Nikolai Tcherepnin Tati-Tati for Piano and Orchestra (Igor Markevitch Philips Legacy)

[John Fowler]

Disc 18 in “Igor Markevitch: The Philips Legacy” contains a mysterious work for piano and orchestra by Nikolai Tcherepnin: “Tàti-Tàti”: Paraphrases on a Childhood Theme by Borodin, Cui, Liadov, Rimsky-Korsakov and Liszt (tracks 7-13, 20 minutes total).
The pianist is six year-old Olga Rostropovich.

The origins of this work are not explained in the booklet.
Here is what I found on the internet:
“Tàti-Tàti” is better known in English as “Chopsticks”.
Alexander Borodin composed several short pieces for piano four-hands, based on “Chopsticks”, to play with his daughter (the second piano part only requires two fingers).
Following his lead, other Russian composers (but not Balakirev, Mussorgsky or Tchaikovsky) composed additional pieces, then they sent the whole thing to Franz Liszt who added a prelude of his own.
In 1879, it was published as “Paraphrases: 24 Variations and 16 Morceux on a Simple Theme”.
It has been recorded by Marco Rapetti and Daniella DeSantis for Brilliant Classics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBZnWRsfwQ8&t=298s

Nikolai Tcherepnin (father of Alexander) orchestrated nine of the compositions (ironically, nothing by Borodin) - published 1937.
No.1: Variations (24) and Finale by Rimsky, Lyadov and Cui
No.1a: Liszt: Prelude
No.4: Lyadov: Valse
No.5: Rimsky: Berceuse
No.8: Rimsky: Fughetta on B-A-C-H
No.9: Rimsky: Tarantella
No.11: Cui: Valse
No.13: Rimsky: Carillon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkCsLiG2y9k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptk1ZtGPLHw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADdf478zffY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVaqm9dkDfU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExW7Cl3QRV0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a04u4CKYSZY & Fughetta (Arr. of Paraphrases, No.8 by Rimsky-Korsakov)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJjMv76vrlw

[Kerrison]

One of the Borodin variations - a 'Requiem' - was orchestrated by Stokowski for an enormous orchestra. The original piano score included the words 'Requiem aeternum dona eis' for a solo tenor and male chorus. These were added to Stokowski's purely orchestral arrangement by Geoffrey Simon for his 'Cala' recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the men of the BBC Symphony Chorus duly coming in where Borodin had indicated ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUPgjAxvPkY

I believe this version has been its only performance and has yet to be heard in a public concert.

[HT]

Op vrijdag 5 november 2021 om 18:29:11 UTC+1 schreef Kerrison:

Thanks! It's very easy to listen to, as most of Stokowski's arrangements/orchestrations.

Programming has become far too monotone and serious these days: no Tchaikovsky 1812, no Weber Konzertstück, Sarasate Zigeunerweisen, etc. etc. It must be decades since I last heard a Wieniawski or Vieuxtemps violin concerto.

And where and when can we hear a live Boris Tchaikovsky, Tcherepnin, Tischenko, etc. etc.

Henk

[Chris from Lafayette]

Somehow, I didn't know about the Markevitch recording of this work. I was introduced to it in the early 70's when I was in a class taught by Ivan Tcherepnin (son of Alexander and grandson of Nikolai). Tcherepnin and the teaching assistant for the class played excerpts for us. I've been an enthusiastic partisan of the work ever since.

[John Fowler]

Alexander Borodin / César Cui / Anatol Lyadov / Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Paraphrases (24 Variations and 14 Petite Pieces) for piano ("Chopsticks," "Tati-Tati")
COMPLETE LIST OF PIANO MUSIC:
1.* 24 Variations & Finale (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui & Lyadov)
1a* Liszt Prelude (composed by Liszt)
2. Polka (composed by Borodin)
3. Marche funebre (composed by Borodin)
4.* Valse (composed by Lyadov)
5.* Berceuse in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)
6. Galop (composed by Lyadov)
7. Gigue (composed by Lyadov)
8.* Little Fugue on B-A-C-H in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)
9.* Tarantella in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)
10. Minuet in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)
11.* Valse (composed by Cui)
12. Requiem (composed by Borodin)
13.* Carillon in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)
14. Mazurka (composed by Borodin)
15. Comic Fugue in C major (composed by Rimsky-Korsakov)

* Nikolai Tcherepnin orchestrated No.1, 1a, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13

[John Fowler]

The Stokowski-orchestrated Borodin Requiem that Mr. Kerrison wrote about above is No.12 on the list.

[number_six]

Here you can see what was on the MHS LP played by Hans Kann --

https://www.amazon.com/AnatolLiadov-Rimsky-Korsakov-Steratcheff-Variations-Chopsticks/dp/B003ZNDN08/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hans+kann+rimsky&qid=1636222189&sr=8-1