Two fantastic pieces that should be played more often

pianoloverus

Some of you may be familiar with these pieces but my guess is some/many are not because they are relatively infrequently played. I think they are both great in their own way and felt I had to share them. The first is for me one of the most beautiful pieces but not often played, and the second one of the greatest Strauss waltz transcriptions.
What do you think of them? Did you know these pieces before hearing them on this thread?

pianoloverus

TC3

I had definitely not heard the first one, beautiful. The second sounds familiar, I probably came across it during my short-lived music school days.

I know a bit more about classical music than the average Joe -- which is to say, I know just enough to know how little I know ... There's so much great music out there, it makes me sad how little of it I'll ever be able to hear during my lifetime!

ZigZagStory

I have heard the medtner one in the past and it is even on my wishlist.

rsl12

pianoloverus Thanks for showing me these pieces. I love the Medtner (what do you think @Blakifer92 ?). The Strauss transcription is too showy for my tastes. In the hands of Kissin, it sounds terrific, and I'd be happy listening to him play that piece all day, but I don't know if normal humans can make it sound the way Kissin does.

pianoloverus

ZigZagStory I might try to learn it but I would probably have to simplify the cadenza in the middle. I don't understand why, to the best of my knowledge, this piece is rarely performed.

TheBoringPianist

Love the Medtner. Have read through it a couple times and it's on my shortlist, just haven't gotten around to getting it into my fingers yet. One of his most approachable works from a listener's perspective!

The Strauss-Grunfeld seems entertaining enough. I don't feel compelled to learn/play it though.

Jane

For those not familiar with Medtner, I can recommend the album by the late, great Earl Wild.

https://ivoryclassics.com/products/earl-wild-forgotten-melodies