Polka de WR (Rachmaninov)
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The Polka de WR (English often Polka de VR , first edition: Polka VR ) is an approx. 4-minute piano piece by Sergei Rachmaninow , composed on March 11th July. / March 24, 1911 greg. . The transcription is based on the Laughing Dove Scherzpolka , op 303 by Franz Behr. Rachmaninov's arrangement was first published in June 1911 in a Nouvelle Collection de Musique together with works by Scriabin , Medtner , Tanejew , Catoire and Goedicke by Edition Russe de Musique , and in the same year by Verlag Gutheil, Leipzig .
Franz Behr (1837–98) was a German composer, especially of salon music for the piano, who is now completely forgotten. The joke polka was the favorite piece of Rachmaninoff's father Wassili (WR = Wassili Rachmaninow, English Vassily Rachmaninov = VR) and it is likely that Rachmaninov assumed that it was an original work by his father, as there is no reference to Behr in the published editions . It wasn't until the end of the 20th century that Behr became generally known as the author.
Rachmaninoff's virtuoso piano transcription, which Behr's original middle section omitted, is dedicated to Leopold Godowsky and was first performed publicly by the composer on May 6, 1922 in Queen's Hall in London . Rachmaninoff kept the work in the repertoire throughout his life and recorded it no less than four times; This makes it the work he has recorded most frequently alongside the Prelude op. 3/2 . The work enjoyed great popularity in the era of the last romantic virtuosos and was popularized by many pianists, e. B. Vladimir Horowitz or Shura Cherkassky , often played as an encore .
Choice discography
| pianist | Date and place of recording | current label and no. | Net playing time | Ossia T. 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergei Rachmaninow ( Ampico piano role ) | 17.3.1919 / 27.8.1996 | Telarc CD-80489 | 4:05 | Yes |
| Sergei Rachmaninow (Edison Records) | April 23, 1919 | RCA 82876-67892-2 | 4:08 | Yes |
| Sergei Rachmaninov ( Victor ) | 10/14/1921 | RCA 82876-67892-2 | 4:00 | Yes |
| Sergei Rachmaninov (Victor) | 04/04/1928 | RCA 82876-67892-2 | 3:47 | Yes |
| Simon Barere | 11/11/1947 live at Carnegie Hall | APR 5623 | 3:18 | No |
| Vladimir Horowitz | approx. 1975-80 live | RCA GD 87754 | 3:53 | Yes |
| Shura Cherkassky | 11/22/1979 live Queen Elizabeth Hall London | Decca 476 8537 | 3:44 | No |
| Vladimir Horowitz | April 20, 1986 live Moscow Conservatory | DGG 419 499-2 | 3:37 | Yes |
Individual evidence
- ↑ The more than 1400-page standard work Hollfelder: The great manual of piano music , Wilhelmshaven 1996, lists it z. B. not
- ↑ Peter Donohoe mentions Behr in his preface to the Boosey & Hawkes edition of 1985.
- ↑ first secured performance
- ↑ plays the additional melody printed as ossia from bar 21
- ↑ Playback of the piano roll on the Bösendorfer SE-290
- ↑ recorded on a piano (not grand piano)
- ↑ RCA cites a studio recording from June 24, 1977, but the recording contains applause
- ↑ Horowitz also changes the melody in bars 5 and 13 in this recording (d 'instead of c')