This is the earliest, and also one of the greatest recorded performances of this work. Of the twelve or so rolls made by Busoni for Hupfeld very few were of Chopin, the others being a selection of Preludes.
Busoni did not like the process of making phonograph records, and quite rightly placed his faith in piano rolls rather than the phonograph which even thirty years later could not continuously record moderately long piano works. More importantly, piano rolls could be edited whereas records could not.
At the time this roll was made, his playing of these Ballades was controversial. Criticised for being wayward if not too muscular in Chopin, his concept of this composer was divested of the subjective and sentimental notions which seem to have been prevalent at the time (ibid. De Pachmann). In this interpretation, Busoni was attempting to strip away such accretions and reveal the intent of Chopin's musical dialogue.
A master copy of this particular roll was sold to the Ampico Co.of America after 1918 who produced a version for their reproducing piano with extended perforations for easy listening and harmonious effect.
One of these can be seen elsewhere on YT, (the MIDI version is to be avoided at all costs).
Unlike the Ampico roll and indeed many other later Hupfeld versions, the Triphonola roll seen here has retained something of Busoni's intricate pedalling.
Негізгі бет Busoni plays Chopin ~ G minor Ballade Op. 23 ~ Triphonola Roll recording C.1906
Пікірлер: 58