Piano Music in Historic Interpretations [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Grieg's own piano recordings are so scarce that several of them have only one known copy. They are all assembled here for the first time, and then surrounded with an impressive collection of other recordings from 78s by both well-known and little-known pianists, filling three CDs. Alas, the sound on Grieg's 1903 78s is very poor and marred by flutter, and neither they nor the other recordings have been transferred with the best contemporary technology. The result is a historically important set that makes for a very grim, often unpleasant listening experience. For music historians only. --Leslie Gerber

Piano Music in Historic Interpretations, Music, Grieg, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Music

Grieg: The Piano Music In Historic Interpretations
Average customer rating:
Grieg: The Piano Music In Historic Interpretations
Various
Manufacturer: Simax Records/Premiere
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00007JQWQ
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Landon Ronald
Butterfly,Op.43, No.1 - Evard Grieg
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Evard Grieg
Remembrances, Op.71, No.7 - Evard Grieg
Pno Son, Op.7: Finale - Evard Grieg
Gangar, Op.54, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Pno Son, Op.7: Alla Menuetto - Evard Grieg
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Evard Grieg
Humoresque, Op.6, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Evard Grieg
Little Bird, Op.43, No.4 - Evard Grieg
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Percy Grainger
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Percy Grainger
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Percy Grainger
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Percy Grainger
I Know A Little Maiden, Op.17, No.16 - Percy Grainger
The Pig, Op.17, No.8 - Percy Grainger
Solfager And The Snake King, Op.17, No.12 - Percy Grainger
NIls Tallefjorden, Op.17, No.4 - Percy Grainger
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Percy Grainger
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Arthur de Greef
Humoresque, Op.6, No.2 - Arthur de Greef
Puck, Op.71, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Arthur de Greef
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Arthur de Greef

Tracks:

Album Leaf, Op.28, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Arthur de Greef
Arietta, Op.12, No.1 - Arthur de Greef
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Arthur de Greef
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Johann Stockmarr
Little Bird, Op.43, No.3 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Wilhelm Backaus
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Josef Hofman
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Rudolph Ganz
Fairy Dance, Op.12, No.4 - Rudolph Ganz
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Rudolph Ganz
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Rudolph Ganz
Waltz, Op.12, No.2 - Sergei Rachmaninov
Fairy Dance, Op.12, No.4 - Sergei Rachmaninov
From The Carnival, Op.19, No.3 - Moritz Meyer-Mahr
Berceuse, Op.38, No.1 - Moritz Meyer-Mahr
Nocturne, Op.54, No.3 - Olga Samaroff
Pno Son, Op.7: Alla Menuetto - Una Bourne
Pno Son, Op.7: Finale - Una Bourne
Folk Song, Op.12, No.5 - Una Bourne
Norwegian, Op.12, No.6 - Una Bourne
Album Leaf, Op.28, No.3 - Harold Bauer
Berceuse, Op.38, No.3 - Harold Bauer
Nocturne, Op.54, No.4 - Mary Barratt Due

Tracks:

Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Walter Gieseking
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Walter Gieseking
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Walter Gieseking
At The Cradle, Op.68, No.5 - Walter Gieseking
French Ser, Op.62, Op.3 - Walter Gieseking
Solitary Traveler, Op.43, No.2 - Walter Gieseking
Little Bird, Op.43, No.4 - Walter Gieseking
Halling, Op.71, No.5 - Robert Riefling
At Your Feet, Op.68, No.3 - Robert Riefling
Jon Vaestafae's Springar, Op.72, No.2 - Robert Riefling
The Goblins' Bridal Procession At Vossevangen, Op.72, No.14 - Robert Riefling
Solitary Traveller, Op.43, No.2 - Eileen Joyce
Melody, Op.47, No.3 - Robert Riefling
Brooklet, Op.62, No.4 - Robert Riefling
Summer's Eve, Op.71, No.2 - Robert Riefling
Scherzo-Impromptu, Op.73, No.2 - Robert Riefling
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Ivar Johnsen
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Ivar Johnsen
Puck, Op.71, No.3 - Ivar Johnsen
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Erotikon, Op.43, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Melancholy, Op.47, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
At The Cradle, Op.68, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Eva Knardahl
From The Carnival, Op.19, No.3 - Eva Knardahl
Folk Song, Op.12, No.5 - Kjell Baekkelund
Humoresque, Op.6, No.4 - Kjell Baekkelund

Grieg: The Piano Music in Historic Interpretations

Average customer rating:

Sepia album leaves from an analog age

Grieg: The Piano Music in Historic Interpretations

Manufacturer: Simax
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000454V
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Tracks:

Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Landon Ronald
Butterfly,Op.43, No.1 - Evard Grieg
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Evard Grieg
Remembrances, Op.71, No.7 - Evard Grieg
Pno Son, Op.7: Finale - Evard Grieg
Gangar, Op.54, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Pno Son, Op.7: Alla Menuetto - Evard Grieg
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Evard Grieg
Humoresque, Op.6, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Evard Grieg
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Evard Grieg
Little Bird, Op.43, No.4 - Evard Grieg
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Percy Grainger
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Percy Grainger
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Percy Grainger
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Percy Grainger
I Know A Little Maiden, Op.17, No.16 - Percy Grainger
The Pig, Op.17, No.8 - Percy Grainger
Solfager And The Snake King, Op.17, No.12 - Percy Grainger
NIls Tallefjorden, Op.17, No.4 - Percy Grainger
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Percy Grainger
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Arthur de Greef
Humoresque, Op.6, No.2 - Arthur de Greef
Puck, Op.71, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Arthur de Greef
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Arthur de Greef

