Godowsky - Passacaglia on Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony (Part 1/2)

[FGOthegorini]

Seriously, Schubert's symphony is a billion times better than this... who would even bother playing this useless lump of notes? Bah... Godowsky...

[123snowball]

Who's playing this?

[FlyingBlackAndWhite]

so intense

[Chiu19931993]

7:50-8:30

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

pure nonsense

[19871014]

Arright i think the main problem here is that the Schubert-theme, the melody in the left hand is based upon only two harmonic units: one h minor tonic and the dominant.

Poor Godowsky can twist it all the way around and back, it still always be a bit eventless.

[lsbrother]

@19871014 ""Poor Godowsky can twist it all the way around and back, it still always be a bit eventless.""

- Well, that might be your opinion but clearly Godowsky did not think so, or presumably he would have tried a different piece to transcribe - after all he had plenty to choose from!

Personally I agree with Godowsky.

[19871014]

@lsbrother Hey you got a point there, but possibly Godowsky choose this Schubert theme not because it was so suitable for a passacaglia's bass but because it was famous thus the ts would be famous too.

Maybe he wanted to show off that he could write a passa even from such a simple theme. But he indeed succeeded in doing so nonetheless

[19871014]

Who else thinks it has some similarities with Franck's Prelude choral and fugue?

[19871014]

i find it a bit artificial, unnatural and slightly over-dissonant.

Wish i could write sthing half as good though

[DCioccoloni]

LIKE A BOSS!

[Gibson29]

The section between 7 1/2 minutes and 8 1/2 minutes is just insane

[nathanscoleman]

This is genius ... pure and simple.

[moneyman10k]

What do even the sublimest efforts of mortal geniuses amount to in the scheme of Cosmic phenomena?

[Tatchko]

@moneyman10k Nothing really. But why compare it to the grandness of the universe in the first place?

[Gibson29]

@Tatchko Moneyman was quoting Godowsky

[LordCalvinHastings]

I think it's quite obvious that this isn't "mere virtuosity", but the inspired work of a true genius. The melodies and harmonies are so perfectly and beautifully executed; the fortissimo parts are overwhelmingly powerful without losing the charm of their inherent melody. The variations in this piece don't sound repetitious at all. The piece itself wouldn''t sound repetitious, if you listened to it over and over again.

[Marg002]

Alas, Godowsky does not solve the problem of the endlessly repeated passacaglia melody becoming tiresome, largely because each new variation neatly corresponds with each new repetition of the cantus firmus, and he seems more intent on showing all the endless things he can do with it, rather than building a solid structure out of the best and most meaningfully connected of these variants. Too much of a good thing and the phrase "mere" virtuosity comes quickly to mind.

[kasyapa]

Marg002 - it comes to your mind, perhaps ...

[profanityridden]

@Marg002 I can defiantly appreciate what you say.. mostly because it is far above my head, but i will say this.. to me this piece is amazing, so fuck you.

!!IGNORANCE STRIKES AGAIN!!

[123eldest]

@Marg002 Your loss...

[kasyapa]

wonderful pianist, this Antti Siirala. must find out more!

[Hankhankhank2]

very nice

[szamoransky]

what the fuck?

[ThaSchwab]

So many sustain pedal markings ...

[Aul1kki]

Normally I don't like finnish guys playing. For example Olli mustonen and Jouni somero just doesn't sound good to my ear, but Antti siirala made it. So interesting piece! Thank you for posting this!

[EuriskoLontano]

I really love this work. Can I ask where you managed to find the score? My searches turned up nothing.

[123eldest]

Are you still looking for the score?

[sanctusignis]

This is truly a monumental piece of music.

[SCOREdom]

good stuff! xD

one of the few things my friend Alex has actually attempted to play from Godowsky's music..