Ignaz Moscheles: Allegro giocoso; No. 6 from 24 Studien Op. 70

The Czech pianist and composer Ignaz Moscheles (1794-1870) was one of the most significant musicians of the 19th century. A friend of Beethoven, he was a major inpiration to Mendelssohn, and influenced the work of Schumann and Brahms. Like his friends Clementi and Cramer his work was rooted in the classical style, but his work sometimes displays a sober early-Romantic monumentality typical of Berlioz's choral works. The Op. 70 studies, written in 1825-6 are often ignored in favour of Moscheles' designated 'concert studies', but contain some fine music. They were dedicated to Dionys Weber, his teacher at the Prague Conservatory.

I have to say that this piece was not in my initial group of studies I recorded for the very good reason that the repeated chords are hard to do on modern pianos (except those with very light actions) and this has an awkward page turn! It is also quite taxing. Moscheles himself instructed: 'The difficulties of this Lesson must be so performed as to maintain throughout an apparent character of great ease and playfulness' - easier said than done, for me at least! If you can excuse the odd incorrect/missed note and one audible edit at the page turn I hope I have given an idea of what it sounds like. This is not readily available on CD (as far as I know) and I have uploaded this at the request of a viewer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------­------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• classical
• Czech
• Bohemian

[sjvcodbgek]

your technique is so great, congratulations!!! (I play the piano too)

[PSearPianist]

@sjvcodbgek That's very kind. There is of course room for improvement, and I am always limited by a small stretch between second and fifth fingers, and there is nothing I can do about that!

[MsMymichael]

I really enjoyed your performance.

I am wondering if you want to perform Michael's PIANO SONATA –

Michael’s fun club.

[PSearPianist]

@MsMymichael Thank you for the offer. The sonata has been recorded twice on YouTube, and I am not sure that I would be able to add anything to what the two pianists have already done. I would not have any immediate opportunities to perform it here in the UK.

[tempmay2004]

Bravo! This is a very beautiful piece. I could not find it anywhere for sale.

[PSearPianist]

@tempmay2004 Thank you - and apologies for not replying sooner! You can download the complete set of studies from IMSLP.

[tzapko1983]

me too lol

[PSearPianist]

@TheRequiemMaster999 It is a very good choice - good luck with your exam!

[TheRequiemMaster999]

I'm going to play this piece for my exams...

It's very beautiful...

[PSearPianist]

Thank you for that!