Rachmaninov : Prelude, Op 32/12 played by Vladimir Horowitz : Pianola Institute

RACHMANINOV: Prelude in G# minor, Op. 32/12, recorded for the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano by Vladimir Horowitz at Freiburg-im-Breisgau in early 1926, published as roll no. 4123 in March 1927, and played back in May 2009 on a Hamburg Steinway Welte grand, no. 209642, in London, England.

Audio recording copyright 2009 by the Pianola Institute. Photo depicts Vladimir Horowitz at one of the two Welte recording pianos, with Karl Bockisch and Hans Haass standing behind him, and to the right. Herr Bockisch is generally reckoned to have been the main inventor of the Welte-Mignon system, which he developed in close co-operation with Edwin Welte, grandson of the founder of Welte und Soehne, a southern German mechanical musical instrument company. Welte did not have a large piano roll editing department, and in the 1920s the young Hans Haass carried out a great deal of this work himself.

In comparing Horowitz's Welte-Mignon interpretation of this work with his later recordings, at least one of which can be heard on YouTube, it is important to remember that the Mignon was designed for private music rooms, and not generally for concert halls. It is possible to expand the dynamic range of Welte push-up instruments to cope with concert grand pianos, but such modifications do not accurately reflect the original recordings. One should not therefore look for the thundering climaxes of Horowitz's live performances, on his specially hardened Steinways, but his innate fluidity of tempo and phrasing remain as clear as a bell.

Player pianos can be very fine musical instruments. Visit the Pianola Institute website and discover the truth about these wonderful inventions!

http://www.pianola.org

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rachmaninov
• prelude in G# minor
• vladimir horowitz
• welte-mignon
• pianola
• pianola institute
• player piano
• piano roll
• music roll
• classical music

[pianolainstitute]

Interesting to have your comment about the piano tone. Pianos nowadays, and indeed since the Second War, are no longer anything like the same in tone as they were. Steinways in particular are much, much harder than they used to be. You may well like them like that, but in this case Horowitz would have recorded on a very similar sounding piano. It is remarkable how quickly our perceptions of what is historically accurate change. Ain't no such thing as truth, in whatever field!

[ClassicalMusicReview]

The playing here has a beautiful Autumnal luminescence that dots the landscape like a starry night in the chill.The trees are whistling in the breeze and the silence is warning of snow soon to come as we hurry home through the wooded pathway by the moonlit lake to a gentle fireplace and some Grand Marnier.

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

good words about the reproduction. I think this roll sounds amazing still

[bigcity233]

Great performance - the sound is sensuous the tone is beautiful. By the time Horowitz came to the US, electrical recording technology was standard and interest in reproducing pianos was waning, though he did record a few rolls for Duo-Art in the late 20's. i've read Horowitz was not a fan of his reproducing piano rolls.

[hellomate639]

Great playing, mediocre piano. Mushy, not just the recording instruments, the piano is actually mushy.

[kasyapa]

another closed account.

[kasyapa]

closed account ... i wonder why. maybe you were too cynical?

[stagehand19]

What a lovely sound. I love his technique but not the harsh tone normally associated with Horowitz's piano. This piano tone is beautifull so typical of the German built steinways. I have a 1914 built steinway very similar in tone. Bravo!

[umbrellano]

There is a touch of frenziness in this piece. For me, the playing a bit hypnotic, very sensuous, though bordering on an unconcious level of madness.