Nikolai Medtner ‒ 6 Skazki, Op.51

[@orvillewrightjr9330]

I was exposed to Medtner and Rachmaninoff as a young child; in as much as, my teachers then studied with Mdme. Olga Conus, who headed piano studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory. She was a friend of both Rachmaninoff and Medtner at the Moscow Imperial Conservatory, where all of them studied piano. I once got a glimpse of Medtner's notebooks, by Alverda Fitzgerald who was a pupil of Conus. I am now especially glad that Medtner has recently been resurrected by Tozer, Hamelin, et al. I have played some of the Skazi, Op. 26, 51 and several sonatas over the years; and though these have 'ripened' the longer that I've played them, I will probably never achieve the finesse and fluidity of Tozer's and Hamelin's and the others' performances; which is why it gives me such joy and pleasure to listen to these performances. Thank you very much for these posts.

[@brynbstn]

Geoffrey Tozer was a great pianist, his name should be more well known among pianophiles. He brings spoonfuls of natural musicality to every bar, understands Medtner better than most pianists, imo. Also, he was a proponent of Medtner before Hamelin's recordings brought him back into focus. Tozer's recordings of the Medtner concertos are worth checking out.

[@JonathanKofi]

You're right. His rendition of the concerti are the best I've heard!

[@stephenwatkins8951]

(necroing) Tozer does well in a few of these, but I'm not sure he's a good representative in his other Medtner recordings (of pieces I'm more familiar with, anyway). He tends to be muddy with his articulation or fuzzy on the actual notes played -- like in the Sonata-Ballade, Tozer's recording ignores expression markings and he misses more notes than I can stand. I'll almost always recommend Hamelin if you want clarity and brilliance, Milne for a more pensive feel, and Tozer only if you want some texture but don't care what the music actually says. Which might be fine for some music, but not Medtner, whose formal genius (particularly in the sonatas) relies heavily on thematic development and precision, more than on general texture and feel.

[@brynbstn]

@@stephenwatkins8951 Your ideas are quite detailed and crystallized, however they are generalized across recordings, and, like all perceptions of music, Subjective, despite your objective tone. If you want to get serious about compare and contrast performers, you need to go Apple to Apple, with something of all of us have access to - so why not look at Sonata Reminiscenza , available here on YT by both Hamelin and Tozer.

[@vaclavmiller8032]

​@@stephenwatkins8951 Despite being a huge Hamelin fan, his Medtner is actually not my favourite, and, indeed, I prefer Tozer; the former's interpretations of Medtner in particular actually sound far less considered and cohesive to my ear, despite his often-clearer articulation, and the latter brings such wonderful sensitivity to his playing. Regardless, my favourite recording of the Sonata Ballade is actually the composer's own (though I haven't noticed the extreme liberties Tozer takes with the score that you are talking about [and have played the piece myself, albeit a few years ago]).

[@zackwyvern2582]

Tozer was the most prolific major pianist who championed Medtner, and he's definitely the most reliable pianist to hear for Medtner. I have no doubt that in certain pieces he is bettered with more modern readings, but it never hurts to start with Tozer as a baseline. Of course, Tozer's dominance is especially clear in the miniatures; as for specific larger pieces, I'd say that the 1st PC, the Tragica's alternative take (together with Earl Wild and Sudbin's live), and the Minaciossa are his domain. But it's true, I think undeniably, that at present Tozer's claim to fame is in his thorough championing of Medtner, which is unfortunate. I don't know why you would ever listen to Milne, honestly (Spotify convenience?). Hamelin is only good with the 2nd PC, where he is currently definitive. Realistically, the only true contender to Tozer's consistency is perhaps Sudbin, who recorded some Medtner and put out some fantastic recordings with brilliant precision and energy combined.

[@johnbeuck]

1:57 is so unbelievably beautiful

[@SCRIABINIST]

No.3 is like the most adorable thing written ever.

[@samh1996]

Absolute masterpieces. The title ‘fairytale’ is so photorealistic for each piece. These works aren’t as overly dramatic and depressing as Rachmaninoff’s pieces, and yet the music is still thoughtful and passionate. The harmonies sound bitter at times but work perfectly to suit the semi-sarcastic sounding nature of these fairytale evoking pieces which sound like difficult children’s piano pieces.

[@atmplayspiano]

Medtner never fails to be original. I love the Tozer recordings so much- they really capture the music.

[@teodorb.p.composer]

My most favourite medtner's skazkis! I love this interpretation.

[@tomekkobialka]

Full of so much originality...as to be expected from Medtner! Thank you for posting.

[@Whatismusic123]

because originality is all he had

[@tomekkobialka]

@@Whatismusic123 edgy

[@LukeFaulkner]

Tozer always gets to the heart of Medtner.

[@Resplencemelodi]

Took me a while to appreciate Medtner as much as I do Scriabin. I think I understand now.

