Carl Friedberg (1872-1955): Brahms - Scherzo in E flat minor op.4

Of the few of them who who made recordings, Friedberg was probably the most accomplished pupil of the great 19th century piano-pedagogue Clara Schumann.

Clara Schumann (1819-1896), along with Liszt and Leschetizky, made up the three most influential piano teachers of the century. Her own concert career began in the 1830s. She was esteemed by Chopin, Paganini, Liszt, Brahms, Schumann and ciritcs in general (though she strongly disliked the music of the "progressive" composers Liszt, Wagner and Bruckner). Like Liszt, she revolutionised the nature of the piano recital. Her own tastes were strict and conventional, preferring "serious" music and sobriety of interpretation, singing cantabile tone, control and disallowance of "mannerisms". These qualities seem to have been impressed upon her pupils too.

Friedberg also worked closely on some works with Brahms, a lifelong deep friend of Clara Schuman. Most of his career was spent in the USA in a teaching capacity, and he produced a large number of notable pupils. He made a number of recordings, and his Brahms and Schumann performances are particularly important (not least as he chose to specialise in the works of Schumann, and was taught by the composer's own wife).

This recording of Brahms's Scherzo in E flat minor op.4 was made in 1953.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• carl
• friedberg
• historic
• piano
• recording
• brahms
• scherzo
• Eb
• minor
• flat
• op.4

[suzettegm]

Never heard it before, thanks for sharing this!

[sabibu]

This is a very important document. Thanks for sharing it. I wish more people will listen to it.

[JSC1401]

Great absence of sustaining pedal! Super.

[antoinezygfryd]

Extraordinaire

[metalguitar1011]

@jimjoyce25 Look up Raul Manjarrez and you'll see how

[WatchBlueSkies]

super !!

[jimjoyce25]

How is anyone going to learn to play the piano like this again?

[gerardbedecarter]

Note the discreet melody-delaying in the second subject of the second trio.

[uhartchristian]

these recordings of Friedberg are so important.... thanks for sharing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With these recordings we have a clear idea how Brahms did want to have done these works....

[gerardbedecarter]

When someone remarked to the young Brahms in 1853 that there was some similarity between this and the Chopin Bb flat minor Scherzo Brahms stated that he had not heard any of Chopin's piano works. This was, of course, an early example of Brahms's very dry sense of humour. Of course, Brahms was familiar with Chopin's piano works by that stage. Chopin's piano works were published in Germany as well as France and England (and by this stage Chopin had been dead some three or four years).