Anton Urspruch - Piano Concerto, Op. 9 (1882)

Anton Urspruch (17 February 1850 - 11 January 1907) was a German composer and pedagogue who belonged to the late German Romantic era.
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Piano Concerto in E flat major, Op. 9 (1882)
Dedication: Joachim Raff
1. Allegro ma non troppo (0:00)
2. Andante, lento e mesto (22:11)
3. Allegro, tempo giusto (28:59)
Oliver Triendl, piano and the North West German Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Georg Fritzsch
Urspruch’s Op 9 was dedicated to Raff and, not surprisingly, published by Cranz. No fire and brimstone opening for him. Instead we have pianissimo strings playing a lilting 12/8 theme that one feels might at any moment break into Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ symphony. Indeed, throughout its twenty-four minutes, the first movement rarely departs from a bucolic evocation of Alpine meadows and streams. The soloist, though constantly busy, has no bravura role with only a few moments rising above forte. Beethoven is clearly the model for the unexpected and extended cadenza at 19'12. Even here, Urspruch is reluctant to depart from his rural idyll until he abruptly calls a halt to proceedings with two sudden sforzando chords.
The slow movement, marked ‘andante’ and ‘lento e mesto’, is in 2/4 and the relative minor. Muted strings play the main subject, which the soloist decides not to take up, but rather offers a different theme. In fact, it is the woodwind (as solo or ensemble) that are foremost throughout, with the piano in accompanying mode. A brief cadential flourish (marked ‘improvisando’), followed by an unanticipated nine linking bars of fortissimo orchestral tutti (pesante e con forza), lead to a fermata and … the final movement. The solo piano presents a delightful and spirited dance tune which, momentarily, resembles ‘Mein gläubiges Herze’ from Bach’s cantata BWV68. Oboes, clarinets and bassoons then offer a contrasted, more relaxed idea, before the piano enters with a third subject, both strident and Schumannesque. These themes provide Urspruch with the material on which he can play his variations for the remainder of this energetic movement-a fugato at 5'23, for instance; the piano’s moto perpetuo above the strings’ restatement of the initial subject; a tricky version of the same theme (molto più animato) that has the pianist playing different semiquaver passagework in each hand. The music accelerates to the orchestra’s further transformation of the theme in prestissimo triplets, joined ultimately by the piano for the joyful rush to the finishing line.
from notes by Jeremy Nicholas © 2018

[@arrangeur55]

Ich finde es großartig, dass jemand wie Bartje, hier diese unbekannten Sachen postet!!!!!! Weiter so!!!!!!!!!

[@barney6888]

I really appreciate this. I'm embarrassed that I haven't heard of this composer before and frankly, it's a huge relief to hear a delightful work from this era that isn't the same "beating a dead horse" minor key, over dramatized display for the sake of it. Wonderful post, many thanks!

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und detaillierte Interpretation dieses spätromantischen und fein komponierten Konzerts mit klarem Klang des genialen Soloklaviers sowie gut vereinigten und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen der anderen Instrumente. Der zweite Satz klingt echt schön und auch melodisch. Im Kontrast klingt der dritte Satz echt lebhaft und auch begeisternd. Der intelligente und erfahrene Dirigent leitet das perfekt trainierte Orchester in verschiedenen Tempi und mit sorgfältig kontrollierter Dynamik. Faszinierend vom Anfang bis zum Ende!

[@paulescudero9973]

This is a fabulous Piano Concerto. I REALLY LOVE IT. This composer was a genious. Beethoven has nothing over him.

[@thechuckjosechannel.2702]

Anton Ursbruch and Joachim Raff are so Underrated. Merry Christmas Bartje!

[@SaintSaens0]

love Raff, best symphonies, and the piano concerto

[@blablablu3081]

Me encanta volver a escuchar este concierto. Tantos compositores tan infravalorados... Gracias.

[@user-ru8vy1uz7c]

Bravo bravo bravo fantastic brilliance grandiose music concerto super wow wow wow

[@yuehchopin]

Danke 3x

[@pietervoogt]

Listening to this and I just realize this was written in the year my house was build. I love this period, late 19th century

[@janhoppezak9731]

fantastic!!!!

[@adeemuff]

I have known the second movement for years. To me, it is one of the most beautiful mournful excerpts in the piano+orchestra literature.

[@he01gjs]

A favorite in the long list of unknown pianoconcertos.

[@music-nerd6776]

Thanks for this upload! I like your channel very much! ❤

[@csababekesi-marton2393]

Grossartig. Danke schön! Merry Christmas to you and to your family.

[@thomaskendall452]

That's one genial piano concerto! And the soloist has so many many many notes to play!

[@owengette8089]

The soloist is Oliver Triendl, a key performer in bringing lesser-known repertoire to recording. An absolute legend in my eyes.

[@thomaskendall452]

@@owengette8089 Triendl sure has the virtuosic chops to play this. And agree, my hat is off to him for learning and playing these recherché piano concertos.

[@maximilianb.8789]

Merry Christmas to everyone reading and the Batje ofc🤗

[@barney6888]

Does anyone out there have a recommendation for audio equipment that allows for orchestral clarity without brittleness? I know that's a bit off topic, but in as much as we love this type of music, I was just hoping for something that would bring out violas in orchestral textures. The post sounds great, I just need to upgrade.

[@erhtm3030]

Admirable

[@owengette8089]

I've been looking for this score for months! Where was it? Also, I have to point out the beautiful, unbridled joy of 6:46/15:41

[@TheodoreServin]

I saw you could buy the score on Repertoire-Explorer, the German rare sheet music reprinting company.

[@user-lj1sc9bs4t]

私の意見ではピアノパートは良いのにオケは良いとは言えません,非常に勿体ないです