Album Art Classics Explained Brahms Piano Concerto No 2

Classics Explained: BRAHMS Piano Concerto No 2 in B Flat, Op. 83
An introduction to the work written and presented past Jeremy Siepmann.
Includes a consummate performance by Jeno Jando (piano) with BRT Philharmonic, conducted by Alexander Rahbari.
NAXOS 8.558030-31 [115.25]
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This is one of the starting time releases in a new series, 'Classics Explained' from Naxos. On the evidence of this issue, the series promises much.

This release consists of a pair of well-filled discs containing a detailed introduction to each movement. Jeremy Siepmann, the writer and presenter, includes copious musical illustrations, followed by a complete performance of the move in question. The significance of Siepmann's contribution can be gauged by the fact that the performance itself occupies less than 48 minutes.

Accompanying the CDs is a booklet of over 90 pages. The contents include a biographical notation about the composer, a short annotation placing the piece of work in the context of his overall output and another which quotes some contemporary opinions about the work when information technology was new. The full text of Siepmann's spoken commentary is printed, incorporating all the CD cueing points, of which there are many.

We besides get an interesting essay entitled, "Challenges to the Interpreter"; a detailed "Structural Overview" of the piece of work; a glossary of musical terms; and several other essays which are less straight related to the work itself just are no less helpful to the listener. These cover such topics as "Means of Listening"; and a "Guide to the Composer's Tools". All in all, an extremely comprehensive bundle of material which is clearly designed to exist dipped into rather than absorbed at one sitting. The tone of the writing, presumably all by Siepmann, is straightforward, clear and informative.

The spoken commentary is, of its kind, first class, as might exist expected from an experienced broadcaster such as Jeremy Siepmann. He explains the course of each move in detail, signposting every significant musical event and providing a helpful musical illustration for each. His style is lively and he never lapses into jargon. His caption is articulate and perceptive and the generous number of musical examples means that he can nautical chart the course of each motility very lucidly. He offers the newcomer to this piece of work a commencement grade exposition, which, as it should, whets the ambition for a total performance.

This release operates at more than than 1 level. Yeah it is a good "beginner'south guide" just someone who knows the work well tin can also mind to it with profit. The more experienced listener may not concur with every one of Siepmann'due south comments or insights - afterward all there is no "right respond" when listening to music. However, it is evident that he has a comprehensive knowledge of the concerto and the format of his talk and the documentation is such that any music lover might well say more than once; "I never noticed that before". I've known and loved this work for many years but I never found the commentary condescending or superficial. On the contrary, I feel I now know more about the concerto and tin can better appreciate it .

I wondered how someone who loves music simply has not heard the concerto before might react. Fortunately, but such a person was at hand. My son, James, is a keen pianist and is studying music at A Level just he had nevertheless to encounter this particular work. Deliberately, I did not discuss the discs with him, I just asked him to listen independently and requite me his reaction to the CDs and to the documentation. His verdict was identical to mine. He found the presentation helpful both for the beginner or for the more experienced listener and commented that the package contained everything he needed to acquire about the slice. He establish Siepmann'south talk articulate and helpful with simply the right amount of musical terminology and felt that the musical examples were especially useful. Higher up all, the talk fabricated him nifty to hear the whole work.

The complete performance on the discs (and from which the extracts are taken) is one which was recorded a few years agone past Naxos's "firm" pianist, Jeno Jando though you have to look very closely at the packaging to detect the identities of the performers. I think this is unfortunate; afterward all, they are meaning contributors to the project. The business relationship of the concerto is a perfectly serviceable one but on this occasion it is not really appropriate to provide a critique of the performance itself.

I do take 1 small reservation concerning the layout of the discs. The complete performance of each movement follows immediately subsequently the commentary on that movement. Thus movements one and 2 are dealt with on the first disc and the other two occupy the second. I can see the logic backside this organization. However, I do wonder if it might have made more than sense to identify all the commentary on one disc and present the concerto complete on the other. As it is, one cannot hear the concerto straight through without skipping tracks and changing discs: this could exist irritating on repetition. James had a like reaction. This is a pocket-sized point, however. The cardinal matter is that Naxos has provided a very full and generous introduction to this enduring masterpiece for most the aforementioned cost every bit 1 would pay to go to hear the work in concert just in one case. The project certainly deserves pinnacle marks for presentation.

Both James and I remember that Naxos have a winning formula hither. I hope that, as they accept done and then often in the by, they will take the courage and foresight to expand the series. This is an fantabulous way for students and relative newcomers to music to larn what makes a work "tick". Information technology is as well very useful for others to refresh and expand their understanding of a familiar piece.

John Quinn and James Quinn

Run into also review by Terry Barfoot and details of other discs in this serial

richardsonsithered.blogspot.com

Source: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Aug01/BrahmsPC2CE.htm

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