Diemer Grande Valse de Concert Op 37 Diemer Rec 1906

Louis Diemer (1843-1919) was ten years old when he entered the Paris Conservatoire. A pupil of Antoine-Francois Marmontel (teacher of Albeniz, Debussy, Plante,) Diemer was awarded his primier priz in piano at the age 13. In the 1890's, Diemer founded the Societe des Instruments Anciens and gave recitals on the harpsichord. His advocacy of Baroque (particularly French) music influenced both Risler and Cortot who were his students. Saint Saens dedicated his Fifth Concerto (Egyptian) to him, and he gave the premiere of Frank's Symphonic Variations in 1886 Diemer continued to perform and teach until his death. His later students included Yves Nat, Marcel Ciampi, Robert Lorat and Robert Casadesus. (Casadesus was the only Diemer student that I ever heard perform) Diemer composed salon music of no great pretensions.
PHOTO--Jury of the Diemer Competition 1909, Paris
L to R back row: Fernand Bourgeat, Arthur de Greef, Paul Vidal, Harold Bauer, Camille Chevillard, Xavier Leroux, Enrique Granados, Moritz Moszkowski, Jean Batalla, Auguste Pierret
L to R front row: Moriz Rosenthal, Raoul Pugno, Gabriel Faure, Louis Diemer, Albert Lavignac

Category:

Music

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• Diemer
• Grande
• Valse
• de
• Concert

[pianotonton]

Quand on pense qu'il y en a pour penser que l'on jouait moins bien du piano autrefois ou qu'il a fallu attendre la fin des années 1920 pour jouer les deux mains ensembles ! Né en 1843, Diemer pourrait revenir aujourd'hui !

[jpbracey]

pictures not clear but what fun!!  thank you - jpb

[RollaArtis]

Amazing performance - a real period piece! But are you sure about the back row? Surely Moszkowski is in the right and 'Granados' seems too middle aged and fat. I think 2nd to the right of Bauer is Chevillard. The moustaches all look the same though.

[1fattyfatman]

Nice to see mustaches were big back then : )

[saturncrescent]

Wow.

This piece has very little musical value but it is not offensive either. Most of the pianists of this era had a few of these original display pieces up their sleeve and could exhibit their technical prowess in a way that suited them best.

And he sure had technical prowess! I don't think I've ever heard octaves so clean, and the scale passages around 1:32 are breathtaking. What control, delicacy and verve. I had read about Diemer but had never heard him until you posted these recordings.

[Noshirm]

I recognize Diemer, Faure, and is it Pugno (?) in the front row. Fleet fingered, sparkling, clean playing. VERY French! Okay...just read the information provided! WOW! What an august group of musicians. How wonderful it would be every one of them had left recordings! Great post here!!! 5 stars for sure!

[hymntonight]

That was very interesting to read and to hear!