Mazurkas, op.24 No.1, No.2 - Chopin

Cortot Plays Chopin Mazurkas with Comments

Recorded during master classes given between 1954 and 1960, Ecole Normale de Musique by Alfred Cortot, founder of the school. Cortot never recorded any of Chopins Mazurkas. Why he did not is a mystery. These off the cuff examples, wrong notes and all, makes one listener sadly realize that we will never hear a recording of the Chopin Mazurkas played by Cortot in his prime. Listening to these examples, leads one to suspect that Cortot was an admirer of the art of singing as was Horowitz, Godowsky and other pianists that we now label as Romantic pianists. COMMENTS Mazurka in G Minor Op 24, No 1 Mazurkas are always special pieces based on a popular rhythm, but still soaked in the spirit of dance. Lento, dont pay attention to the indications, lento is not considered here as a nocturne---Con anima. There is a sort of monotony, a sort of obsession, a remembrance ---This is loaded with regret, you see. Good Mazurka in C Major, Op. 24, No. 2 It says Rubato--- Portando, and here, more sensitive---this lower part. And the end, simply without slowing down too much. Mazurka in B-flat Minor, Op. 24 Tenderly—As if you were gathering speed--- You bring all this, you see, as different silhouettes.--- This is the same theme but a little more empathetic. And then, the end, without slowing down too much---You see, all this expression of regret must come into this. Mazurka in C Minor, Op. 30, No 1 Chopins genius often consists in taking joyful rhythms and transposing them into some ...


Digital sheet music source: Mazurkas, op.24 No.1, No.2 - Chopin

Ignaz Friedman: 4 Chopin Mazurkas (vol. 1)

Ignaz Friedman flings his suit jacket into the corner, removes his dress shoes and joins his fellow Poles in the national festivities. Nobody does it better... Friedman danced the mazurka with Polish peasants in his youth, venturing beyond the urban intellectual circles of most classical musicians. (Allan Evans just wrote Friedman\'s bio: "Ignaz Friedman: Romantic Master Pianist".) Chopin Mazurkas: op. 7 no. 1 in B flat op. 7 no. 2 in a minor op. 7 no. 3 in f minor op. 24 no. 4 in B flat (all recorded Nov 13, 1930 for Columbia) from the Pearl 4 CD set IF 2000. (ARBITER will release a 5 CD Friedman set including hitherto unpublished material, and all new transfers in 2010)