Gunther Johansen???
Matthew B. Tepper
Nor...@worldnet.att.net pondered what I'm pondering as follows:
>
>I man approached me after a concert a few weeks ago with a pitch to
>release this pianist's recordings on my label (Norvard Recordings).
>Never having heard of him before (I'm gathering they fall into the
>"historic" category), I immediately agreed to at least hearing his
>recordings (unlike some other producers of recent days whose names
>I'll omit for nicety's sake...). So, while I wait for them, I thought
>I'd ask if anyone here in this hallowed forum has an opinion about
>him. Does anyone here have an opinion about him?
Could this be Gunnar Johansen? If memory serves, he was a reclusive
Scandinavian pianist, allegedly with a monstrous technique, who lived
in Montana or some other out-of-the-way place and spent many years
trying to record the complete works of Liszt and/or Busoni, which he
then issued (on LP) on his own label, Artist Direct.
I have to admit I've never heard any of his recordings, which were only
available from him by mail, and for many years (certainly before his
death) I would never even touch anything that smacked of mail-order
records.
>(Not that we make enough money to move into another artist's
>recordings yet, anyway...).
Maybe his heirs are just wanting to dispose of the rights somewhere?
>Now, I know I should wait to hear it for myself, but at least I have
>refused to watch any of the new Star Trek movie's commercials.
Lock and load.
>ed
--
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Eric Schissel
bludy tape was mislabeled and contained Vivaldi-ish cello concerti
instead.
-Eric Schissel
--
schi...@lightlink.com
http://www.lightlink.com/schissel ICQ#7279016
standard disclaimer
Chuck Nessa
alive. He had his own label (Artist Direct) and was on the faculty of
the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Artist Direct issued untold
numbers of lps of Johansen playing Bach, Busoni and Liszt. I have lists
of 41 Bach lps, 7 Busonis, and 23 Liszts. The "original" American Record
Guide reviewed his recordings regularly. In the early '70s I operated a
record store in Madison, and bought lps from him. He was a most
gracious and courtly man, who loved all music. I remember when (jazz
avante-gardist) Cecil Taylor gave a faculty recital, I ran into Gunnar
at the intermission. He told me that the background noise was created by
the piano faculty, rushing to reserve practice rooms!
It was nice to see mention of him here.
CN
CN
Eric Schissel
if it helps. I'm not sure and can probably find out for sure.
John Gavin
on the faculty of University of Wisconsin, Madison, and made many
recordings of Bach, Liszt and Busoni back in the 1950's and 60s. I had
wanted to hear some of these for years, but the recordings were very
difficult to find, and not widely available commercially.
If my memory is correct, Gunnar Johansen owned a pedal-piano, a piano
with organ pedals, which Schumann and others wrote for.
Chuck Nessa
CN
Peter Dorman
lived north of Madison (I believe) in the country, where he also had his
studio. I'm familiar with his complete Bach keyboard set, having owned
several disks. I haven't heard them in years, but recall them as lucid,
very musical, but somewhat austere. He was reputed to have
extraordinary technique.
Peter Dorman
Eric Schissel
Eric Schissel
Matthew B. Tepper
>
>CN
No, they're two different pianists with similar names, seriously.
Matthew B. Tepper
>
>alive.
Alas, I firmly recall having read an obituary some years back.
Edward Jasiewicz
this pianist's recordings on my label (Norvard Recordings). Never having
heard of him before (I'm gathering they fall into the "historic" category),
I immediately agreed to at least hearing his recordings (unlike some other
producers of recent days whose names I'll omit for nicety's sake...). So,
while I wait for them, I thought I'd ask if anyone here in this hallowed
forum has an opinion about him. Does anyone here have an opinion about him?
(Not that we make enough money to move into another artist's recordings yet,
anyway...).
Now, I know I should wait to hear it for myself, but at least I have refused
to watch any of the new Star Trek movie's commercials.
ed
Edward Jasiewicz
responding. Not that that really should mean anything. (I sometimes
believe the theory that all the *really* good pianists are hiding out in
obscurity (say, in forest huts somewhere, like in Pittsburgh :). You know,
the disdain of all that recognition...
ed
Eric Schissel wrote in message <36689...@news2.lightlink.com>...
>Isn't it Gunnar Johansen? I almost heard some of his Mozart, but the
>bludy tape was mislabeled and contained Vivaldi-ish cello concerti
>instead.
Regondi
chamber music recordings, made at The Library of Congress, ca. 1940. One in
particular that is slated for release is a Brahms E-flat Sonata with the
remarkable clarinetist, Gustave Langenus.
--ds
Luca Sabbatini
John Gavin wrote...
"If my memory is correct, Gunnar Johansen owned a pedal-piano, a piano
with organ pedals, which Schumann and others wrote for."
As a Busoni specialist, Gunnar Johansen probably knew the interesting pieces
written for this instrument by Alkan. I wonder if he recorded any.
LS
Eric Schissel
>In article <36689F31...@earthlink.net>, cne...@earthlink.net
>>
>>CN
>No, they're two different pianists with similar names, seriously.
I mentioned a tape of someone playing Mozart piano concerti (or so
advertised; the tape inside was Vivaldi-ish cello concerti...). I said I
thought the tape was on Vox, and had Gunnar Johansen as the pianist. Mr.
