Piano Concerto No. 3 (Ries)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 55, by German composer Ferdinand Ries was written around 1813. It was composed in the proto-Romantic style, similar to the concertos of Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and anticipates stylistic developments of future Romantic composers.
History
[edit]The manuscript bears the notation "St. Petersburg 1812", suggesting it was begun there [a]. In any case, it was probably [b] begun in 1812 and finished later, and most likely the fifth of Ries's eight piano concertos to be written.[c][2]
The concerto was not published until 1815, when it was published by N. Simrock in Bonn with a dedication to Muzio Clementi.
Connection to Franz Liszt
[edit]This piece, according to the diary of Adam Liszt, father of Franz Liszt, was the piano piece being played by Adam which "completely absorbed" Franz in his "sixth year"; following this he incessantly begged to be taught the piano.[3]
Movements
[edit]This work follows the traditional three-movement structure:
- Allegro maestoso
- Larghetto – (attacca)
- Rondo: Allegretto
The first movement bears a strong resemblance to the music of period composers such as J. N. Hummel, John Field, or Friedrich Kalkbrenner. The second theme is in A-flat major (the dominant major enharmonic to G-sharp) rather than the expected E major. The second movement, in A major, anticipates the stylistic idiom of the music of Frédéric Chopin. The third movement, a fast 2/4, begins deceptively in C-sharp major, but actually its home key is in C-sharp minor, in which key the movement (and the work) ends.
Recordings
[edit]Notable recordings of this composition include:
| Pianist | Conductor | Orchestra | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felicja Blumental | Theodore Guschlbauer | Salzburg Chamber Orchestra | Brana Records | 1968 | CD |
| Maria Littauer | Alois Springer | Hamburg Symphony Orchestra | Vox | 1972 | CD |
| Christopher Hinterhuber | Uwe Grodd | Gävle Symphony Orchestra | Naxos | 2006 | CD |
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Bradley 2007
- ^ Verzeichniss von Musikalien welche in der Falterschen Musikhandlung at Google Books, by Falterische Musikhandlung
- ^ Walker, Alan. Franz Liszt, The Virtuoso Years,1811-1847, Cornell University Press, 1983, pp.58-9.
- Sources
- Badley, Allan (2007). Ries, F.: Piano Concertos, Vol. 2 - No. 3/Introduction and Polonaise/Variations on Swedish National Airs (CD). Naxos Records. 8.557844.
- McGorray, Ian (2015-07-21). Ferdinand Ries and the Piano Concerto: Beethoven's Shadow and the Early Romantic Concerto (M.M.). University of Cincinnati.
