This was the composition chosen for me in college competition performance ...I loved MacDowell's music and no other students had heard of him. My Professor said, Do it!, and I did...won the competition, and played it with our Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. Thrilling moment! Still think it rather a unique composition, beautifully crafted for pianists with well rounded technical skills. He loved double arpeggios and octaves...rich harmonies.
I know of MacDowell from his short piano works, but this is my first time to hear a concerto. The piano parts are brilliant, naturally. That introduction though - it is one of the most sumptuous bits of orchestral writing I've ever heard.
It is a very elaborate piano concerto. The opening of the piano reminds a bit the main theme of Grieg's piano concerto
A fantastic rendition of an, unfortunately, rather underappreciated concerto.
This is an even better performance than Van-Cliburn's. And the orchestra are superb,as is the underated conductor Edward Downes!
This was the composition chosen for me in college competition performance ...I loved MacDowell's music and no other students had heard of him. My Professor said, Do it!, and I did...won the competition, and played it with our Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. Thrilling moment! Still think it rather a unique composition, beautifully crafted for pianists with well rounded technical skills. He loved double arpeggios and octaves...rich harmonies.
I know of MacDowell from his short piano works, but this is my first time to hear a concerto. The piano parts are brilliant, naturally. That introduction though - it is one of the most sumptuous bits of orchestral writing I've ever heard.
I also uploaded his First Concerto. Def. worth a listen.
ua-cam.com/video/PYtLhAG4cek/v-deo.htmlsi=1bGCwvkugo6ihLB5
Still love this concerto since first listen.
I found bits of Rahmaninov in his music, although MacDowell might be chronological before good old Sergei...
MacDowell wrote this concerto when Rachmaninov was 10/11. So yes Rachmaninov sounds like MacDowell at times.
Actually, bits of MacDowell in Rachmaninoff, perhaps?