Nessa was, I believe, correcting me.
David Leonard
<Nor...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>I man approached me after a concert a few weeks ago with a pitch to release
>this pianist's recordings on my label (Norvard Recordings). Never having
>heard of him before (I'm gathering they fall into the "historic" category),
>I immediately agreed to at least hearing his recordings (unlike some other
>producers of recent days whose names I'll omit for nicety's sake...). So,
>while I wait for them, I thought I'd ask if anyone here in this hallowed
>forum has an opinion about him. Does anyone here have an opinion about him?
>
I think the name is Gunnar Johansen. He was an extremely fine but
somewhat reclusive pianist who made a whole series of recordings
(mainly Liszt and Busoni) on his own label. Recording quality is
variable, but performances wonderful. I seem to recall a long
interview with him in an early issue of Fanfare, with very positive
reviews of the recordings: I'm sure Fanfare would be able to find
this for you.
A major artist: go for it!
David Leonard
Dance Books Ltd
Visit the Dance Books' website, 2000 books, CDs,
and videos online: http://www.dancebooks.co.uk
c...@leardo.lib.uwm.edu
> Re: Gunther Johansen???
>
>
>On 5 Dec 1998 01:23:08 GMT, "Edward Jasiewicz"
><Nor...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>>I man approached me after a concert a few weeks ago with a pitch to release
>>this pianist's recordings on my label (Norvard Recordings). Never having
>
>somewhat reclusive pianist who made a whole series of recordings
>(mainly Liszt and Busoni) on his own label. Recording quality is
>variable, but performances wonderful. I seem to recall a long
>interview with him in an early issue of Fanfare, with very positive
>reviews of the recordings: I'm sure Fanfare would be able to find
>this for you.
>
>A major artist: go for it!
>David Leonard
>Dance Books Ltd
And I might add the complete Bach keyboard works to your list.
Johanson was Artist in Residence at the University of Wisconsin from
1939 till sometime in the '70s or '80s. His recitals and concerts were
always great events. He had is owm label called "Artist Direct,"
which he issued from his home, where he also made his recordings. He
had a studio where he maintained his collection of pianos. The sound
of his recordings, unfortunately all issued in mono, was probably best
described as "tinny," which I was told was the way he liked it! While
I was in Madison, he captured some national attention when he was
called by Ormandy to fill in for Peter Serkin as the soloist in
Beethoven's D major piano concerto (better known as the violin
concerto) at very short notice--like, a few days, as I recall. He
even had to learn the piece! The concert, however, was a great
success and the story was picked up and featured in Time Magazine. If
you can make the recordings sound decent, I's say go for it.
Chris
Mr. Mike
I bought at an estate sale of LPs many, many years ago. I think that the
performances should be preserved, just for the sake of historicity... Did he
originally record this stuff on reel-to-reel?
Edward Jasiewicz
label's (Arbiter) website: "Museum of Historic Pianists." I doubt that
Norvard Recordings will be in a position to move into another artist's work
very soon. I'm still pretty soaked with preparing Eunice Norton's huge
discography right now.
Those interested could contact "The Friends of Gunnar Johansen Newsletter,"
published by a man named Gordon Rumson @
He may have info. on how the recordings were originally made, or where/how
to obtain them.
ed
Mr. Mike wrote in message <366d5844...@news.mindlink.net>...
ESH Tooter
most interested in his Bach. I still have the recording, but I can't say I
ever found a whole lot to distinguish it. Perhaps someone can explain some of
the qualities that have attracted them to Johanssen's work and open my ears.
ESH Tooter
believe the theory that all the *really* good pianists are hiding out in
obscurity (say, in forest huts somewhere, like in Pittsburgh :). You know,
the disdain of all that recognition...>>
"forest huts somewhere, like in Pittsburgh"??? ;->
Edward Jasiewicz
Schenley, which at least is overpopulated with raccoons...).
-E
ESH Tooter wrote in message
<19981207201325...@ng-cg1.aol.com>...
HankM219
60's. Is this the same, or someone else?
Henry Maurer, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
hank...@aol.com or hsma...@worldnet.att.net
Matthew B. Tepper
hank...@aol.com pondered what I'm pondering as follows:
Gunnar Johansen -- Grant Johannesen. TWO DIFFERENT GUYS!!!!!
ESH Tooter
from my years at Carnegie-Mellon (back in the 60's). I recall an owl in a
cage, but no racoons. All the other animals I encountered in Schenley Park
were on college dates.
Premise Checker
contains *all* the Schmieder numbers, regardless of whether Johansen or
anyone else now regards them as authentic. A good many of these have not
otherwise been recorded. There are a few variants (Schmider numbers with
a leter after them), though, that are not in the 43-LP set. He also throws
in several early versions of WTC and other pieces, though not everything.
(These are not always notated by Schmieder.) In addition, Johansen's set
contains all the Busoni arrangements. It took me a long time to sort out
what's in and what's not in the set. There's a general advertizement for
the set, sheets for each album, and the discs themselves, all
contradicting one another. For example, there is a single movement of a
lute suite on one disc and the whole lute suite on another. I have an
analysis of it all on my hard disk.
--