Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (Bruch)
Encyclopedia
The Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Op. 88a, was written by Max Bruch
in 1912. It is in 4 movements, written in the rarely seen key of A flat minor, and takes about 25 minutes to perform.
It is sometimes referred to as Bruch's Double Concerto, although this could also refer to his Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra
, Op. 88.
Bruch did not write an entirely fresh piece, but reworked music he had been writing for his planned Suite No. 3 for Organ and Orchestra (also referred to as his Orchestral Suite No. 3). (There are claims that the work is based on the Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, Op. 88, but thematically these two concertos seem to have little or nothing in common, and this supposed relationship seems to be an erroneous assumption based purely on the works having similar opus numbers.)
The movements are:
The Suite used some melodies that Bruch had heard on Good Friday
1904, while convalescing in Capri
, and these melodies appear in the concerto.
play his Fantasy in D minor for 2 pianos, Op. 11, and was so delighted that he agreed to write a double concerto for them. Bruch gave the Sutro sisters the sole performing rights to the work. Without Bruch's permission, however, they rewrote the concerto themselves to suit their pianistic abilities, copyrighting their version and depositing it with the Library of Congress
in 1916. They performed the premiere of this version with the Philadelphia Orchestra
under Leopold Stokowski
on 29 December 1916. In 1917 they played a further revised version of the work, with the number of movements reduced from four to three, with the New York Philharmonic
under Josef Stránský
. Bruch himself conducted a private rehearsal of the concerto with the Sutro sisters in Berlin
, but gave permission for it to be played only in the United States
(it is not clear from the source which version this was; apparently he knew that the Sutros had made revisions, but to what extent is not known).
The Sutros withdrew the concerto after the second performance and never played it again. They never played Bruch's original version at all. But they continued to make revisions to their version, amounting to thousands of changes, the last by Ottilie as late as 1961 (Rose having died in 1957). Ottilie died in September 1970, aged 98. Some of her miscellaneous scores, manuscripts and newspaper cuttings were auctioned in January 1971. The pianist Nathan Twining purchased a box of unidentified papers for $11, and it proved to contain the autograph score of Rose and Ottilie's version of Bruch's concerto, a work unknown to him. The orchestral parts for the original version were bought by other people at the same auction, and Twining managed to track them down and buy the parts back off them. He and Martin Berkofsky
then reconstructed Bruch's original version, and they recorded it for the first time in November 1973, with the London Symphony Orchestra
under Antal Doráti
.
The concerto has also been arranged as a work for six hands at three pianos, by Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg.
The knowledge of the existence of the concerto has its own peculiar history. It was listed in the 5th edition (1954) of Grove's Dictionary
, as Op. 88, but it was not listed in the New Grove in 1980 at all. It now appears in references as Op. 88a.
Max Bruch
Max Christian Friedrich Bruch , also known as Max Karl August Bruch, was a German Romantic composer and conductor who wrote over 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a staple of the violin repertoire.-Life:Bruch was born in Cologne, Rhine Province, where he...
in 1912. It is in 4 movements, written in the rarely seen key of A flat minor, and takes about 25 minutes to perform.
It is sometimes referred to as Bruch's Double Concerto, although this could also refer to his Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra
Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra (Bruch)
The Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88, by Max Bruch was composed in 1911 for his son, Max Felix Bruch, and received its first performance in 1912, with Willy Hess and Max Felix Bruch as the soloists...
, Op. 88.
Bruch did not write an entirely fresh piece, but reworked music he had been writing for his planned Suite No. 3 for Organ and Orchestra (also referred to as his Orchestral Suite No. 3). (There are claims that the work is based on the Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, Op. 88, but thematically these two concertos seem to have little or nothing in common, and this supposed relationship seems to be an erroneous assumption based purely on the works having similar opus numbers.)
The movements are:
- I. Andante sostenuto
- II. Andante con moto - Allegro molto vivace
- III. Adagio ma non troppo
- IV. Andante – Allegro.
The Suite used some melodies that Bruch had heard on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
1904, while convalescing in Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
, and these melodies appear in the concerto.
