Beecke: Piano Concertos

Today nothing remains of Ignaz von Beecke’s former renown as a pianist and composer. The early music lexicographers Gerber and Lipowsky were among those who celebrated his renown, but his many works have all been forgotten. And yet he created music of great originality very much absolutely worth getting to know. The present CD featuring his piano concertos is a pioneering effort representing one of the first commercial releases with works by this composer. Beecke’s early works followed a trajectory from classicism to romanticism. In 1759 he made his way to the Wallerstein court as an adjutant to Hereditary Prince Kraft Ernst von Oettingen-Wallerstein. It was also here that he celebrated his first successes as a pianist and wrote his first compositions. From 1763 until his death he was the local court music director. Under his leadership the court ensemble earned high esteem. In Schubart’s Ideen zu einer Ästhetik der Tonkunst of 1784-85 it is stated that Beecke »numbers not only among the best grand pianists but also among the most outstanding and most original composers. His imagination is rich and brilliant, and – what is most to his honor – his whole playing style is self-made. He has formed a school in piano that one terms the ‘Beeckian.’