MacDowell - Piano Sonata No. 2 "Eroica"; I Slow, with nobility

First movement from the Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op. 50 (1895)

Quoted from Lawrence Gilman's "Edward MacDowell":

"The 'Eroica' bears the motto, 'Flos regum Arthuris,' and as a further index to its content MacDowell has given this explanation: 'While not exactly programme music,' he says, 'I had in mind the Arthurian legend when writing this work. The first movement typifies the coming of Arthur...' Indeed, I think it would not be extravagant to say that he has given us here the noblest musical incarnation of the Arthurian legend which we have."

Edward MacDowell (1861-1908) was born in America, but his musical education was formed abroad. He studied piano at the Paris Conservatory where he was a classmate of Debussy. MacDowell later moved to Germany to study piano and composition and met some of the star European composers of the day, including Liszt. Through Liszt, MacDowell met Joachim Raff and became his pupil. In 1888, MacDowell returned to America and concertized as a pianist, which led to his being recognized as one of the great emerging American musicians. His status as an American composer also rose dramatically after he published numerous orchestral and piano works.

When a teaching vacancy opened at the new music department of Columbia University in 1896, MacDowell was offered the post, which he promptly accepted. He became the first professor of music at Columbia and taught there for a number of years. In the last four years of his life, MacDowell suffered from a brain disease and his disintegrating health led to his death in 1908. By the time of his death, MacDowell had been applauded by American critics and audiences as a gifted piano virtuoso and one of America's greatest composers.

MacDowell's output is hardly known today, although many piano students are intimately familiar with his sentimental piano piece entitled "To a Wild Rose." However, during his lifetime in America, MacDowell's suites for orchestra and piano sonatas were relatively popular, the latter considered the greatest yet composed by an American.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• edward
• macdowell
• liszt
• brahms

[Etude]

i love this shit, dude

[sheppoz]

@radioplug14

Ssssssshh!

[radioplug14]

@bartje11 The only reason I comment is because Alan Mandel plays the other three sonatas very well. In my opinion, this is the easiest of the 4 MacDowell piano sonatas as a whole. Therefore it isn't a matter of difficulty but rather preparedness.

[bartje11]

@radioplug14 You answered my question. Yes, I am a pianist and I value this interpretation. Because I KNOW how difficult it is. You judge without the means.

And to put the question to me is ridiculous. Cheap way out. But I am used to this crap. It's endless and boring and as such I will not further comment. Goodbye.

My mistake.

[radioplug14]

@bartje11 I'm a mere person that enjoys classical. Actually, I'm a theorist. I definitely am not a professional pianist, but I don't think that makes me any less qualified to state that which is quantifiable. The fact is - he screws up a few notes. I have yet to find a performance of this piece that I like. So then I ask you, what kind of pianist are you? Do you play this? Post it. So I can judge you.

Viel Spaß!

[bartje11]

@radioplug14 So, what kind of pianist are you? You play this? Post it. So we can judge you.

[radioplug14]

Yeah, this performance is probably near the bottom I've heard, however, it's one of the few recordings of this on CD. What makes it sad is that he screws up in the easiest of parts, haha.

[radioplug14]

I love this piece. His Sonata No. 2 is the topic of my upcoming theory thesis!