[Air]

Another one of those "German Russians" along with Anton Rubinstein, Sergei Taneyev, and (the alter-ego of) Tchaikovsky that wrote much in the vein of Brahms. I've been enwrapped in his music for a couple days straight and am starting to fear for my health.

I can't get enough of Medtner. When I first heard him, he was hard to follow, much like Taneyev, due to the lack of distinct melodic lines. Now I think the complexity of his music is fantastic, especially his piano works. Sonata Romantica, Reminiscenza, and Minacciosa are a few of my favorites. For those who can't swallow piano music, his 3 piano concerti are fantastic and much reflect Rachmaninoff's four. He also wrote a piano quintet and a few violin sonatas.

I've started to collect some Medtner as I have acquired a few of Gilels' recordings (fantastic, by the way, and highly recommended), but I hope also to get some of Hamelin's, Tozer's, and Moseiwitsch's (as well as the rare ones of Medtner himself).

Anyways, I hope there's a few Medtner fans out there.

 

[Taneyev]

Try to get is fantastic huge "epic" violin sonata by Oistrakh. Great piece and great play.And he was a very fine pianist. I¡ve a LvB sonata by him, and is wonderful.

 

[Weston]

I have only the piano concertos numbers 1 and 3 released on Naxos, Vladimir Ziva / Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Konstantin Scherbakov, piano. They are very fine indeed, though I would not have noticed a Rachmaninoff connection. Maybe on further listening.

 

[Sid James]

I remember hearing some of his works on radio, in a program devoted to his music. I can remember that it defintely sounded quite distinct, it wasn't like any other Russians of the period whose music I know.

I also remember an interveiw with pianist Marc-Andre Hamlelin on radio recently, who has recorded some Medtner. He talked about how the complexity & length of Medtner's music meant that it was somewhat neglected before the coming of the LP. He actually said that we have become more serious listeners, which means there is now a market for this type of muisc, whereas before WW2, people were mainly interested in hearing miniatures for the piano. It was uncommon in those days for a recital to include a sonata or something long like that, people liked shorter works. Nowadays, it's the opposite, we are drawn in by something that's complex and long...

 

[Lukecash12]

Anyone ever take a look at his Knight Errant For Two Pianos?

 

[slgnesin]

comparatively speaking,I prefer to listen the record of Gilels.im currently playing his sonata op.22 and op.5 and forgotten melodies op.38,i feel very tired playing his works,but never got such a feeling when playing others' composition,cuz the most complex structure i've ever seen,at least i do think so.my sister bought me a book about his life and music recently,wanna collect any article,book,dissertation,record about him.last year the book so-called "Николай Метнер:Вопрос Биографии и Творчества" was published in Moscow,but I have no chance to go to Moscow again recently.and actually my Russian skill gradually go backward...expect English version

Anyone ever take a look at his Knight Errant For Two Pianos?

Knight Errant is my favorite!!!

 

[Air]

i feel very tired playing his works,but never got such a feeling when playing others' composition

Very curious. I have the exact same feeling when I play Medtner - his works are a test of stamina for any pianist. It doesn't help that I'm playing the 2nd Dithryamb from the op. 10 set: one of the most self-absorbed, sprawling work of his (with a corpulently unbalanced intro, if you know what I mean).

 

[Ukko]

I've started to collect some Medtner as I have acquired a few of Gilels' recordings (fantastic, by the way, and highly recommended), but I hope also to get some of Hamelin's, Tozer's, and Moseiwitsch's (as well as the rare ones of Medtner himself).

Anyways, I hope there's a few Medtner fans out there.

The recordings of Medtner playing his own works were made near the end of his life. He was ill, and his technique greatly deteriorated. He made the recordings because he badly needed the money. You should save yours.

 

[Sebastien Melmoth]

I have Hamelin's complete Medtner Sonata cycle--which is very good; however, can't say it beats Skryabin's Sonata cycle.

http://www.amazon.com/Medtner-Compl...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1289149843&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Sonatas...2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1289149875&sr=1-2-spell

 

[myaskovsky2002]

Medtner? I think I have every work that was recorded until now, sometimes more than one version, the Hamelin version, I have it also.

http://pages.videotron.com/svp/

You can see my list.

Martin Pitchon

 

[clavichorder]

I've just gotten into Medtner and am obsessed. Its the skazki(russian fairytales) that I most admire and Hamish Milne does a brilliant job.

There's some great videos on youtube of Berezovski playing many of the skazki

Can't get enough of them.

 

[clavichorder]

I love "March of the Paladin."

 

[clavichorder]

Now I'm getting into Dithyramb! Played by Hamish Milne.

 

[clavichorder]

I'm almost as obsessed with Medtner as I am with the internet.

 

[clavichorder]

Looking for the best recording out there of the Night Wind sonata. Help would be appreciated. I've heard two so, far, Milne and Hamelin.

 

[clavichorder]

I discovered an arrangement by Heifetz of a skazka, op. 21 no. 1. I believe it really showcases the tune in this piece, Medtner at his most melodic. Medtner lovers on this site, let me know what you think!

 

[Aramis]

I discovered an arrangement by Heifetz of a skazka, op. 21 no. 1. I believe it really showcases the tune in this piece, Medtner at his most melodic. Medtner lovers on this site, let me know what you think!

Well, it's not much of a melody, you know... och, wait, we already been there.

 

[clavichorder]

This time I'm curious though. I promise, no angry bickering. Can you elaborate? It obviously doesn't strike you whereas it does me, what about it seems "not much to you". I think that if it were naked, if you were to just hum the tune without the harmony flashing through your head, it would seem less impressive, but I love the construction of the piece and what it does with this striking pattern.

I was hoping though that some other Medtner lovers would get to see this piece and be impressed with its emotional content as played on the violin. I really find it a stunning piece.

 

[clavichorder]

Or, should it be: grrrr, Aramis you twerp. And later, I thank Aramis for my success in life when I'm not spending so much time on TC?

 

[myaskovsky2002]

Well, it's not much of a melody, you know... och, wait, we already been there.

Awesome

Martin