DCD 039 - Piano 4-Hands

This episode of the DCD Classical 'Cast we explore the repertoire for piano four-hands. Some composers wrote for the genre for practical reasons; others for artistic.

During his lifetime, most of Franz Schubert's music was performed by the composer in a salon setting (called "Schubertiads" by his friends). It was certainly easier to get someone to play alongside the composer for more complex pieces than to persuade a Viennese orchestra to give them a try.

Antonin Dvorak didn't have any problems getting his orchestral music performed. He, like many other 19th century composers, arranged his scores for piano four-hands so that the music could be performed in homes. More performances = more music sales = more income.

Vincent Persichetti and Wallingford Riegger composed for the combination for artistic reasons (and commissions). Persichetti's "Concertino" for piano four-hands is the most complex work on the podcast -- sometimes it seems like there are more than two pianists playing!

- Ralph


On this program we play:

Dvorak: Slavonic Dance Op. 72, No. 2
Howard and Frances Karp, piano four-hands
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music

Riegger: The Cry
Margret Elson & Elizabeth Swarthout, piano four-hands
Laurel Records

Schubert: Andantino Varie, D. 834, Op. 84, No. 1
Howard and Frances Karp, piano four-hands
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music

Persichetti: Concertino for Piano Four-Hands
Margret Elson & Elizabeth Swarthout, piano four-hands
Laurel Records