I happened to get more than 10 music books that Alexei Sultanov had used. Those books were sent from Fort Worth. In this blog entry, I would love to introduce what kind of books he used, and what's the inside.
But before we start, I have heard from his brother Sergei Sultanov, that Alexei did not write to books so often. At the first glance, I understand that he was correct. And also, Alexei might have had several other books for the same works, and the actual writings were on other book. Anyway let's see them.
(Feb/03 Updated: After the conversation with Dace, it was found that the pencil writings on Chopin's score were done after he recorded on TELDEC. He listened to the master tape and made an instruction to the sound producer.)
Chopin: Etudes
Paderewski (Russian version). I believe that he bought it in Russia.
Chopin: Polonaises
Paderewski (English version). We can see "Thank you" written on the front page.
Compared to his another autograph, I believe that this "Thank you" was written by Alexei. Probably this is a message to the sound engineer at TELDEC.
No writings are found except "Heroic Polonaise". On the first page of the polonaise, there is a sticky-note and some advice are written. For example, the counting rhythm before the theme starts.
It was hard to understand for whom this message is for. We know that Popovich or Naumov had written in Russian. Did he take a masterclass in the US? Or, he may had a masterclass for students in the US. Probably the answer is that he listened to his own performance after the recording, and did some instruction to the sound engineer. But still, I feel a little bit strange. What do you think?
Most of the writings are only seen in the first page, but I found some more. Unfortunately, I cannot understand what that means.
Chopin: Scherzo
Paderewski (Russian version). On the front page, some English message is written. It's hard to read, but it may say he circled some bad points required to correct.
Scherzo No.1 starts with the message "Thank you very much. Very well done". I believe that this message was written by Alexei, and it might be for TELDEC engineers? Probably.
Scherzo No.2 also have some hand-writings. He made some comments about recordings or analog or digital, but I cannot read clearly. We can also understand that he considered pauses are important.
There are some detailed advice, but I could not understand what it means.
Scherzo No.4 also includes writings. We can see plenty of "121" letters, but I actually do not understand what it means. Maybe count as "121" instead of "123"?
Another example
Chopin: Concertos
This book is very old, and does not have the front page, but it is Paderewski (Russian version).
I believe that Alexei studied this concerto using this book when he was a student. There are several writings in Russian, and also musical terms in original languages. Clear hand-writings are seen, and I guess this was done by Popovich. We can see her advice, points to attention, and fingerings.
Generally I could not assure that he studied this piece, but I found two writings in the work. Just only two.
The first one is on the beginning. "086" letters are written. But I really do not understand what it means (anybody?)
One more mark in red.
By the way, I have two concert books. The other one is from Moscow publisher and very old.
In this book, no hand-writings are seen. I guess that he needed two books to play concerto. There is only one page that I could find some writing. Maybe, Popovich happened to write to the opposite book than Alexei usually used.
Chopin: Ballads
Schirmer English edition. This book also has "Thank you" message on the front page, and also somebody wrote "You're welcome". Is the person the TELDEC engineer? Maybe.
We know that Alexei had played both of No.1 and No.4, but no writings is found in No.1. However, I found a very important issue from this score. On the final page of this ballade No.1, "Carl Tausig" version's coda is introduced which exactly matches how Alexei played in his concert in 1997. I believe that he might learn it from this book.
Ballade No.4 includes several hand-writings on the score.
On the first page, he mentioned that he circled some points that need to be corrected, and we can actually see those circles.
Here, I cannot read, but there is something.
Also I cannot understand what it means, but I think that circling the tone D with thumb is very Sultanov-like advice.
Mentions on tempo. (Well, did he really say about tempo to the engineer after he listened to the master tape?)
Some advice on coda.
Chopin: Piano Sonata No.3
Other than this sonata, most of the books I have are not including many writings, but this sonata is the exception. I think he used it when he studied this sonata for the first time.
This is not the book itself, but he created a binding.
On the 3rd movement, we can see some detailed instruction made by his teacher. Not sure if it was done by Popovich or Naumov.
Chopin: Nocturne Op.55 (autograph)
This also belonged to Alexei, and now at my place. I am not sure if he was interested in autograph. We know that he had not recorded Op.55, but he may be influenced by late Horowitz.
Here is the inside.
Thank you for reading.
I have some more to introduce other than Chopin. Please wait patiently.
