I like Beethoven's, Mendelssohn's, Brahms', Schumann's, Faure's, Mozart's, Dvorak's, Weber's.
I like the genre because I like these works, they show us how complex and interesting this arrangement can be and they reveal the deep acoustic possibilities created by this mixture of sonority.
Plus, I love the contrast of the piano and the strings, hence, I also enjoy piano trios and quintets.
I'm not quite sure I understand. The contrast of a piano quartet is nothing compared to a whole orchestra, do you also dislike all music for full orchestras?
That excludes virtually all symphonies [except string symphonies, I suppose; perhaps wind symphonies have too much contrast still?], operas, masses [except polyphonic works?], sonatas for instruments paired with piano, a great portion of chamber works...
What does that even leave? Solo piano works, string quartets/trios/duet/solos, possibly polyphonic vocal music, organ music, solo harp/harpsichord music?
Mr Karajan Sir, You seem to have a lot of problems with various types of Classical Music. A top tip when this happens, put it aside and leave it to grow on You, things You don't care for today might my next years model, classical music equation has two fundamental variables, open ears (ie. curiosity) and patience, without these two Your experience will never amount to anything other then an enjoyable soundtrack to Your life (which for some, may be big enough and should not be frowned up on!)...
And yes, the ptr loves Piano trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, septets, octets, nonets and really any numbered form of chamber music with piano and to be honest he loves most of the chamber music there are!
On recordings of Piano Trios there seems to be an inbalance, what I mean is that Unless the recording is correct it can sound like a Piano concerto. You don`t often find this in recordings of Piano Quartets
I don't know as many piano quartets as I do trios or sonatas with 1 string instrument + piano, but I like them just fine and look forward to hearing more. The above noted Faure's for instance, definitely want to get around to his.
I must say that I listened to Dvorak's piano quartet recently and really enjoyed it. I haven't got round to listening to the Mahler quartet on the same set. I'm bracing myself!
Aha! This latest evidence confirms my suspicion: You are not a teenager, you are a ~40 y.o. social scientist conducting a study, probably regarding the willingness of classical music buffs to assist the ignorant. Maybe including how far that rubber band can stretch?
I would agree that there are a few issues in chamber music combining the piano with string instruments.
1. Intonation
Strings can play Pythagorean melody lines and can play just intonation and continue this if the music modulates to new keys. The piano cannot and is usually tuned equal temperament (not exactly but that is another discussion).
2. Loudness
The piano is often too loud in comparison to the string instruments.
3. Color
This is of course subjective but I consider the piano sound extremely cold when contrasted against strings.
However it must be noted that many classical (and early romantic) chamber pieces played with a piano where not composed for a piano at all. For instance Haydn's and Mozart's chamber music work in my opinion much better on the fortepiano. The action of the keys invites more 'sparkling' action, the color matches the string instruments better and the sound level is more compatible.
Obviously later chamber material was written with the piano in mind and should be played on the piano.
I would agree that there are a few issues in chamber music combining the piano with string instruments.
1. Intonation
Strings can play Pythagorean melody lines and can play just intonation and continue this if the music modulates to new keys. The piano cannot and is usually tuned equal temperament (not exactly but that is another discussion).
2. Loudness
The piano is often too loud in comparison to the string instruments.
3. Color
This is of course subjective but I consider the piano sound extremely cold when contrasted against strings.
Chamber music is not a genre i have fallen for yet. The strings sounds a bit screechy when they work alone. But it helps when there is a piano included.
I voted "yes I enjoy piano quartets", but honestly I don't think I can say that I "like" or "dislike" a genre (or subgenre) of music for simply what it is and what instruments it uses. It really depends on how much I like the composers and works associated with those instruments, and since I only listen to the piano quartets I like (because why would I spend tons of time listening to the ones I don't like), I voted "yes".
There was a time recently when I also felt piano and strings didn't mesh.... Something about the piano concerto felt wrong to me. But that all changed after I watched to this:
I very very much like many piano quartets. The objections raised by some about the balance and volume of strings and piano can be readily resolved. On recordings the skill of the recording engineer is highly important. In live performances it is the skill of the 4 musicians in knowing how to perform in the piano quartet setting. Also how high to open the top of the piano can have a large effect on the volume.
Personally, I am not a fan of the fortepiano. The sound of a modern piano is much more my preference. It is just a matter of individual taste. Listening to, for example, Arthur Rubinstein on modern piano play the Mozart Piano quartets is pure joy for me.
Though I haven't really paid attention to why, but I tend to enjoy piano trios more than piano quartets... I'll have to mull over this thread a little...
I answered yes, but I missed the part "Be honest here" in the title so I answered dishonestly.
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