"The tonal hierarchy ... has been turned 'inside out'"

March 13, 2022 4:47 PM

Scott Murphy (Musicellanea), "A Gutsy Prelude by Maria Szymanowska Turns a Chord Inside Out": "Just over three years ago in Paris, a scholarly conference called 'Maria Szymanowska and Her Times' was wrapping up its focus on the talented Polish pianist-composer ... If I had been on the program, I might have talked about the innovative aspects of the seventeenth prelude of her Twenty Exercises and Preludes, which were published in Leipzig almost two centuries ago in 1819." Szymanowska's biography, study of her portraits, complete piano works, and sheet music for various works that year (the preludes, Six menuets, Dix-huit danses, and Caprice sur la romance de Joconde [another recording]). But also, perhaps especially, the nocturne "Le Murmure," ca. 1819, and the "Romance à la nuit" from the following year.
posted by Wobbuffet (5 comments total)

More sheet music by Szymanowska on IMSLP.

Recommended: Nocturne in B flat major.
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 8:57 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Wow, Le Murmure is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I note from your link to the 17th prelude that Dobrzanski has also got a recording of it. And also this much slower version, which seems almost like a different piece.
posted by storybored at 9:33 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Wow, I also really love her 18th prelude right after that one. Thanks for the post, Wobbuffet!
posted by straight at 1:32 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

Was totally unaware of this a composer! Reading and listening for days, thank you!
posted by q*ben at 7:36 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

'Le Murmure' was the only piece of hers I'd heard (on this album of piano nocturnes). I'm enjoying those Preludes now too: many thanks for the post, Wobbuffet!
posted by misteraitch at 11:59 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]