Arthur de Greef - Piano Concerto No. 1 (1914)

[@bowerdw]

I am a persistent listener of classical music. I took piano lessons (hated practice). I sang in the church choir, my high school chorus, a couple of community choruses, and college and seminary choruses. I am far from being a walking encyclopedia of music. Still, I thought I was aware of the great masters. Only . . . Only I have found out because of contributors to KZbin, I really don't know what is available. My music listening world is small. This is one of many piano concertos now available that expands my listening world far beyond what I imagined was available. I found it a delightful listen.

[@alexandersandved6664]

We really are blessed to live in an age where such great art is accessible for free.

[@bowerdw]

@@alexandersandved6664 It is my understanding advertising money is making some of this possible, sort of like the old television days before cable. Personally, I couldn't grow a large enough collection to have access to all the great works available to us. So whatever makes it possible, I appreciate it.

[@christopherrobertson7723]

I completely agree…it’s a big world out there! This piece is gorgeous, and should be played on the radio often.

[@donaldauguston9740]

Thank you, Bartje. I appreciate hearing something uncommon like this wonderful work. I also thought this pianist was outstanding. Have a good weekend, DA

[@vaultyshq]

Exceptional piano writing! All options are actually effective!

[@christianwouters6764]

I see here a rhytmic diversity not found in other contemporary composers. Very original concerto ! I personally met his grandson, he was director of the music academy in Antwerp.

[@Reuben_95]

The asset lent is one of the most wistful pieces I’ve ever heard! So lush! 🥰

[@MedtnerLin]

The contrast between the climax and the serene part near the end of mov.I is so dramatic, like waking up from the sweetest dream ever, then a sense of emptiness and nostalgia ensues.

[@jameslorenz3718]

Thanks for uploading. You don't make any money off of it, yet you always deliver.

[@dmitrysofronov8624]

One of the most unusual concertos of the times. An awesome piece. Thank you for posting.

[@robertcohn8858]

An exciting and passionate performance. It's incredible that I've never listened to this magnificent work. Bravo! Thank you so much for posting.

[@fransmeersman2334]

Thank you for this splendid piano concerto. Luckily there is the channel "Bartje Bartmans" who also pays attention to music of the Netherlands and Belgium.

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Really outstanding piece of music - fabulously performed ♥♥♥

[@alessandropelizzoli6613]

More similar to a Concertante Symphony than to a Post- Romantic Piano Concerto, the writing and the spirit seems a blend of Franck' s Symphonic Variations with some device inspired by Moszkowsky' s Concerto op 59... Beautiful and refined modulations and elegant writing in pianistic technique. Really Interesting. Thanks.

[@bomcabedal]

I think it's more that both De Greef and Moszkowski wear their Lisztian inspiration on their sleeve.

[@nkeuphonium]

Thank you for uploading this. That initial melody is so beautifully simple, and then it's a lot of fun to look for it popping up throughout the rest of the piece! :)

[@ronaldbeech6587]

Scherzo sounds like the Pierne piano concerto - I love it!

[@Emilien-hy3sy]

Superbe concerto!

[@RodrigoElorduy]

The third movement is very beautiful and inspired! Love this concreto! Thanks!

[@RodrigoElorduy]

Concerto! Sorry!@user-bricksandM1311

[@cminor3016]

thank you🎉now i want to go live in brussels

[@jasonmikolajewski2653]

There is something special in the work that came out of antebellum France and Belgium that the Great War stole forever.

[@SergioLOSOWICH]

Wooow sounds fantastic! Thanks for share it 👌

[@chaoshead77]

so beautiful

[@brettworkman7012]

The style reminds me a bit of César Franck's. Beautiful!

[@fredericchopin7538]

Marvelous!

[@jamesbond9998]

I did not know he was born in Leuven. Fortunately he has a (small) street in Leuven, close to the botanical garden.

[@martinvanheusden9832]

Wat een fantastische muziek (waarom oh waarom komt het pas nu tot mij???)

[@fyrexianoff]

really great work, made me laugh and cry at the same time.

[@Reuben_95]

Glad someone else sees the humour in classical works. I mentioned I found another classical piece funny on this channel and got hounded by the uploader for it! 😕

[@bartjebartmans]

The humor aspect is often completely overlooked in music. Now, that would be an interesting study!

[@Reuben_95]

@@bartjebartmans that would be actually! A good dissertation topic... I’m glad you see the humour in these types of pieces now! 😁

[@makytondr8607]

@@Reuben_95 interesting! Didn’t really notice it at first but now that I think about it certain motifs (especially in the brass section) are very humorous and ironic sounding.

[@yuehchopin]

Schön kennenzulernen, danke

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und lyrische Interpretation dieses spätromantischen und perfekt komponierten Konzerts mit klarem Klang des genialen Soloklaviers und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen der anderen Instrumente. Der dritte Satz klingt besonders schön und echt lyrisch. Der erfahrene und intelligente Maestro dirigiert das perfekt trainierte Orchester im angemessenen Tempo und mit angenehmer Dynamik. Wahrlich hörenswert!