[@SimonPiano42]

Welcome to the club! It can be an aquired taste. Next: Nikolai Kapustin, Alkan, Stockhausen. (jk with the last one)

[@Resplencemelodi]

I think I admire Alkan. But I'm not entirely sure of his originality @@SimonPiano42

[@flyingpenandpaper6119]

I would have thought it was the other way around. But both are undoubtedly fantastic.

[@SeigneurReefShark]

@@SimonPiano42 why joke with the last one, its pretty fun to listen to tbh

[@SimonPiano42]

@@SeigneurReefShark heh, i think the joke was supposed to be the scale of accessibility, Stockhausen is quite a bit less accessible than the others. But yeah, i don't have anything against Stockhausen, though i'm not a fan of his klavierstücke (piano pieces).

[@seonyonghwang]

I love this piece.

[@SeigneurReefShark]

you should record it !

[@teodorb.p.composer]

I didn't know you like Medtner, he is the GOAT! You should play some his piece!

[@benisaschahorowitz4576]

Medtner è un grande compositore per pianoforte e mi meraviglio che in occidente non lo si suoni più frequentemente, anche come brani per i bis. Io conosco pochi occidentali che lo sanno veramente interpretare: Tozer, Hamelin e Milne e mi scuso con gli altri che non mi sono noti, ma penso che siano comunque ben rari! Si porterebbe una nota speciale nei concerti...

[@sama.4471]

I love all six of these amazing pieces but I have to say, the first one really stands out to me as an absolute masterpiece of pianistic storytelling. Medtner's constant unfolding of one theme into another really is quite brilliant

[@steinwaygrande3971]

Just makes me wonder how many forgotten pianists and composers there are ?

[@Medtnaculuss]

+Steinwaygrande Too many to count! Hopefully with the help of some of these other youtube channels, we can shed the light on some more.

[@steinwaygrande3971]

+Medtnaculus Hopefully someone like you can uncover hidden gems such as this. Good luck :-)

[@steinwaygrande3971]

Maybe to you, but I had never heard of him until I saw this.

[@Medtnaculuss]

Steinwaygrande Give some K. Eiges' works a listen. Have a few uploaded here.

[@steinwaygrande3971]

Okay I will listen shortly. Many thanks

[@AlonBennesPiano]

How did I just now discovered this amazing gem! Medtner takes Grieg's storytelling potential to its maximum purity by unraveling it from its awkwardness...

[@НадеждаБогданова-р7э]

Спасибо!

[@ThankYouKiwi]

Thank you! I recently got into Medtner and this is yet another masterpiece to add to the playlist!!

[@honoratamusica]

Fantastic pieces.

[@TiticatFollies]

I LOVE MEDTNER.

[@andreamoscatelli4266]

What an astonishing interpretation of such brilliant pieces ❤️

[@ДинаШихова-э6д]

Какая светлая музыка,прекрасное исполнение,браво.

[@peterparker3219]

Oh mein Gott sind das tolle Stücke

[@МаринаШалина-п2ы]

Спасибо за красивую музыку в прекрасном исполнении.

[@opustravels3659]

Love the 3rd and 6th!

[@tynka.j]

amazing pieces!

[@oosallytomatooo1321]

After listening to this masterpiece, I am really wondering to what extent Prokofiev took inspiration from it for his 7th piano sonata!

[@earthwater9964]

Genius composer. Not for nothing Rachmaninoff felt him to be greatest Russian composer. Just nuts.

[@MooPotPie]

The sheer harmonic skill demonstrated in the section starting @ 2:54 is absolutely breathtaking.

[@williamshakemilk2192]

Is no. 2 e minor or a dorian? Pretty sure it’s a dorian.

[@TiticatFollies]

Delightful!

[@samaritan29]

0:15 man went full russian mode (rush E ...anyone...?)

[@erezsolomon3838]

I've noticed that too, haha 😆

[@Bulbophile]

2:56 culdB Rachmaninov's red riding hood etude ('fairty tale'), op 39 no 6. Pianist Tozer's a machine. Great playing. 5:40, opening culd almost be the dreamy Rach etude op 39 no 8 in single notes. 8:50, the soundtrack to Once upon A Time. Skazki = fairy tales, and very well named by the composer

[@williamshakemilk2192]

Once upon a time sounds familiar to me. Is it a Ghibli movie or something? All I can find is some american drama.

[@atmplayspiano]

What's good to Rachmaninoff is good to me!

[@kuang-licheng402]

nice

[@PrestissimoMasterStation]

No. 1 Allegro molto vivace … e sempre leggierissimo used in Tokyo 2020.

[@jokiro7777]

Can you PLEASE reposition where your ads start!!!!!!!!! The ads consistently play in the middle of a piece and not at the end. Please change it!!!

[@_cytosine]

Adblock

[@hayley4494]

✨✨

[@ilway25]

Why is it 6 skazki (сказки), not 6 skazok (сказок)?

[@DAVEDIKIAN]

In russian the plural often changes the ending of the word

[@لاكُبيفٍترِسّ]

2nd song sounds like assassins creed black flag theme

[@fastfingers110]

this sound fast to me maybe better a bit slower

[@revivalofthefittestonlythe2757]

Hipster classical