Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Hob:XVI, Nos. 42, 48-52

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
At one point in his life, Gould projected recording a complete Haydn sonata cycle. It's a terrible pity he never got to it, for if he had, the music itself would doubtless be more popular than it is today. Gould himself realized that Haydn's solo keyboard music was generally of higher quality than Mozart's, and we can only be grateful that he did get around to making this delightful set containing the last six sonatas. Aside from his gifts as a musician, Gould was also one of the funniest artists of this century, just as Haydn was in his day. This meeting of two great comics makes for some highly memorable listening. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI: 42: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI: 42: II. Vivace assai
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: II. Rondo: Presto
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 49: I. Allegro
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 49: II. Adagio e cantabile
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 49: III. Finale: Tempo di Minuet

Tracks:

Sonata In C Major, Hob. XVI: 50: I. Allegro
Sonata In C Major, Hob. XVI: 50: II. Adagio
Sonata In C Major, Hob. XVI: 50: III. Allegro molto
Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI: 51: I. Andante
Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI: 51: II. Finale: Presto
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 52: I. Allegro
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 52: II. Adagio
Sonata In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI: 52: III. Finale: Presto

Amazon.com essential recording

At one point in his life, Gould projected recording a complete Haydn sonata cycle. It's a terrible pity he never got to it, for if he had, the music itself would doubtless be more popular than it is today. Gould himself realized that Haydn's solo keyboard music was generally of higher quality than Mozart's, and we can only be grateful that he did get around to making this delightful set containing the last six sonatas. Aside from his gifts as a musician, Gould was also one of the funniest artists of this century, just as Haydn was in his day. This meeting of two great comics makes for some highly memorable listening. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

SOME MAY ENJOY THESE REALIZATIONS..........2006-05-19

I, however, as a GG fan of nearly 40 years find it sad that he wasted his last years tinkering around with Haydn's banalities.

Anyone who thinks Haydn was greater than Mozart has a screw loose; anyone who hates Gould's Mozart likewise has a screw loose.

When I think of the great pieces GG could have realized in his late days, it nearly makes me weep that he wasted his time on Haydn. GG should have instead completed his projected Scriabin cycle--at least giving us Scriabin's last five exquisite sonatas. Then, GG could have played and over-dubbed and played with his own recording Schoenberg's piano transcriptions of his two chamber symphonies. What a loss for humanity GG trifled with Haydn!

On the other hand, Gould was only a human being: he had his anxieties: perhaps Haydn's simplicities smoothed it out for him.

Anyway, from my view GG could almost do no wrong; therefore, some of you may enjoy these readings. Cheers.

Not Haydn!!!.......2005-05-25

This just is not Haydn.I am referring to the last of the sonatas where Gould is glibly parading his pianistic skills.Sounds more like a practice session.David Hurwitz has rightly called him more or less a joker!Hurwitz is dead wrong in including Joseph Haydn(not Papa Haydn-a condescending phrase)along with Gould.Haydn's sonatas are full of grace and sunny cheerfulness.There are also some incredible tender moments unmatched by any other composer(including Beethoven ,Mozart).Just to illustrate this listen to the same last sonata by Sviatoslav Richter.There is a great yearning and haunting tenderness(Totally murdered here by Gould!).Watch Richter perform this beautiful work in the DVD 'Richter:The Enigma'.Richter clearly explains the greatness of Haydn-The Freshness and Humaneness that is Franz Joseph Haydn.I also recommend Haydn's Piano Trios by the Beaux Arts Trio-Another marvellous collection.For a complete collection of Haydn's Piano sonatas I strongly recommend Jeno Jando on Naxos-Excellently performed and do not miss any of Richter's Haydn Sonatas wherever they are.

Heavy Handed Haydn!.......2005-02-16

This was actually the very first recordings of Haydn's Piano Sonatas that I ever heard. After they heightened my curiousity to a new high, I decided to try other artists performing these great works. First, 1989 and 2003 recordings from Emanual Ax, then Mikhail Pletnev. Compared to the others, Gould seems to give Haydn a heavy touch. At times he really pounds the keys hard! The music is ALWAYS compelling in his hands. Ax and Pletnev have a much softer almost "Chopinish" touch that to me, doesn't always work. Highly recommended!

Interesting recordings.......2004-08-02

Glenn Gould interest for Haydn was for many of his followers a weird challenge . Since Haydn piano music has always been ranked to intermediate priorities for the most of the pianists, his music has been somehow in a kind of zero atmosphere just waiting for someone who really loves his spirit.
The list is really reduced.
In the forties a spectacular hungarian pianist : Eddie Farnadi .
In the fifties , I remind two remarkable pianists: Nadia Reisenberg and Paul Badura Skoda.
In the sixties Backhaus.
In the early seventies , Malcom Frager . But in the last seventies and early eighties Andras Schiff recorded a very important series of Haydn piano works .
In this sense Gould decided to break the prejuices about the naifness about Haydn piano sonatas and certainly he played Haydn without that kind of affection so typical .
His performances became in a revelation . The frehness interpretative , the inherent humor sense , and the remarkable intention in considering a Haydn with his own musical stature and not viewed as a minor Mozart or a composer who belonged to a determined age .
These esthetic considerations affect in superlative degree the final product you play .
Consider for instance two brief examples . Are you sure about the Czerny sonata (Hilda Sommer)is just a minor work ? or the preschumannian sonata Op. 8 of Norbert Burgmuller (Adrian Ruiz) is just a classic and minor piece , only because Burgmuller lived only twenty six years? .
Gould accepted the challenge and won .
Acquire this set and you will be rewarded. Independently if you are a minor admirer about Haydn piano music. You will not be disappointed.

A Meeting of Musical Minds.......2004-05-28

This is my favorite Glenn Gould recording, as well as my favorite recording of any of Haydn's music. In a word, it is...Magical! This is also one of the best piano recordings I have ever heard. The joy, wit and humor of this music simply sparkle through your loudspeakers! You can't help but come away feeling enlightened and refreshed after listening to this disk. This is truly a "meeting of the minds". Although this recording is from the earliest days of digital, it sounds remarkable - whereas most digital recordings from this period sound like s**t. We are blessed that Glenn Gould was able to deliver to us this thoroughly enjoyable recording before his premature demise. I only wish that he had had the chance to record all of Haydn's piano sonatas.

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