Bernhard Stavenhagen (1862-1914): Chopin-Liszt - My Joys

Stavenhagen was something of a child prodigy, whose final teacher was Liszt, who thought very highly of his playing. He began learning withLiszt in 1885 and accompanied him on his tours for the last two years of his life, acting as personal secretary when Friedheim was unable to do so. Thus in 1886 he accompanied Liszt on his own last concert tour to England, and Liszt helped to launch his career as concert pianist. Stavenhagen went on to a highly successful international concert career both as pianist and, later, conductor.

The lack of any suriving recordings by him is a great loss. One recording known to have been made is now assumed lost (Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat op. 27 no.2). He did leave a few piano rolls for the Welte system though, made in 1904 or 1905.

This recording of a Liszt transcription of a Chopin Polish Song has come into my possession though, and it purports to be Stavenhagen playing. My initial explanation is that somehow this is a very early disc transfer of the piano roll made by Stavenhagen of this work (this roll was made for Welte, but I have not heard it). Either that, or it is not Stavenhagen, or it is a newly found recording by him. So please, if anyone knows who is playing this please do say.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bernhard
• stavenhagen
• [piano
• classical
• recording
• liszt
• chopin
• my
• joys
• mes
• joies
• chants
• Polonaise

[Alanpini]

Thanks - there is supposed to be a roll of Hungarian rhapsody no.12 by Stavenhagen...would love to hear it :-)

[d60944]

Go to my profile and check out my playlists - it is posted there in the Stavenhagen playlist (though don't hold your breath, as it's a not the greatest roll-audio conversion)

[pianopera]

I think your supposition is correct: it might be a primitive recording of a piano roll.

The website of the Reproducing Piano Roll Foundation mentions it (in the rollography) as Welte no. 1035.

As happens so often with rolls, tempi are sometimes distorted (impossible speed of octaves etc.) but still we can hear an echo of a very original and highly virtuosic pianist.

BTW how did you get this?

[d60944]

The sound file was gifted to me, kindly!

[MrGer2295]

BERNARD STAVENHAGEN (24 November 1862 – 25 December 1914) was a German pianist, composer and conductor. His musical style was influenced by Franz Liszt, and as a conductor he was a strong advocate of new music.

MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you for sharing this Wonderful video.

[LazlosPlane]

@1Thompsonmusic No. 8 and one half hours a day. 8 won't cut it at all. 

[gerardbedecarter]

Wensleydale Press WP018 CD3 track 6 contains a recording of a playback on a Yamaha grand piano of Stavenhagen playing 'My Joys' by Chopin/Liszt from Welte vorsetzer roll no. 1035 cut on 9 December 1905. See 'Rediscovering the Liszt Tradition' by Gerard Carter, p. 87. This book includes '3 CDs of historic reproducting piano recordings of Franz Liszt's piano works performed by his celebrated Weimar pupils' and was published by Wensleydale Press, Sydney in 2006). Excellent sound. Track time: 3:54.

[SophieMenter]

Very interesting. Thanks for uploading it.

[theguyof1900]

was this done on a cylinder recoreding????? because it kinda sounds like it????>

[arwena55]

it sounds as the signals from the universe, I imagine on the base of the rest that I can hear it is a very fine interpretation