José Vianna da Motta (1868-1948): Valsa caprichiosa

Vianna da Motta was one of Liszt's last pupils, and at the time of his death in 1948 was the last remaining Liszt pupil. He was a Portuguese pianist who, after Liszt died, and after a period associated with von Bulow, joined the circle of pianists centred around Ferrucio Busoni in Berlin.

He was a renowned pianist and teacher in his native Portugal, as well as teaching in Geneva after the first world war, but was essentially little-known outside Portugal due to a lack of an international concerting career and very few recordings being made by him.

His style is noticeably more "modern" than that of the other Liszt pupils. All of his studio recordings come from 1928. This work is by Vianna da Motta and is the third of the op.9 set of Cenas Portuguesas.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• José
• Vianna
• da
• Motta
• valsa
• caprichiosa
• piano
• classical
• recording

[uhartchristian]

its clear that liszt did not only give advice for the piano but also did give his pupils a solid knowledge about harmony and solfege. so they were able at least to compose pleasant pieces like this

[d60944]

@uhartchristian: Ah, anyone coming to Liszt for direction would have already been well able to compose works like this. Liszt had no interest in teaching the "mechnics" of music to anyone. Fine improvisation was an assumed technique of a pianist, and Liszt would assume his pupils possessed a reasonable mastery of the business of putting together harmony and counterpoint.

[JamesraynorII]

who is the player?