Sorabji Resource Site: Works Performed but not Recorded

Works Performed but not Recorded

This page lists those works by Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji that have received a first performance (and sometimes further performances). In several cases, performances were given many years ago, but no commercial recordings have been made. A few private recordings or tapes are circulating, including on YouTube, but there is no guarantee that they have been sanctioned by the performers or the sponsoring organization.

The present list can be seen as an incentive for performers and record companies to start projects.

The recording with Chappell Kingsland as executive producer that will appear on BIS in 2024 includes, in addition to the works to appear in a first commercial recording listed below, the following for which one such recording already exists:

Arabesque (1920; 2 pp.)
Trois poèmes (1941; 13 pp.)
Frammento cantato (1967; 1 p.), in both the original version and an arrangement for baritone and orchestra by Kingsland

Click on a column heading to sort, then shift-click on other headings to sort on multiple columns.
Surround strings with quotation marks for specific searches. Refresh the page to revert to the initial order.

Works	Year of First Performance	Comments
Works	Year of First Performance	Comments
Chaleur—Poème (1916-17; 32 pp.)	1999
Quintet no. 1 for Piano and Quartet of Stringed Instruments (1919-20; 72 pp.)	1998
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra [no. 5] (1920; 144 pp.)	2003
Sonata III for Piano (1922; 75 pp.)	1977
Second Symphony for Organ (1929-32; 350 pp.)	2010	A virtual performance of the final section of the third movement (“Fuga triplex”) by David Carter using the Vienna Konzerthaus Organ in the Vienna Symphonic Library has been released on YouTube on 14 March 2024 (duration: 95:35).
Transcription of the Prelude in E-flat by Bach (1945; 4 pp.)	1999
Schlussszene aus “Salome” von Richard Strauss—Konzertmäßige Übertragung für Klavier zu zwei Händen (1947; 25 pp.)	2007
Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra (1935-37, 1953-56; 540 pp.)	2024	A sound file of the entire work has been uploaded on 10 June 2024 by Alberto Vignani on the Sorabji Forum.
Suggested Bell-Chorale for St. Luke’s Carillon (1961; 1 p.)	1961
Fourth Symphony for Piano Alone (1962-64; 240 pp.)	2003	Vars. 14-17, 25-30, 34, and 35 played by Reinier van Houdt are available on a CD included in issue no. 87 (Fall 2003) of the magazine Musicworks.
Frammenti aforistici (Sutras) (104) (1962-64; 37 pp.)	2005
Frammenti aforistici (20) (1964; 9 pp.)	2004	A performance by Gaston Polle Ansaldi, recorded in June 2021, is available on YouTube (publ. 23 October 2021).
Toccata quarta (1964-67; 149 pp.)	2014, 2024	The second and fifth movements (“Quasi corale”, “Intermezzo secondo”) were given their first performances by Florian Steininger at the Musentempel im Kulturzentrum Tempel (Karlsruhe) on 6 Janary 2024 and 20 December 2014, respectively.
Sixth Symphony for Piano (Symphonia claviensis) (1975-76; 270 pp.)	2013	The recording of the first performance by Jonathan Powell (’s-Hertogenbosch, 27 October 2013) was broadcast on Concertzender on 14 August 2014 from 1.00 to 7.00 a.m. Following the host’s introduction, the concert begins at 0:03:20 and ends at 4:55:26; the applause subsides at 4:57:20, after which music by Simeon Ten Holt is heard. The entire programme lasts 5:59:54.
“Il gallo d’oro” da Rimsky-Korsakov: Variazioni frivole con una fuga anarchica, eretica e perversa (1978-79; 93 pp.)	2005	Jonathan Powell’s performance at the Centre Corum in Montpellier was broadcast live.
Opus secretum atque necromanticum (1980-81; 48 pp.)	2001	A live recording of the first performance at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 28 November 2001, is available on YouTube.
Passeggiata variata sul nome del caro e gentile giovane amico Clive Spencer-Bentley (1981; 3 pp.)	1998