Exiles Know Freedom

Posted by a friend, Alan Eason:

I love this emotional rendition of "The Stars and Stripes Forever," conducted by then-National-Symphony conductor Mstislav Rostropovich on his return to his homeland of Russia in 1990. He had been stripped of his citizenship under the Soviets for sheltering and defending Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who also took refuge in the United States. Rostropovich loved his homeland of Russia, and his return concert, held in the Bolshoi Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, drew half of the intelligentsia of Moscow and was televised on Russian TV nationwide. After a mournful rendition of (his mentor as a youth) Shostakovich's #5 symphony, which depicted Stalinism and its terrors, he brought the audience to its feet with "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as a finale.

Oh yes! Dvorak's Largo with Hymn Lyrics

It was meant to be: sweet words for this sweet classical melody.  So many hymns are thus set, and how amazing they are!



Dvorak's Largo -  Goin' Home
This has been added to dear daughter's lullaby playlist!  
And by this I discovered Sissel... how lovely she sings!

Listening...

The exquisite Tampa Oratorio Society is performing this choral work by Faure in March, so I decided to go listen.  Quite amazing!

When I met my dear friend Lauren, we were around fifteen years old.  Our families were staying in the beautiful mountains of Colorado at a home school family camp.  We had a grand time in the varied camp activities and exploring the land, and when we were at the lodge, people gathered around the piano and had fun making music.  Some brought their own instruments.  Lauren brought this book of medleys, and it has been a favorite of mine since.  Actually, finding great hymn arrangements has been an ongoing challenge for me! 

Timeless Hymns with Ageless Classics, Book & CD

By: Marilynn Ham

It is so nice when books come with CD's.  It gives you an interpretation of the music to consider, and you can pick which one is your favorite to start on without having to sight read them all.  

My favorite is still the one Lauren played in Colorado: Meditation from Thais with "My Jesus, I Love Thee." I performed it last month for my church's offertory.  It is one of the hardest pieces I've performed in the last year.

Recommended CD: My Cry Ascends - Newly Composed Hymns

I cannot recommend this CD enough - listen and enjoy!!

Sheet music and sample tracks here.


My Cry Ascends | Greg Wilbur from Compass Cinema on Vimeo.

Scripture Lullabies

The CD which I gave the Mery's- and have
since given to other parents as well!

In honor of the recent birth of Holden Chandler Mery, son of my dear friends Caitlin and Drew Mery, I wanted to post this audio resource.  Thanks, Cait, for the recommendation!

P.S.  Today happens to be the Mery's first anniversary!

Cait and me, as each other's Maid of Honor

Hooked on Classics

Something for everyone!  A medley of the world's favorite classics.  In the version he taught me years ago, Dave Clark altered the Beethoven 5th and added in the Rhapsody in Blue theme.  We did it as an adaptation, using what was written note wise, and the chord symbols given.  Always fun!

Piano Classics Volumes I and II - Intermediate pieces reference

I went through the two volumes of this wonderful and affordable Piano Classics collection, searching for intermediate and advanced pieces to teach.

Volume 1                   

Albeniz Malaguena

Bach

Four Pieces for The Little Notebook

Prelude No. 1 from the The Well-Tempered Clavier

Air from the Suite in D Major

Beethoven: Fur Elise

Moonlight Sonata mvt. 1

Rondo A Capriccio  - Rage over  op. 129

6 Variations from the opera La Molinara

Hungarian Dance No. 5  -  Brahms

Chopin:

Valse Op 64 No. 2

Nocturne Op. 72 no. 1

Nocturne in E Flat Op 9 No. 2

Prelude OP. 28  No. 6

Valse Op. 64 No. 1

Le Coucou  Daquin 

Nocturne Field  in Bb

Rondino in C Diabelli

Poem in Bb Fibich  d. 1900

Anitra’s Dance pg 1  Grieg

Gavotte in D  F.  Gossec Classical Era

A` Alfredo G. Faria Playera  Granados

Air And Variations Handel in E 

The Harmonious Black smith from Suite No. 5

Haydn Sonata in D Major

Joplin The Cascades

The Music Box O. 32  liadov

To a Wild Rose MacDowell

Alla Turca?

