Wow! All I can say about the great Tiny Desk concert with Catherine Russell! Ms. Russell is a Grammy-winning vocalist with a fabulous satiny voice. She says that her music is influenced by the Black blues women of the 1920's. Her set highlights that influence with the tune: "He May Be Your Dog But He's Wearing My Collar" by vaudeville singer Rosa Henderson. Such fun!! Great musicians all around! Watch and enjoy! says that her music is influenced by
A few weeks ago as part of our studio's "Chopin Project" we discussed at great length the use of the pedal, particularly where Chopin is concerned. I spent time recently listening to a great, short podcast from tonebase Piano. It is Episode 5, entitled "The 'Sole' of the Piano", or Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Pedaling (but were afraid to ask). It is a brief history of pedaling from the industrial revolution to the digital age. I truly would love you to listen to this podcast because I think it is quite informative. Many different pianists are consulted for their opinions regarding, solely yours! pedal usage (although some of those opinions are not shared by me, all are thought-provoking). Let's discuss at your lesson, "solely" yours, AD
I was having just "one of those days" with my piano practicing last week - have you had those?! Nothing seemed to be going right, I was distracted, etc. I often listen to some favorite piano works performed beautifully by favorite pianists to inspire and motivate me to head back to the piano, and I happened to read an article about Ruth Slenczynska. I know her playing, and also had (but had "lost") a copy of her book, Music at Your Fingertips, which talks about practicing, repertoire, listening, and other topics (ask me about at your next lesson!). Maestra Ruth - at 97 - was just signed by Decca Records - I link an article here. Upon reading I wanted to reacquaint myself with her, so have watched and listen to videos, and I really want to share some of those with you in hopes that you will learn a bit about her! Madame Slenczynska, a child prodigy giving her first comet at four, is the last living pupil of Rachmaninov; she also studied with other of the finest pianists of the early 20th century, like Joseph Hofmann, Alfred Cortot, Egon Petri, Artur Schnabel. There is a lovely article in BBC news with several videos of her playing. I can't encourage you enough to take a half hour and watch this video I link on youtube with Ruth discussing her study with Josef Hofmann (and please listen to this video of his playing of the Chopin Ballade No. 1) and Rachmaninov....you will learn much, as I did! I was also fascinated with this video as Ruth discusses her experiences at the Paris Conservatoire as a child, and all of the people she came into contact with there. Ruth studied at Curtis Institute and some of her classmates became life-long friends, like composer Samuel Barber, pianists Shura Cherkassky and Abby Simon. Such a life in music!! Now, I am inspired to get back to work at the piano, and I think you will be too!
I was very excited to listen to the newest recording by the splendid pianist, Paul Lewis, of the piano pieces composed by Johannes Brahms late in his life. I have studied and learned many, many of these Op. 116, 117, 118, and especially 119 "intermezzi" and fantasies. I link an article by David Allen regarding what Paul Lewis calls "works of abject anguish," but please don't let this darken your day! Listen to these pieces on whatever streaming platform you prefer; I think you will agree with my assessment of them as pieces of great beauty. We can all use a little Brahms in our lives! I hope you enjoy as much as I do.
Ah, the summer is fleeting, and so is the hope I had of finishing my preparations for a late summer recital! My enthusiasm for the music I have been working on to perform for this recital has not at all dimmed, just been somewhat postponed! In all honesty, I keep thinking of other material that would work well. I have decided to "let go" of one piece so that I may include another - the "Nocturne" for piano written by Samuel Barber, a composer whose music I have been particularly drawn to, especially his works for piano. As I really dig into this piece, I have been doing some reading and listening, particularly to the late pianist John Browning. Browning was quite connected to Samuel Barber, as Browning premiered some of Barber's piano music. In 1962 Browning gave the premiere of Barber's Piano Concerto, which was written for him. In 1993 Browning won a second Grammy award for his recording of many of Barber's solo piano works. Browning's recording are, for me, a wonderful reference for study of Barber. Along similar lines, I was delighted to happen upon a wonderful youtube video of Browning talking about the "Russian school" of piano performance, especially discussing the teachings of Rosina Lhevinne, who for many years taught at Juilliard (she was a teacher of Louis Pollak, who I studied with for a time). I have linked this video with Browning here, and I encourage you to watch and contemplate........many interesting ideas about piano performance I think you will enjoy. Oh, and for those of you over the age of 21, Greg Anderson of the piano duo Anderson & Roe, is apparently quite a cocktail enthusiast! Here is Greg's recipe called "The Barber Nocturne," which has among the ingredients bourbon and pumpkin puree for those of you who can't wait for the pumpkin latte season! Play Barber responsibly!