History
In 1911, Bruch had heard the American duo-pianist sisters Rose and Ottilie SutroRose and Ottilie Sutro
Rose Sutro and Ottilie Sutro were American sisters who were notable as one of the first recognised duo-piano teams. It has been claimed they were the first such team, but Willi and Louis Thern preceded them by almost 30 years...
play his Fantasy in D minor for 2 pianos, Op. 11, and was so delighted that he agreed to write a double concerto for them. Bruch gave the Sutro sisters the sole performing rights to the work. Without Bruch's permission, however, they rewrote the concerto themselves to suit their pianistic abilities, copyrighting their version and depositing it with the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in 1916. They performed the premiere of this version with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
under Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
on 29 December 1916. In 1917 they played a further revised version of the work, with the number of movements reduced from four to three, with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
under Josef Stránský
Josef Stránský
Josef Stransky was a Czech conductor, composer, and art collector/dealer who moved to the United States and conducted the New York Philharmonic from 1911 to 1923.-Biography:...
. Bruch himself conducted a private rehearsal of the concerto with the Sutro sisters in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, but gave permission for it to be played only in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(it is not clear from the source which version this was; apparently he knew that the Sutros had made revisions, but to what extent is not known).
The Sutros withdrew the concerto after the second performance and never played it again. They never played Bruch's original version at all. But they continued to make revisions to their version, amounting to thousands of changes, the last by Ottilie as late as 1961 (Rose having died in 1957). Ottilie died in September 1970, aged 98. Some of her miscellaneous scores, manuscripts and newspaper cuttings were auctioned in January 1971. The pianist Nathan Twining purchased a box of unidentified papers for $11, and it proved to contain the autograph score of Rose and Ottilie's version of Bruch's concerto, a work unknown to him. The orchestral parts for the original version were bought by other people at the same auction, and Twining managed to track them down and buy the parts back off them. He and Martin Berkofsky
Martin Berkofsky
Martin Berkofsky is an American classical pianist known primarily for his interpretations of music by Franz Liszt and Alan Hovhaness. He has performed extensively throughout Europe as well as in Turkey and Armenia....
then reconstructed Bruch's original version, and they recorded it for the first time in November 1973, with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
under Antal Doráti
Antal Doráti
Antal Doráti, KBE was a Hungarian-born conductor and composer who became a naturalized American citizen in 1947.-Biography:...
.
The concerto has also been arranged as a work for six hands at three pianos, by Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg.
The knowledge of the existence of the concerto has its own peculiar history. It was listed in the 5th edition (1954) of Grove's Dictionary
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
, as Op. 88, but it was not listed in the New Grove in 1980 at all. It now appears in references as Op. 88a.
Recordings
In addition to the 1973 premiere recording mentioned above, the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra has been recorded by:- Güher and Süher PekinelPekinel sistersGüher Pekinel and Süher Pekinel as identical twins, are Turkish pianists performing mostly in duet.-Early years:...
, with the Philharmonia OrchestraPhilharmoniaThe Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
under Sir Neville MarrinerNeville MarrinerSir Neville Marriner is an English conductor and violinist.-Biography:Marriner was born in Lincoln and studied at the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He played the violin in the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Martin String Quartet and London Symphony Orchestra, playing with the...
- Martin BerkofskyMartin BerkofskyMartin Berkofsky is an American classical pianist known primarily for his interpretations of music by Franz Liszt and Alan Hovhaness. He has performed extensively throughout Europe as well as in Turkey and Armenia....
again, this time with David Hagan, with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra under Lutz Herbig
- Katia and Marielle LabèqueKatia and Marielle LabèqueThe French sisters Labèque, Katia and Marielle , form an internationally known piano duo. They have performed and recorded most of the repertoire for two pianos, spanning the instrumental, chamber, and concerto genres encompassing musical periods from Baroque through contemporary.Katia and...
, with the Philharmonia under Semyon Bychkov
- Robert Cowan and Joan Yarborough, with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
under Paul FreemanPaul Freeman (conductor)Paul Freeman is an African American conductor.Born in Richmond, Virginia, Freeman earned bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees from the Eastman School of Music. A Fulbright Scholarship enabled him to study for two years at the Berlin University of the Arts...
.