Sonata K 545  Mozart in C

Fantasy in D minor k 397

Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffman  J. Offenbach

Peter and The wolf   Prokofieff

La Tambourin  Rameau

Song of India  Korsakov

Italian Song  Op 39 No. 15  Tchaikovsky

Serenade   DUET    Schubert

Moment Musical  op 94  No 3  Schubert

Soldier’s March Schumann  & :

Marche Militiare

The Happy Farmer from Album of the Young

Traumeri

(DUET)

The Beautiful Blue Danube

Vol 2

Prelude No. 2 from 12 Little Preludes

2 pt Invention No. 8

2 pt Invention No. 4

Sonatina No. 1 in G Major

Sonatina No. 2 in  F Major

Sonata Pathetique  2^nd Mvt. Adagio

Prelude in E m  Chopin  op 28  No. 4

Raindrop Prelude

Prelude in C minor

Polonaise Militaire Op.40 No.1

Largo New World Symphony Dvorak

The Dying Poet Gottschalk Meditation

Passacaille  Handel in Gm

Sarabande  Handel

Surprise Symphony Andante Haydn.

An Alexis Hummel

Flower Song   (pre-Lieb) Op. 39 Lange

Merry Widow waltz Lehar

Confidence

Op 19 no. 4  Consolation Mendelssohn

 Venetian Boat Song  No. 2  Op 30, No. 6

12 Variations  265k  Ah! Vous dirai-je , maman

 Minuet from Don Juan  Mozart

Sonata in A k. 331  Mozart

Dance of the Hours from La Giaconda  Amilcare Ponchielli

Minuet in A Minor  Purcell

The Young Prince and Young Princess  Korsakov

Melody in F  Op. 3, No. 1  Anton 

Romance  OP. 44, No. 1   Rubinstein

Trois Gymnope’dies  erik Satie

Pastoral Scarlatti in G

Knight Rupert  Album for the Young Schuman

 

Advanced (Level 5- 8 )

Clair de LuneFinlandia Sibelius

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, 

Waltz of the Flowers & 

“June”  Barcarolle -  Tchaikovsky

The Skater’s Waltz  - Waldteufel

And many more which I haven't listed.

Favorite Virtuosic Piano Literature

My top favorite virtuosic pieces that I have learned or want to learn:
Bach 's Gigue in G major (French Suite No 5)
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
John Novacek's Full Stride Ahead 
Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag
Transcription of Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Chopin's 'Minute' Waltz in Db
Lecuona's Malaguena
Khorsakav's Flight of the Bumblebee
Whitewater Chopsticks, by Calvin Jones
 Aquarium from The Carnival of the Animals - Camille Saint-Saëns

(others I am forgetting, of course)

and this :


Beethoven "Moonlight" Sonata op 27 # 2 Mov 3

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

This past Sunday, I played one of my favorite pieces, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,

by Handel, transcription for piano solo, as postlude for Sunday worship.  I wanted to do it on organ, a much neglected instrument these days, as fewer and fewer learn to play it.  It has well been named the Queen of the instruments, only topped by the voice.  This piece lends itself well to organ, though the score was not written for it.  I am not trained in organ, but, as G. K. Chesterton said, "if something is worth doing, it's worth doing badly" (rather than not at all!)  It went off alright, and there were some very happy listeners who thanked me afterward.    Here is the score.  It is truly one of the most pristine pieces ever written.

Theme from the film Amelie

 I was practicing in the rooms at the USF School of Music one evening when I heard this.  I asked the girl playing it what it was, and found the sheet music on scribd and noteflight (also adding it to my youtube playlist). 

I find a lot of sheet music on Noteflight.  It requires registration to search it for music people have written/transcribed/arranged, but it's no hassle.  So register and search if you like, but for ease, here is the sheet music, courtesy of http://m-piano.blogspot.com. 

