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Gabriel Faure composed a lot of piano music, but it seems to me that it isn't very frequently played. In my opinion it is some of the most beautiful of all romantic piano music, and should not be neglected.
Certainly much of it is difficult to play, but very rewarding even for the amateur pianist. For those who are looking for something new I recommend the fourth Barcarolle. It is managable technically and musically very deep and a little enigmatic. Then we have the charming Berceuse from the "Dolly" suite. It is more difficult to play than it sounds, but this is also a piece with qualities making it worth the effort.
I'm currently working on the third Impromptu. This is a difficult piece but just sooooo beautiful.
And although even Franz Liszt found Faure's pieces difficult to play, the composer himself claimed that "the greater the pianist, the poorer he performs my music". So maybe it is hope - even for an amateur.
I really like the barcarolle no. 1 I think it's in a minor. I've never had the chance to learn it and I don't know how difficult it's supposed to be. I also like his late piano trio which might also be in a minor. I agree that his music has a special quality but I don't listen too often for some reason.
Faure's piano music is wonderful, but I find that my interest in playing it goes through "on" and "off" phases - I really don't know why. At the moment, I haven't been playing it much, but am sure I'll return to it again; I always do.
I can only recall hearing any of his music in a professional recital just once, which is really kind of pathetic. I think that demonstrates how unadventurous most programming is.
It is exciting that Barenreiter has announced that they will be publishing an urtext of Faure's complete works. It will be great to finally be able to have his music in a quality edition.
Ballade op.19 piano solo, Theme et Variations op. 73, Nocturnes 4,6,13, Barcarolles 1,2,5,6, Preludes op.103, Valses-Caprices 1,2,3 are my favourite pieces at the moment, and a lot more, quite a piano-composer indeed.
the 2 pianoquartets, the 1st violinsonata, the pianotrio are very well known chambermusic works, frequently performed on the continent, along with numerous songs, the pianoworks need more attention indeed!
Did anyone attend the "Focus on Piano Literature" event at the University in Greensboro, North Carolina two weeks ago? We immersed ourselves in the piano works of Faure (the featured composer for this year)- it was sublime!
The "Focus on Piano Literature" event is held every two years. I have not heard the announcement for the 2014 program. It is a very well done conference and anyone attending will be deeply enriched. Six years ago I attended this event and the featured theme was "19th Century Russian Romanitc Piano Literature." This was also a great program.
BTW I live in Wisconsin and I made the intentional trip just for this fine event.
1904 Henry F. Miller Concert Grand * 2002 Estonia 190 Satin Bubinga * 2008 Schulze-Pohlman vertical 125 polished cherrywood peacock design * 2008 Schoenhut minature grand (49 keys) * 2008 Roland Digital Harpsichord, 2010 Roland FP-4 (88 key slab).
Interesting to read your comments. The fact that Faure was the featured composer of the year at the "Focus on piano literature" conference shows that he is not completely forgotten as a piano composer. But it is also obvious that many piano players know little about his piano pieces. For people who like Chopin I would absolutely recommend a look into Faure piano music. It is different from Chopin, but has much of the same emotional depth. The Barcarolle to which "Scherzojoe" posted a link, is a good example. This is music that can br played many times and becomes more beautiful the more you listen to it.
