The Swan (arranged by Godowsky)

The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens, freely arranged (complete with minor 9ths) for piano solo by Leopold Godowsky.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Swan
• Saint-Saens
• Leopold
• Godowsky
• classical
• piano
• romantic
• transcription
• cheese

[levenst1]

You are amazing. This is my favorite piano song. I think it would sound a little better if you slowed down though. You play so fast I feel like you do not get to experience all the great harmonies.

[cziffra1980]

Hi. This is usually heard slower but it is actually marked 'Andante', rather than 'Molto Adagio' (as usually played). Cellists can pull off a slower tempo (as the cello sustains) but Saint-Saens almost certainly would have expected more flow to the piece. Godowksy suggested that this is only supposed to last two minutes! There are a places where I would like to have stretched the sound out a little more to reveal certain details, but I wouldn't personally want to reduce the prevailing tempo.

[donaldcollup]

I never knew this beautiful Godowsky transcription could be banged the bejeezus out of. Every not is mf or louder; no subtlety, no voicing.

[cziffra1980]

Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of a well-regulated Steinway or Fazioli. When you play this in vicinity of the suggested tempo on a 100 year old upright piano that has never undergone restoration work, there is a limit to how much it is possible to subdue the accompaniment figurations, no matter how extensively one exaggerates. As for 'no voicing' try Libetta- who shows absolutely no interest whatsoever in revealing the beautiful counterpoint that Godowsky added.

[friendlyfinch]

This explains rather a lot. Are you sure about the part after "but" in the last sentence?

[001Asoer]

Whoa. Is your piano flat?

[CLASSICAListheWAY]

Get a haircut

[bumeyes1000]

Beautiful.

[istreba]

je trouve que c'est pas mal du tout vraiment bravo cela dit ca serait bien si l'accompagnement etait un peu moins fort car on a besoin tout de meme d'entendre mieux les deux plans sonore puis au niveau des pedales je ne suis pas toujours d'accord mais cela dit ca ce voit que vous avait bien compris l'oeuvre bravoo encore

[RedWasabii]

I'm not going to say I disagree but check out Rachmaninov playing this piece. The quality is very old but it's up on youtube.

[zzminar]

wow!. this is the only thing i can say.!! i also love this song very much~ thank you for sharing!~

[virtuosowananbe]

wow not bad. nice voicing despite the vid quality

[tzhexuan]

mind if you provide the URL for this sheet? =D thanks