1912: Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 in Db major

SUNDAY, September 20, 2020 – 3:08 AM

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 in Db major, age 21

It’s only a bit more than 15 minutes long, and I did not bother with time stamps. I also might not be able to find every section without going through the score.

1. Allegro brioso —
2. Poco più mosso —
3. Tempo I —
4. Meno mosso —
5. Più mosso (Tempo I) —
6. Animato —
7. Andante assai —
8. Allegro scherzando —
9. Poco più sostenuto —
10. Più mosso —
11. Animato

Instrumentation:

• Solo piano
• 2 flutes and piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and contrabassoon
• 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
• timpani, bells
• strings

The remarkable thing is that even though this is a very young work, already Prokofiev is writing for a rather big orchestra. There is tuba, a contrabassoon, and also bells.

The story behind the premiere is stranger than fiction, read HERE.

It’s just bizarre, really. He was so young, and the whole story is actually very funny.

Prokofiev never wrote any solo piano music I like…

I have a hard time listening to most 20th century piano music that was moving towards dissonance. I find it percussive and often downright unpleasant to listen to. Furthermore, I can’t tell if anyone is actually playing the right notes unless I follow a score.

BUT:

There is always a “but”. I’m fascinated by his orchestral writing, so when his piano writing is combined with full orchestra, my reaction is totally different. I find this whole concerto pure fun.