Arthur Friedheim (1859-1932): Chopin - Funeral March

Arthur Friedheim was a pupil of Liszt from the late 1870s, and acted as Liszt's secretary during the 1880s until Liszt's death in 1886, with daily contact and experience of all that Liszt did in that period: he is our best witness to Liszt's performance and thoughts from that time. Liszt greatly admired Friedheim's playing, declaring that his interpretation of his now famous B minor piano sonata was just as he wanted it to have been (there was a piano roll made by Friedheim of the sonata, for the Triphonola company: If anyone knows of the whereabouts of this roll I'd like to hear about it - the roll is thought lost, but if it still exists it would be one of the most important musical documents in the history of piano performance and it needs to be preserved in digital media and performance).

Friedheim's own playing was exceptionally aristocratic and elevated. There is a sense of what we now call "classicism" to his interpretations. Control, balance and concentration. The few recordings he made are fascinating.

I am also putting a few piano roll recordings of Friedheim online to give a better idea of this pianist, as the acoustic recordings stretch to so few minutes.

This recording of the Funeral March from Chopin's piano sonata no. 2 op. 35 dates from 1912/13.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• arthur
• friedheim
• chopin
• funeral
• march
• sonata
• op.35
• recording
• piano
• classica

[d60944]

It is a startlingly intense and emotive performance isn't it? - unexpected compared the general prevailing "noble" and "poised" interpretations we are used to from this era. I think this blows just about all the other pre-stereo recordings out of the water (even Friedheim's other recording of it - he recorded this twice). More like the Eroica symphony than our normal understanding of Chopin. A shame there wasn't room to record the full movement with the return of the opening material at the end.

[HelveteKeiser]

I looove it when the recording is OLD,and the tape makes those little noises!

[blackcorridors]

this is probably the most important upload I've seen and heard in youtube. thank you

[Noshirm]

@d60944 How agonizing that the entire movement wasn't recorded! :-/ To hear Friedheim's few discs is such a thrill and privilege. I wish he had recorded far more than he did. :-(

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY d60944 for posting.

[chipirriti]

Unvaluable upload, thx for share this

[gerardbedecarter]

There is a large amount of melody-delaying in the Db section.

[happygolucky2000]

Beautiful calm interlude; by far the best I've heard

[OldMrMemories]

Song for 2012

[ednuttah]

the same year the TItantic went down. This is a gold Recording!

[abuhm]

I agree, great version but still prefer Rachmaninoff's one

[morvensky]

His is dark and atmospheric. I like that but I prefer Rachmaninoff's which is more march like and sadder.

[phsycopathicduckie]

bloody splindid!!!