Tracks:

Album Leaf, Op.28, No.3 - Arthur de Greef
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Arthur de Greef
Arietta, Op.12, No.1 - Arthur de Greef
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Arthur de Greef
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Johann Stockmarr
Little Bird, Op.43, No.3 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Fridtjof Backer-Grondahl
Bridal Procession, Op.19, No.2 - Wilhelm Backaus
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Josef Hofman
March Of The Dwarfs, Op.54, No.3 - Rudolph Ganz
Fairy Dance, Op.12, No.4 - Rudolph Ganz
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Rudolph Ganz
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Rudolph Ganz
Waltz, Op.12, No.2 - Sergei Rachmaninov
Fairy Dance, Op.12, No.4 - Sergei Rachmaninov
From The Carnival, Op.19, No.3 - Moritz Meyer-Mahr
Berceuse, Op.38, No.1 - Moritz Meyer-Mahr
Nocturne, Op.54, No.3 - Olga Samaroff
Pno Son, Op.7: Alla Menuetto - Una Bourne
Pno Son, Op.7: Finale - Una Bourne
Folk Song, Op.12, No.5 - Una Bourne
Norwegian, Op.12, No.6 - Una Bourne
Album Leaf, Op.28, No.3 - Harold Bauer
Berceuse, Op.38, No.3 - Harold Bauer
Nocturne, Op.54, No.4 - Mary Barratt Due

Tracks:

Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Walter Gieseking
To Spring, Op.43, No.6 - Walter Gieseking
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Walter Gieseking
At The Cradle, Op.68, No.5 - Walter Gieseking
French Ser, Op.62, Op.3 - Walter Gieseking
Solitary Traveler, Op.43, No.2 - Walter Gieseking
Little Bird, Op.43, No.4 - Walter Gieseking
Halling, Op.71, No.5 - Robert Riefling
At Your Feet, Op.68, No.3 - Robert Riefling
Jon Vaestafae's Springar, Op.72, No.2 - Robert Riefling
The Goblins' Bridal Procession At Vossevangen, Op.72, No.14 - Robert Riefling
Solitary Traveller, Op.43, No.2 - Eileen Joyce
Melody, Op.47, No.3 - Robert Riefling
Brooklet, Op.62, No.4 - Robert Riefling
Summer's Eve, Op.71, No.2 - Robert Riefling
Scherzo-Impromptu, Op.73, No.2 - Robert Riefling
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Ivar Johnsen
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1 - Ivar Johnsen
Puck, Op.71, No.3 - Ivar Johnsen
Pno Con, Op.16: Cadenza - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Erotikon, Op.43, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Melancholy, Op.47, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
At The Cradle, Op.68, No.5 - Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65, No.6 - Eva Knardahl
From The Carnival, Op.19, No.3 - Eva Knardahl
Folk Song, Op.12, No.5 - Kjell Baekkelund
Humoresque, Op.6, No.4 - Kjell Baekkelund

Amazon.com

Grieg's own piano recordings are so scarce that several of them have only one known copy. They are all assembled here for the first time, and then surrounded with an impressive collection of other recordings from 78s by both well-known and little-known pianists, filling three CDs. Alas, the sound on Grieg's 1903 78s is very poor and marred by flutter, and neither they nor the other recordings have been transferred with the best contemporary technology. The result is a historically important set that makes for a very grim, often unpleasant listening experience. For music historians only. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Sepia album leaves from an analog age.......2002-01-23

As the main reviewer stated, this is an album of historical recordings with often limited fidelity and with minimal digital filtration technology applied. However, this is a matter of policy rather than neglect: instead of sandblasting the surface noise out of existence at whatever the cost, a balance has been struck to assure that whatever pure instrumental timbre and nuance can be found in the grooves is allowed to remain. The result is perhaps somewhat closer to what records really sounded like in those days, but in any case, the ear can adjust to the hiss--also, to avoid the anachronistic jarring contrast between CD silence and analog "surface liveliness", the producers have filled the space between tracks with surface noise from the actual disks themselves!
For the connoisseur of historical performances of classical piano music, this album is a feast. What a treat to hear the interpretations on record and piano roll by the aging Grieg of his own music! (Another recording of Grieg accompanying his wife Nina's singing is available on the companion album "Grieg: The Vocal Music in Historic Interpretations".) And several of the oldest performers were indeed friends and colleagues of Grieg, who had the benefit of his guidance in performance stylistics.
For me, some of the highlights included performances by Grieg's friend and a wonderful Belgian aristocrat of the piano, Arthur de Greef; the characteristic rhythmic snap of Rachmaninoff's interpretations; the infinitely nuanced yet utterly natural and spacious tone paintings by the pre-war Gieseking; and characterful renditions by Grieg's younger protege, the eccentric Australian pianist Percy Grainger, in recordings ranging from 1908 to 1957. Now forgotten but once important figures such as Rudolf Ganz and Olga Samaroff are also represented, along with a number of Scandanavian pianists whose resonance with Grieg's music is evident.
The set is arranged chronologically by the date of each performer's oldest recording, and many of the same short pieces are repeated over and over (the pre-LP recorded repertoire in particular tended to be limited to the shorter, more popular pieces), so this may be an album to dip into from time to time rather than devour straight through. Nevertheless, it is utterly delightful to hear how these simple romantic pieces can take flight from the fingers of artists of a period before time was defined by atomic clocks, and followed instead the logic of the heart.