Ignaz Friedman - Paganini Variations (audio + sheet music)

Another of the great pianists from the early 20th century to pass through the formative hands of Leschetizky was the Polish-born Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948). Famed as a performer who brought colour and vibrancy to anything he played, he was also a composer and arranger of considerable repute. His Studies on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 47b are a set of 17 variations on the Caprice No. 24. Without losing any of the appeal of Paganini’s original, they successfully transfer the world of the violin to the piano keyboard in a manner that is entirely felicitous.
(Naxos Music Library)
Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Feel free to change the video quality to a minimum of 480p for the best watching experience.
Original audio: Valerie Tryon ( • Valerie Tryon plays Ig... )
Original sheet music: imslp.org/wiki/Studies_on_a_Theme_of_Paganini%2C_Op.47b_(Friedman%2C_Ignaz) (Universal Edition, 1914)

[@ashiapmanman]

0:00 - Theme: Tempo giusto.
0:33 - Var. 1: Vivo.
0:54 - Var. 2: Presto assai.
1:13 - Var. 3: Quasi andante.
2:16 - Var. 4: Allegretto, con eleganza.
3:01 - Var. 5: Andante sostenuto, serioso.
4:20 - Var. 6: Allegro ben marcato.
5:09 - Var 7: [tempo indication isn't indicated in the score on imslp]
5:43 - Var. 8: Tempo di Mazurka.
6:37 - Var. 9: Presto e distinto.
6:59 - Var. 10: Quasi andantino, commodo.
8:00 - Var. 11: Allegro giocoso.
8:15 - Var. 12: Allegro deciso.
8:55 - Var. 13: Andante pensieroso.
10:00 - Var. 14: Vivo assai.
10:29 - Var. 15: Andante mesto.
12:33 - Var. 16: Allegretto grazioso, quasi una Canzonetta.
13:08 - Var. 17, Finale: Con spirito, vivo - Presto

[@kzelmer]

Friedman was indeed a beast. Not only technically gifted but also with a great sense of voicing and rubato (his nocturne op 55 no 2 rendition is on another level)

[@jerry_moo]

For a perhaps more fluid and organic depiction of what the performance could have been, set the playback to 1,25x speed.

[@therealtruetwelfth798]

No.

[@WEEBLLOM]

No.

[@sv0010]

Agreed!

[@cristooxuloxd]

these variations are so refreshing to hear, i really liked the 3rd one!

[@sebastiantorres2542]

Great variation, you're right. Pretty modern I feel.

[@jacobleis5673]

Interesting: Variation #1 was clearly inspired by Brahms' 2nd Study, Variation #1; and to further elaborate:
Variation #3 sounds like it could have been a candidate for a variation in Rachmaninoff's Paganini Rhapsody - chord progression and major key.
Variation #4 has arpeggios that Liszt or Thalberg would have employed.
Variation #5 has a Schumann melody delivered with fingers 4 & 5 while sustaining some lower-noted chords with fingers 1, 2 & 3.
Variation #6, 7 impressions seem to be that it started out being written by Brahms, but Godowsky got ahold of it to see how fast the performer could constantly four notes at time. Seriously, these look like a workout.
Variation #9 & 12 have a Medtner style to them, similar parts of his 2nd Piano Concerto.
Variation #10 sounds like it could have doubled as a Blumenfeld Impromptu.
Variation #13 also has a very Godowsky feel to it - like two-handed version to be prepped for a left-hand only version.

[@douwemusic]

Ok

[@samjoseph7846]

very interesting outlook

[@deodatdechampignac]

Variation 2 is Saint -Saens copy ; variation 5 is more Poulenc than Schumann...

[@rodluc2001]

3rd Brahms Book 😍

[@정-e7y]

brahms paganini variations book 3

[@antimon40]

Var. 13 8:55 is wonderful

[@ChrisBreemer]

Wow. A rich, varied, and inventive set of Paganini's that can stand proudly alongside the best of them. Really eclectic too - vars. 3 and 5 could almost be by Poulenc, and var.13 seems to foreshadow Mompou. There is also Chopin but I forgot the number. Ans Liszt, of course. Awesome performance by Tryon, a pianist who should be far better known.

[@elijahstewart3231]

okay what composer hasn’t varied this theme

[@mckernan603]

It was a meme

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

Ravel, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Kapustin. To name a few. But I get your point.

[@elijahstewart3231]

@@ShaunakDesaiPiano no negativity intended :)

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

@@elijahstewart3231 oh of course not, I know that :).

[@elijahstewart3231]

@@ShaunakDesaiPiano wonderful!

[@sirdicaudore]

Wonderful Variations full of imagination! Great piano playing by Valerie Tryon!!!

[@matthewparis1907]

Always ingenious and interesting. Derivative yet utterly original. Musically sometimes up there with Brahms.

[@zounai8387]

I need so badly an A minor chord in the upper register after those last low octaves of A:s

[@MichaelKaykov]

It’s a really interesting set!

[@paolofranceschi6874]

Very interesting set of variations ❤❤❤

[@MicoAquinoComposer]

Variation 10 is lovely!

[@stephanbrucebecker7268]

He was a brilliant pianist!