How many other things are we missing?

This is so awesome. Please take a moment to read:

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

A little Medtner

In honor of my good friend, fellow USF student, and extraordinary pianist, Jeff Chodill, I wanted to post my favorite number from his graduate concert in Spring 2011 at USF, consisting entirely of Nikolay Medtner.

Playing by Ear and Jane Austen Music

  Playing by ear has no official term that I am aware of for when someone re-composes music based on hearing something, be it a simple melody, a vocal piece with accompaniment, or a complex jazz improvisation. 

When I "pulled this by ear," it was a special point in my aural training because for the first time I really "re-composed," so to speak, a full and rich rendition of a very excellent piece of music.  Before most of my aural renditions had been just completing an assignment.  When my teacher heard this, he said I had turned a page in my skill.  Those are special moments for a teacher. It just took the right piece to inspire me, no necessity or particular knowledge of what is achievable as far as aural renditions.  Sometime I'll get myself recording on my digital piano and put my rendition on here.
Later, I received the score of this piece in the book "Jane Austen's World."  The rendition there added a few touches to mine, but actually I had re-composed a much fuller rendition of the film soundtrack than the book offered.  One advantage of playing by ear! 
If you can hum it, you can play it by ear.

Playing at Nursing Homes with Linus and Lucy

Here they are again, The Piano Guys - my favorite cellist, Steven Sharp Nelson, with his fantastic pianist. My dear Mom took me to nursing homes to bring brightness and variety to shut in people from a young age.  This continues to be a ministry that is near and dear to my heart - being a friend to the lonely.  Playing an instrument can be a great entry into a lonely soul's life. 
Playing at nursing homes is a great way for a pianist to step out of their comfort zone and playing in public. Most of the time it tends to be like you are playing background music.  Another venue is for ministry fundraisers.  I have played in numerous banquets and teas for Pregnancy Care Centers - great atmosphere and response.

I like this Cellist!

...and his pianist!  Together with their behind-the-scenes crew, they are the Piano Guys.  Great entertainment!




      Very beautiful, my style completely, and inculcates the theme from  Holst's Jupiter theme from Suite of the Planets (listen at 3 minutes) which has been used as the tune for a majestic hymn, O God Beyond All Praising.    Now for some real entertainment, see this cellist as Jedi.


Of course he also took the Cello piece every cello and Bach fan loves and took it up a notch. Actually 7 notches.  I like to listen to Steven Sharp Nelson on grooveshark streaming, free.  The Piano Guys song list is also great.

Another "My Next Big Piece" :o)

Yet another piece I discovered at the Colson Guest House in a book of easy piano solo favorites:


WOW!  I love the glorious, victorious dynamism of this piece! It is nicknamed "Heroic."

Boston Pop's Christmas - Somewhere in My Memory

When I was growing up, Boston Pop's "Joy To The World" with John Williams was my favorite CD at Christmas time, and "Somewhere in My Memory" will always be in my memory.  Home Alone is a great Christmas movie!!  =]  I happened upon this video from another pianist-blogger. Some Christmas, I hope to teach this to some student who shares my joy in this sweet melody.  Enjoy!

http://blip.tv/pianopodcast/somewhere-in-my-memory-from-home-alone-5815895

Happy Thanksgiving!... Songs

I've been assigning Thanksgiving hymns to my students. 

And Thanksgiving would not be complete without good ol' Charlie Brown!  One of my students just began learning this theme.  Should be a fun challenge for rhythm and agility.

 

More from our Honeymoon: WhItEwAtEr Chopsticks!

On our way home from our time in Virginia, we stayed at the home of a most hospitable family I met in 2006 at a Little Bear Outdoor Adventure camp in Pennsylvania. Hope, also a pianist and piano teacher, showed us a video of her and her student playing a dramatic duet of this piece, and it was AWESOME!  I want to learn this piece, and copy her idea!!  :)  Here is a rendition I liked from youtube:





Sheet Music  here