This is a wicked and torturous piece but its effect as wonderful music is undeniable. Rachmaninov has a terrific recording of this - which he utilized as an exercise of sorts to keep his long fingers supple.

Whether alone or with its companion in E-flat Major it is not played in concert often but they both make difficult demands on the performer, so one can understand why they may be avoided.

To make matters more prickly, their provenance is still suspect as it is reported that they may not have been composed by de Schlozer at all, but by Moritz Moskowski instead.

Whatever the verdict, they are worth attention and will always be well received by audiences.

The brilliant Australian pianist, Eileen Joyce (1908-1991) is a truly great pianist, who you’ve never heard of, who deserves rediscovery.

She spent her adult years in England and when she first played in the U.S. in 1950 the music critic, Irving Kolodin, called her “the world’s greatest unknown pianist.”

Her recordings, including but not limited to this piece, show a pianist of immense technical skill who was very well respected internationally for her musicianship and vast repertoire.

To me, her playing is immediately welcoming (perhaps an outgrowth of her charming personal character?) and the more one listens to her playing, the more one wants to know about the person.  And isn’t that a wonderful aspirational consequence of any artist’s endeavors?

Listen on Spotify. 

Listen on Apple Music. 

Listen on Amazon.