular Beethoven video goes. Perhaps it’s true for this version as well. His Pianosonata n°3, Opus 10/3 in C Major, played according to what Carl Czerny (and Ignaz Moscheles) gave as their tempi.

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