THE BARBER NOCTURNEI created this autumnal drink while listening to the music of Samuel Barber — nostalgic, deep, earthy, sophisticated, melancholy, and distinctly American. Drink it while listening to his Violin Concerto, or his Cello Sonata, or his Essay, Op. 12… or if you dare, his famed Adagio for Strings. Or, simply enjoy it during the Thanksgiving season! Although it features pumpkin puree, this drink is far from a dessert drink, being neither too sweet nor too spicy.
Note: to make the brown sugar simple syrup, mix 2 parts brown sugar with 1 part water. Bring to a boil, then let cool before mixing it into the drink. Note: 1/2 ounce = 1 tablespoon. Interest has been building in the works of Nikolai Kapustin, who wrote in classical styles, with a jazzy spin. I read an article recently, which I link for you here, about a Russian composer whose name I had heard of but really hadn't explored his music. Kapustin wrote many, many works for solo piano, but also symphonies and chamber music. He died in 2020, and was largely "undiscovered" until recent decades when both Steven Osbourne and Marc-Andre Hamelin (both marvelous pianists who often look beyond the traditional piano repertoire) released wonderful recordings of Kapustin's solo piano music. Much of the music is available from Schott publishing, and you won't find on imslp, of course. Listen to this recording on youtube of Kapustin himself performing his own "24 Preludes in a Jazz Style" and let me know what you think!
Some of my students will remember learning a piece or two composed by Seymour Bernstein when we worked on our "Birds" recital! So, it was natural that I would gravitate towards this video interview with Seymour on touch, control, and Chopin. I have watched this video several times; please enjoy as I think it is marvelous!! Mr. Bernstein is a terrific teacher as well as a composer and pianist.
Since several of my students are learning about sonata-allegro form, I thought you might be interested in watching this brief video from Tonebase, done by one of my favorite pianists, Jean-Eflam Bavouzet, in which he beautifully discusses and illustrates some aspects of this form.
“We humans need music” – Martha Argerich at 80 – Ever Totally Irresistible! Noticed everywhere and named one of the greatest pianists of our time, Martha Argerich turned 80 on June 5. When hearing Argerich play, philosopher and musicologist Theodor W Adorno’s words instantly come to mind: “The most difficult should sound easy and effortless, overcoming all obstacles to return to a liberated game.” I know all of you realize that Martha Argerich has long been one of my "piano She-heroes!" I have linked a great article in Pianostreet.com with a video from Medici.com called "80 Minutes with the Magical Martha"....please watch and enjoy - she is truly a legend in our time. Frederic Rzewski, the truly formidable pianist and composer, died at the end of June. I have been feeling quite nostalgic since reading of his passing (see NY Time obituary linked here). I had the privilege of hearing him play in person on several occasions, the most memorable of which was an incredible performance of his best known piece, "The People United Will Never Be Defeated," a virtuosic set of 36 variations on a Chilean protest song. Mr. Rzewski presided at an upright piano brought in to the upstairs rooms at Wholey's Fish Market in the Strip - yes, that's right, at Wholey's!! Frederic was in Pittsburgh for other concerts, along with visiting relatives who live here. I will absolutely never forget that performance. I needed to get my hands on the score again, so I visited Carnegie Library and I have been happily sitting at the piano re-visiting this amazing work (full disclosure....it's REALLY difficult, and I can only say I have worked on just a few of the variations!) I will link a video performance of Frederic performing his piece a few years ago, but there are some splendid recordings: Ursula Oppens (he composed this piece for her in 1975), Marc-Andre Hamelin, Igor Levit, and Conrad Tao. Please give a listen and let me know what you think!
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