[@leoinsf]

Definitely not a product of youth, the concerto is understated and quietly compelling in its lush harmonic and thematic development. It is the piano concerto that Delius might have written.

[@alonzocasas2418]

Ah, but he did! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZese56Lj5erhMk

[@leoinsf]

@@alonzocasas2418 Alonzo, after I wrote this I remembered that Delius did write a piano concerto. Oops! Delius' piano concerto is pure Delius, but ultimately a minor work. (I think he also wrote a violin concerto which is much better.) I have played his Violin/Piano Sonata with a friend.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Delius would never have written a work like this!

[@CK-kd5pn]

Reminiscent of Christine's initial part in Beneath a Moonless Sky from Love Never Dies

[@dalsegno1251]

Good greef!

[@xavierbordes1373]

j'aime ce concerto musical avant d'être virtuose. Climat d'une intense et originale modestie, avec une intéressante fécondité imaginative...

[@sneddypie]

happy birtdhay mr greef

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

🎉mexico🇲🇽 👏 👏 👏 👏 2,024 🫶💌

[@indigobat]

does anyone know where I can find sheet music with full orchestration?

[@sapper4711]

between Schumann, Grieg and Rachmaninov with a hint of Liszt...

[@ricardomoure8865]

Excellent description...you know about it

[@markleneker9923]

Let's not give the uploader any de Greef for this.

[@janjacobi127]

Scherzo is reminiscent to the Grieg piano concerto with a twist of Liszt

[@bomcabedal]

De Greef was the fits (IIRC) to record Grieg's concerto, and he was also a friend of the composer. It's on KZbin, and it sounds remarkably modern apart from the recording quality: played fairly "straight", with hardly any of the flourishes or improvisations that are so typical of early 20th century pianism.

[@owengette8089]

0:28 30:26

[@christophedevos3760]

It is decent, but it lacks a bit 'animation' in the orchestral parts (a bit more counterpoint/development perhaps?). And sometimes the orchestration for the brass sounds not very good. But ok...l'

[@darkcesar9383]

The beginning sounds like Kate Bush's Babooshka

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

Very nice piece if you don't mind how old fashioned it is. Hey Arthur, this is 1914 and the world is changing.

[@bartjebartmans]

Music never changes. It is timeless. Dates are temporary and in the end pointless.

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

@@bartjebartmans You missed my point entirely. When people write music, or do anything, that is seriously out of date there is always a question about its merits.

[@bartjebartmans]

@@stephenjablonsky1941 not for me.

[@sbareg]

When the music is that original and inspired, I consider merit secondary, tertiary even. Come on, music doesn't have to be a competition... Besides, some of the best composers were considered old fashioned or conservatives (Bach or Mendelssohn for example). There can even be merit in artistic integrity, when your inspiration doen't follow musical avant-garde.

[@joeboyle5864]

@@stephenjablonsky1941 Change is not necessarily improvement. 1914 changed everything- but you’d not want to relive The Marne. Many things in music are not merely meritorious in the moment- they are eternal verities. Bach sounds as good in 2021 as he did in 1721.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Of course this music has no connection with ANY of the composers mentioned below, purely by it's own construction. Belgium composers (and there have been many of them) have failed to make any impact on the international platform and the reason is simple. They're just not good enough, and to mention them in the same breath as the "masters" boarders on the ridiculous. Incidentally, I actually enjoyed this concerto! :-)

[@dordiwesterlund2528]

Did you ever hear about Beethoven, for example? Van Ockeghem?

[@dordiwesterlund2528]

Orlando Lassus? Susato?

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@dordiwesterlund2528 Ummmmm? I think I've heard of Beethoven !!! But wasn't he born in Bonn in 1770? Johannes Ockeghem lived in the 15th century and mainly wrote choral music. He was actually born in the Netherlands that later became part of Belgium. So I'm not sure what you're trying to say, as neither composers are Belgium.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@dordiwesterlund2528 Orlando Lassus was also born in the Netherlands that later became part of Belgium. Tielman Susato was born where? .....................you've guessed it The Netherlands. :-) :-) but he lived in Antwerp, so I guess you could say he was Belgium. I was born in a place called Croydon, but it became part of London. So I suppose I should tell everyone I was born in London now.

[@dordiwesterlund2528]

@@DavidA-ps1qr I don't care where they were born. They were Belgian. It's not because Belgium did not exist at the time that they were not Belgian. Or did anyone ever hear about "Dutch polyphony"??

[@robert-skibelo]

I really enjoy looking at these scores from which musicians have actually learnt and performed. This one is remarkable because even though it is autographed by the composer, it has seen plenty of use. Perhaps there is a story behind it - a gift from the composer to a friend or pupil? Are such scores from your personal collection, or are they facsimiles from public collections accessible online? [Edit: Ok, now that I spell it correctly, I can find a bit about Berthe Laventurier in google. Friend and interpreter, it would seem.]

[@bartjebartmans]

Some of the scores are personal, but most are from IMSLP.

[@brunosipavicius7867]

I liked to find this Belgian composer here. Thanks for posting. Cheers from São Paulo, Brazil.

[@10mimu]

amém outro brasileiro aqui