On Episode 294 of the ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award winning program Between the Keys, The Classical Network’s Artist-in-Residence Jed Distler features symphonic music transcribed for piano duet, either with four hands at one piano or involving two pianos.
“Years ago the composer/pianist Frederic Rzewski and I half-seriously talked about hiring a truck with two pianos, touring small American towns, and playing great symphonic works in two-piano arrangements. That never happened , unfortunately. Yet the point of our conversation was the fact that, once upon a time, piano duos were very popular on the community concerts circuit, and that they’d often play symphonies, overtures, and opera excerpts.”
This week's episode features symphonic movements by Shostakovich, Kalliwoda, Stravinsky, Liszt and Richard Strauss, all splendidly “de-orchestrated,” as Distler puts it.
Tune in Tuesday February 9th at 10 PM for Between the Keys, with a rebroadcast Wednesday February 10th at noon, exclusively on The Classical Network and WWFM.org.