Ravel's concerto for the left hand was written for the same pianist a bit later... Ravel's concerto is often played, not Korgold's. Another weird destiny!
Korngold's oeuvre is a little bit too chromatically tinged to enjoy an audience as widespread as Ravel, but is, in my opinion, equal in merit with the latter.
Amaranth. An interesting observation, but I think the main reason for Korngold's relative obscurity is the "stigma" he acquired by redirecting his undoubted genius to Hollywood. Then when he returned to "serious" composition later in life, his musical idiom had fallen out of fashion. Interestingly, his violin concerto is gaining significant recognition in recent times.
This was composed in Europe when Korngold was 25-years old, long before he composed for films or thought about composing for films and more than two decades before Kings Row.
Quand on pense que le pianiste virtuose à qui les concertos pour la main gauche ont été dédiés n'a pas seulement apprécié le plus connu, celui de Ravel !
After a 50 yr career as a symphony musician, I recall Korngold as 2 performances, separated by several years, of his violin concerto, one performance of the "Seahawk" film music, for a "pops" movie music concert, but dozens of concerts of ugly "beep, toot, squawk" contemporary crap. Why do we allow critics and pedants decide what we listen to? Korngold is just one unjustly neglected composer.
"While not an American composer in the strictest sense"? Korngold became an American citizen in 1943. Therefore, in the strictest sense, from that point on he was an American composer.
“Available to classic music aficionado”?? What do you meant by that? In spanish the word “aficionado”means amateur like… Korngold genius is for mankind I think…
Maybe if the work was rethought for two hands it might have more performers wanting to play it. The novelty of left hand only works wore off decades ago.
John Poole. Quite a few pianists include the Ravel, as just one example, in their repertoire. Rethink this opinion perhaps? And your comment elsewhere, "...almost ghoulish to buy tickets for a left handed only work..." is inappropriate, insensitive and musically irrelevant. Since when does one judge music on how many hands are needed to play it? Also on that other comment of yours, "...very Lisztian..."?? Liszt (my favourite composer of piano works) was from a different period and Korngold's harmonies (and orchestration) are very different to those of Liszt. No-one with a musical ear and knowledge would think of Liszt when hearing this work, a wonderful piece on its own terms.
Why not rework a few Liszt works for left hand only? Now that we are on it why not a one piano two pianists but only two hands. Still, Korngold should have had the nerve to write out his concerto in the traditional manner as well as the commissioned one for left hand only- The Korngold has many compelling and lovely moments but sounds pretty thin in spots where high filigree could have been a lovely enhancement. Still it beats the Glazunov piano concerto hands down- I mean one hand down.
@@bryangl1 It is ghoulish to write for one "appendage". Due to the misfortune of war injuries certain works are still being played. If they are played by able two armed pianists we are deeply into masochistic territory. If you disagree keep it civil. John Poole
+Harry Andruschak I think many composers were swept up in the tragedy of fellow pianists who lost an arm and felt obligated. Didn't anyone ever lose a left hand in battle? Again, to reconfigure the piano part for two hands would make sense today. I'm enjoying some of the passages- very Lisztian of course but a work for young pianists to make their own.
+Harry Andruschak , This was indeed commissioned by Wittgenstein (the first concerto he ever commissioned) and he did perform it a number of times as he was very pleased with it.
+robcat2075 That is interesting to note. Again, didn't any concert pianists lose their left hand in battle? Where are those concertos for the right hand only? Silly question I know. Who in the hell cares? The whole thing is freakish. It is almost ghoulish to buy tickets for a left handed only work including the Brahms Busoni work. but I guess one's charity impulse kicks in.
There is in fact a concerto for 3 hands at one piano, the third being solo right hand. Anyone who knows about piano music knows this, so I won't name the composer. Left Hand alone works better at the Pf than rh alone, for obvious reasons. Anymore silly questions?
Wittgenstein was not mediocre, despite much groupthink motivated by resentment at his wealth (most of which was lost to the Nazis) and possibly antisemitism. In addition to the trauma of losing his arm, he probably had PTSD and had to beat many family responsibilities during the rise of Nazism - as a result of which he had to become a refugee. This meant his playing began to suffer in 1930s - absolutely nothing to do with mediocrity. Compare his recordings of 1920s with later ones.
A wonderful concerto full of beautiful themes and rich harmonies unique to Korngold. A great performance by solo pianist and orchestra.
One of my all-time favorite. Masterpiece.
Bravo!
좋은 칼럼으로 흔치
않은 곡 접해 너무 좋습니다. 보통 음악잡지 그 이상으로 전문성이 있으세여. 비전성남 독자인데 큐알 코드 찍고 바로 들으니 너무 편해요
Una meraviglia, grazie!!!
bella musica
WOW.. Just discovered this!
Ravel's concerto for the left hand was written for the same pianist a bit later... Ravel's concerto is often played, not Korgold's. Another weird destiny!
I think there were others as well - Prokofiev, Weigl, Hindemith, etc. The one by Weigl is well-worth hearing.
