(Rare!) Saint-Saens Plays His "Marche Francaise" (1919)

[1926VictorCredenza]

I was going to post this, but I see you beat me to it!

Very nice!

[transformingArt]

@1926VictorCredenza It would be better if you can still post this version as well - maybe your copy would sound better than this?

[eclecticdufus]

Good clues to the interpretation of his music: don't dawdle! He makes no concessions to age here, dropped or wrong notes be damned. Wish we had him in some Beethoven.

[Cryha50]

In response to the person asking if this was ever written down, I am not sure where you can get it but I do own a copy of this piano score. I found it in an old music store near the back of one of the stacks of scores and it is fairly old. I can get you more info on it but I will have to dig it out of my records as I have it safely stored.

[gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for posting this historic recording.

[paulostroff99]

LOVELY! TY transformingArt for posting. 

[Devansell09]

You actually hear the static and noise. Wow! 

[MelosAntropon]

Excellent post! It is also worth remembering, though, that the performer was limited to a certain time interval per side - in concert, i doubt he played it this fast. The score is marked "alla marcia" but this is flat out "presto".

[MrRicksStudio]

@MelosAntropon That argument is sometimes right. But we know that Saint-Saens preferred fast tempi. Arthur Rubinstein recalls hearing him playing the Chopin E major Scherzo (I paraphrase) "much too fast, but very clean". His recording of parts of the Second Concerto are pretty close to the tempo we play today. Busoni's mad dash for the finish in the Liszt HR 13 is often cited as an example, but I own a copy of the disc, and there definitely is "room" for a more cautiously played conclusion.

[eclecticdufus]

@MelosAntropon Sometimes the case, but this is a 12-inch side, ample room for the piece as usually performed. Menuhin was asked in the '70s if the faster tempi in his recording of the Elgar Concerto under the composer compared with many "modern" performances were imposed on them by the 78 sides and he answered emphatically no. They could have all the time and as many sides as they wanted but it was the way Elgar wanted it to go.

[Sorcerer88]

awesome. but i can't wait for the elegy played by saint-saens, my favourite violin-piano duo. it's so ravishingly beautiful!

[paopaomanalansan]

There's a version of Faure for 2 pianos in a website. Check it out!

[alger3041]

@paopaomanalansan Are you referring to Faure's piano four hand arrangement of all four movements of the Suite Algerienne, including this movement? It is excellent! I own a copy.

[ipmoic]

Amazing! Just what you'd expect--fleet fingers and a dashing style--just like his music. Clean, bright and filled with personality.

A thousand thanks transformingArt

[koukounoa]

this version is sick

[2ndviolinist]

The few recordings I've heard of Saint-Saens were nowhere near this clear. When was the original produced? Thanks so much for posting!

[brkdaice]

Wow! this must have cost you a pretty penny!

Cool!

[Rlaw2222]

does anyone know if saint saens wrote down this version?

[nocbclarinetchoir]

@Rlaw2222 There is an outstanding arrangement for concert band. See our recent video on You Tube at nocbclarinetchoir. Hank

[esteger1]

I enjoyed this very much. Thanks for posting it.

[paulostroff99]

Interesting! Bravo! TY.