The Complete Josef Hofmann: Solo Recordings (1935-1948)

COMPLETE TRACK LISTING
 LINER NOTES
 ABOUT THESE RECORDINGS

Josef Hofmann is considered by many of his peers to be the greatest pianist of his time. This 2-disc set, with notes by Harold Schonberg, chronicles Hofmann's career later in life containing material never before heard on CD.

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Track Listing

CD 1 (64:11)

The Curtis Institute Recitals, ca.1935:

Hofmann:

  1. Berceuse, op. 20 no. 5 [3:02]
    (solo version)
  2. Berceuse, op. 20 no. 5 [3:11]
    (with Efrem Zimbalist, violin)

    RCA Victor test recordings, 1935:

    Chopin:

  3. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 1 [3:36]
    19 April 1935; (CS 88937 - 1)
  4. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 2 [3:30]
    2 May 1935; (CS 88937 - 2)
  5. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 4 [3:32]
    2 May 1935; (CS 88937 - 4)
  6. Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2, Take 1 [4:47]
    2 May 1935; (CS 88938 - 1)
    (Recording was aborted before the conclusion of the performance.)
  7. Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2, Take 2 [4:46]
    6 May 1935; (CS 88938 - 2)

    Chopin-Liszt:

  8. Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 1, "The Maiden's Wish" [3:32]
    6 May 1935; (CS 88958 - 1)

    Chopin:

  9. Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, op. 58, First Movement - Allegro maestoso [8:17]
    6 May 1935; (CS 88959 - 1) (CS 88960 - 1)
  10. Polonaise in A, op. 40 no. 1, "Military" [3:30]
    6 May 1935; (CS 88961 - 1)
  11. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, [3:34]
    19 April 1935; (CS 88962 - 1)

    HMV test recordings, 29 November 1935:

    Chopin:

  12. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42 [3:28]
    (2EA 2575 -1)

    Chopin-Liszt:

  13. Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 12, "My Joys" [3:32]
    (2EA 2576 -1)
  14. Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 1, "The Maiden's Wish" [3:15]
    (2EA 2577 -1)

    Chopin:

  15. Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2 [3:16]
    (2EA 2578 - 1)

    Beethoven:

  16. Sonata No.18 in E-flat, op. 31 no. 3, Second Movement - Scherzo [4:11]
    (2EA 2579 - 1)

 

CD 2 (70:54)

Philadelphia Golden Jubilee, 4 April1938:
    Chopin:
  1. Andante Spianato e Grande Polonaise, op. 22 [9:45]
  2. Berceuse in D-flat, op. 57 [3:11]
  3. Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute" [1:26]
  4. Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2 [2:48]

    Mendelssohn:

  5. Song Without Words, op. 4 no. 4, "Spinning Song" [1:35]

    Columbia test, 9 February 1940:

    (CO 26504 - 1) The first few measures of each of the following are played:

    Chopin:

  6. Polonaise in A, op. 40 no. 1, "Military" [ :58]
  7. Waltz in A-flat, op. 42 [ :53]
  8. Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2 [1:19]

    The following selection is played complete

    Liadov:

  9. Musical Snuff Box [1:11]

    Ford Sunday Evening Hour, 19 October 1941:

    Weber:

  10. Sonata No. 1 in C, op. 24, Fourth Movement - Presto - Rondo "Perpetual Motion" [4:00]

    Chopin:

  11. Nocturne in E-flat, op. 9 no. 2 [4:00]
  12. Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute" [1:32]

    Liszt:

  13. Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat [3:47]

    Walter Damrosch Birthday broadcast, 1 January 1942:

    Chopin:

  14. Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2 [5:06]
  15. Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute" [1:31]

    The Bell Telephone Hour:

    Rachmaninov:

  16. Prelude in C-sharp Minor, op. 3 no. 2 [3:28]
    1 March 1943 :

    Prokofiev:

  17. March, op. 12 no. 1 [1:28]
    1 March 1943

    Hofmann:

  18. Elegy [1:45]
    1 March 1943

    Chopin:

  19. Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2 [3:09]
    9 August 1943
  20. Waltz in E-flat, op. 18, "Valse Brilliante" [3:36]
    9 August 1943

    Mendelssohn:

  21. Rondo capriccioso in E, op. 14 [6:18]
    27 March 1944

    Debussy:

  22. Suite Bergamasque: "Clair de lune" [4:31]
    19 August 1946

    Home recording (date unknown, ca.1948):

    Gluck-Sgambati:

  23. Mélodie from ORFEO ED EURIDICE [2:20]