Korngold's oeuvre is a little bit too chromatically tinged to enjoy an audience as widespread as Ravel, but is, in my opinion, equal in merit with the latter.
Amaranth. An interesting observation, but I think the main reason for Korngold's relative obscurity is the "stigma" he acquired by redirecting his undoubted genius to Hollywood. Then when he returned to "serious" composition later in life, his musical idiom had fallen out of fashion. Interestingly, his violin concerto is gaining significant recognition in recent times.
@@Examantel Not enough "friction" for today's world? I'll take less friction and more harmony---any day!
@@mosaicclassicsNot to mention Bortkiewicz PC No. 2.
Fantástico
Forget it..his main title to Kings Row is his masterpiece..this composition reeks of it!
This was composed in Europe when Korngold was 25-years old, long before he composed for films or thought about composing for films and more than two decades before Kings Row.
Quand on pense que le pianiste virtuose à qui les concertos pour la main gauche ont été dédiés n'a pas seulement apprécié le plus connu, celui de Ravel !
Once more great music ignored by musical elite snobbery.....
After a 50 yr career as a symphony musician, I recall Korngold as 2 performances, separated by several years, of his violin concerto,
one performance of the "Seahawk" film music, for a "pops" movie music concert, but dozens of concerts of ugly "beep, toot, squawk"
contemporary crap. Why do we allow critics and pedants decide what we listen to? Korngold is just one unjustly neglected composer.
No one is telling you what to listen to. If you don't like something, stop listening to it. The world moves on; it appears that you don't.
kmrerk so agree!!
@@llanellboy How is he going to stop listening if he is playing in the orchestra? Genius?
@@Sshooter444 tell me you've completely missed the point without telling me you've completely missed the point
"While not an American composer in the strictest sense"? Korngold became an American citizen in 1943. Therefore, in the strictest sense, from that point on he was an American composer.
L
I suppose the writer from Mosaic classic was thinking of musical background rather than of civil status, which seems more relevant.
He was the American CITIZEN, not American. He was Austrian!
“Available to classic music aficionado”?? What do you meant by that? In spanish the word “aficionado”means amateur like…
Korngold genius is for mankind I think…
It doesn't have that connotation in English.
Maybe if the work was rethought for two hands it might have more performers wanting to play it. The novelty of left hand only works wore off decades ago.
John Poole. Quite a few pianists include the Ravel, as just one example, in their repertoire. Rethink this opinion perhaps?
And your comment elsewhere, "...almost ghoulish to buy tickets for a left handed only work..." is inappropriate, insensitive and musically irrelevant. Since when does one judge music on how many hands are needed to play it?
Also on that other comment of yours, "...very Lisztian..."?? Liszt (my favourite composer of piano works) was from a different period and Korngold's harmonies (and orchestration) are very different to those of Liszt. No-one with a musical ear and knowledge would think of Liszt when hearing this work, a wonderful piece on its own terms.
Why not rework a few Liszt works for left hand only? Now that we are on it why not a one piano two pianists but only two hands. Still, Korngold should have had the nerve to write out his concerto in the traditional manner as well as the commissioned one for left hand only- The Korngold has many compelling and lovely moments but sounds pretty thin in spots where high filigree could have been a lovely enhancement. Still it beats the Glazunov piano concerto hands down- I mean one hand down.
Korngold was bound by Wittgenstein 's contract: rather obviously.
@@bryangl1 It is ghoulish to write for one "appendage". Due to the misfortune of war injuries certain works are still being played. If they are played by able two armed pianists we are deeply into masochistic territory. If you disagree keep it civil. John Poole
@@MGJS71 So why are able double armed pianists playing the work?
One wonders if Wittgenstein ever played this. At bottom, he was a mediocre pianist.
+Harry Andruschak I think many composers were swept up in the tragedy of fellow pianists who lost an arm and felt obligated. Didn't anyone ever lose a left hand in battle? Again, to reconfigure the piano part for two hands would make sense today. I'm enjoying some of the passages- very Lisztian of course but a work for young pianists to make their own.
+Harry Andruschak , This was indeed commissioned by Wittgenstein (the first concerto he ever commissioned) and he did perform it a number of times as he was very pleased with it.
+robcat2075 That is interesting to note. Again, didn't any concert pianists lose their left hand in battle? Where are those concertos for the right hand only? Silly question I know. Who in the hell cares? The whole thing is freakish. It is almost ghoulish to buy tickets for a left handed only work including the Brahms Busoni work. but I guess one's charity impulse kicks in.
There is in fact a concerto for 3 hands at one piano, the third being solo right hand. Anyone who knows about piano music knows this, so I won't name the composer.
Left Hand alone works better at the Pf than rh alone, for obvious reasons.
Anymore silly questions?
Wittgenstein was not mediocre, despite much groupthink motivated by resentment at his wealth (most of which was lost to the Nazis) and possibly antisemitism.
In addition to the trauma of losing his arm, he probably had PTSD and had to beat many family responsibilities during the rise of Nazism - as a result of which he had to become a refugee. This meant his playing began to suffer in 1930s - absolutely nothing to do with mediocrity.
Compare his recordings of 1920s with later ones.