Carl Czerny (1791-1857) - Prolific but Forgotten!

[Leo K.]

I want to express my appreciation for this chamber music recording of Czerny's compositions, which also feature some of Czerny's orchestral and lieder works. The way the musicians interpret his works is truly mesmerizing. The intricate melodies and harmonies come to life, capturing the essence of Czerny's musical genius. This recording is a testament to the enduring beauty and relevance of Czerny's music, and it brings immense joy to experience such masterful interpretations. Bravo to all involved in this remarkable chamber music recording!

Such recordings offer a fresh perspective on Czerny's creativity and reveal the depth of his musical genius beyond his piano studies.

[SonicMan46]

Well, Leo has taken the Czerny thread to its second page!   

For myself, I'm now up to 14 discs (see attachment if interested) - the Symphonies 2/6 CD has been in my collection for a while - but just noticed that there is also a Symphonies 1/5 recording - may look for a 'used' option - the reviews (also attached) have been good (a rather long and excellent discussion by Discophage on Amazon).  Dave

 

[SonicMan46]

Well, just checked my classical database which I've not updated in 6 months or so and have 2 Czerny additions including another printing of the Symphonies 1 & 5 - SO, really up to 16 discs by this student of Beethoven (reviews of the symphonies attached in my previous post) - Dave

P.S. A Musicweb Review of the Piano Fantisies for those interested.

 

[Florestan]

This is very good, both music-, performance- and sonic-wise.

In the same vein, this disc is also very worthwile:

[Leo K.]

Well, Leo has taken the Czerny thread to its second page!   

For myself, I'm now up to 14 discs (see attachment if interested) - the Symphonies 2/6 CD has been in my collection for a while - but just noticed that there is also a Symphonies 1/5 recording - may look for a 'used' option - the reviews (also attached) have been good (a rather long and excellent discussion by Discophage on Amazon).  Dave

 

Yay page 2!!

That disk of 1 & 5 is definitely recommendable. Both symphonies really put you in that era, it's fascinating.

[Leo K.]

This is very good, both music-, performance- and sonic-wise.

In the same vein, this disc is also very worthwile:

Nice! Thank you for the recommends there.

[Leo K.]

I am currently listening to "Practical Exercises for Beginners, Vol.1" (played by Claudio Colombo) and it is enchanting and interesting in it's progression of little light exercises, which have soothing melodies.

Nice!

[Karl Henning]

Interestingly (and pertinently) a piano recital I once attended at the Longy School in Cambridge included a Czerny Sonata.
Tangentially, the name comes from the adjective "black" in the Slavic languages. 

[Madiel]

I am currently listening to "Practical Exercises for Beginners, Vol.1" (played by Claudio Colombo) and it is enchanting and interesting in it's progression of little light exercises, which have soothing melodies.

Nice!

Claudio Colombo does not play. He programs a computer.

[SonicMan46]

Well, I see some increased activity a year ago and earlier this year - great 

Currently, my Czerny collection is up to 16 discs (see attachment) - last few days I've been listening to the first half dozen recordings on the list and will continue; also, checked Amazon and not much more has been added - probably should look at the > 2 hands piano CDs some of which have been discussed.

As known, he was an extremely prolific composer w/ 861 Opus numbers (some of which had multiple works) and many WoO compositions so likely wrote over a thousand pieces of music - now remembered mainly for his pedagogical studies and piano teaching, with most of his oeuvreignored - in fact, some labelled him a 'hack' composer - an interesting 20+ year old discussion (some quoted below) with comments from pianist Anton Kuerti might be of interest - centers around the concert held to 'celebrate' Czerny's music.

BUT, if any recent recordings of interest have appeared, please share - Dave 

If justice is blind, posterity must be partly deaf. Otherwise, says pianist Anton Kuerti, we would know much more of Carl Czerny's music than a few collections of études.

Czerny was a successful Viennese musician known mainly for his links to Beethoven (his teacher) and Liszt (his student), and for the technical études that are still inflicted on piano students a century and a half after his death. But Czerny also wrote hundreds of other works, some of which Kuerti says stand comparison with music by any of the official members of the Great Composers Club.

"He was a genius. There's no doubt in my mind about that," said Kuerti, who has been digging into the lost continent of Czerny's art ever since finding one of his sonatas in an Edmonton music store almost a decade ago. This week, the pianist returns to a spot very near the site of that discovery for the world's first festival and symposium devoted to Czerny's music.

The four-day, seven-concert event, which begins today at the University of Alberta's Convocation Hall, features performances of Czerny's compositions by the St. Lawrence Quartet, Kuerti, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, the piano duo of Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Scholars from several countries will pore over the evidence in the Czerny case, in which Kuerti has become a leading witness for the defence. (Source)