For the Lovers of the Piano and other Instruments Classical Music

[Steve5380]

 

Franz Liszt... Brilliant!   Frankly... I felt sorry for the piano     My preference is Chopin  

[Steve5380]

The first of a cycle of lieder by Schubert that stands at the pinnacle of German lyrics is here played in the best version I know ( with Alfred Brendel, no wonder ) and the singing by Fischer-Dieskau is nice too, although he has done it better.  The translations of the text in several languages helps understanding of what the lied is about.

 

 

[PlayersGroup]

My ex is a fan of Martha Argerich playing Prokofiev's Toccata. Whatever exposure to classical piano, I got from him. He would play Rustle of Spring for me and I'll be so so happy at the time. I still love him the most even if we are no longer together in person.

[Blog]

“A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice that specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs, leaps and trills.”

How the singer sustains and controls the range of her singing voice is truly a phenomenon:

 

 

Edited October 21, 2023 by Blog

[Steve5380]

On 10/17/2023 at 3:26 PM, PlayersGroup said:

My ex is a fan of Martha Argerich playing Prokofiev's Toccata. Whatever exposure to classical piano, I got from him. He would play Rustle of Spring for me and I'll be so so happy at the time. I still love him the most even if we are no longer together in person.

 

I also like Argerich's version of Prokofiev's Toccata, played when she was a young woman.  Amazingly, she has not lost much of her playing ability.

 

 

This atonal composition well played tickles the musical center of the brain. But she has played much nice music from the Classical and Romantic era.  I find that to listen to this traditional classical music is more satisfying to our rational mind and its emotions.  

 

[Steve5380]

Among the best in classical music are the Mozart piano concertos.  The No. 21 is a treat for the spirit!   I find that among the best performances is the following:

 

 

Ignas Maknickas is a young pianist from Lithuania.  The only one I know from this part of the world, ha ha.  

 

Vladimir Horowitz used to say:  "there are 3 types of pianists:  Jewish, gay or bad".  Ignas is the opposite of "bad".   Could he be Jewish?  There was always Judaism in Lithuania,  tragically nearly wiped out by the Nazis, but many managed to escape to Israel and the US.  If he is not Jewish, the only alternative is "gay"... 

 

Here is another treasure of his playing:

 

 

Ignas looks to be of a delicate build and his playing is so too although full of character and with a deep understanding of Chopin's music.  Could he be an image of Chopin playing?  Poland and Lithuania are not too far apart.  And if he is one-of-us this will explain his high artistic quality.   

[GKS]

 

[GKS]

 

[Steve5380]

Franz Liszt was a great at taking other composer's masterpieces and making them into virtuoso piano pieces.  Here he transformed an early Lied composed by the 17 year old Schubert:

 

  

 

And here is the original Lied from Schubert.    Quite emotional from a 17 year old...

 

 

[Bobi]

Had the interest to play a blues riff learnt from youtube. 

It was so exciting to play blues..

[Guest DonsonKwa]

me too appreciate classical music 

[JusteMoi]

I hope it is okay for me to share this ... 

 

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

In a Persian Market is a piece of light classical music for orchestra with optional chorus by Albert Ketèlbey who composed it in 1920. Subtitled Intermezzo Scene, it was published by Bosworth in 1921. It evokes exotic images of camel-drivers, jugglers, and snake-charmers. When it was first published in a version for piano, it was advertised as an "educational novelty".

 

Theme and music

A synopsis of scenes by the composer mentions a caravan arriving, beggars, a princess carried by servants, jugglers, snake-charmers, and a caliph.[1] After the princess and the caliph have left, a muezzin calls to prayer from a minaret. The caravan continues its journey, and the market becomes silent.[1] The duration is around six minutes.[2]

An opening march shares "exotic" intervals, A – B-flat – E, with the composer's oriental intermezzo Wonga, used for the play Ye Gods in 1916.[3] A chorus of beggars sings: "Baksheesh, baksheesh Allah"; passers-by sing "Empshi" ("get away").[4] A romantic theme portrays the princess, similar to Stravinsky's Firebird.[3] Trumpets announce the caliph.[1] The concluding section "Call to prayer" of 22 measures was added later.[3]

[1983rophi]

On 10/25/2022 at 2:40 AM, Steve5380 said:

The scene of classical music performance keeps renovating and gaining in perfection.  And today, it is all at our disposal on the Internet.

 

Of performances of piano concertos, few have impressed me more than this very recent one in Japan,  with a Polish orchestra and the Japanese pianist Hayato Sumino  (Canteen). The music: Chopin Concerto No. 1,  heard hundreds of times but seldom so well played.

 

Last year, Hayato enchanted the audience of the 18th Chopin Competition in Warsaw, but inexplicably was not promoted to the finalists stage.  Many we considered that he should have been among the finalists and eventually become the winner.  

 

This video shows the quality of his performing, especially in the last movement Rondo Vivace which he played like fireworks.  This is the excellent technique I admire. 

 

 

 

I'm a Counter Tenor, 

Once a year I'll sing Opera, why? 

 

Coz the appreciation of classical music for me isn't in Piano, but in choir/choral. 

[Steve5380]

13 hours ago, 1983rophi said:

I'm a Counter Tenor, 

Once a year I'll sing Opera, why? 

 

Coz the appreciation of classical music for me isn't in Piano, but in choir/choral. 

 

You must be very advanced to sing Opera.  I also enjoy singing, being just a baritone I took singing lessons for many years.  I enjoy much the male high voice, having a preference for the tenor Andrea Bocelli,  here in the "sacred arias":  (Note:  clicking on the upper right corner icon will bring down a list of the 16 "sacred arias",  all masterfully sung)

 

 

All life long I have enjoyed classical music, and my love of the piano comes from its facility to make full music by using just our 10 fingers.  ( while our voice can only make single tone sounds ).  This is why the music of Chopin is of the highest quality while being produced with a single instrument by a single musician.   

 

But life is surely easier for a singer.  You take your voice with you wherever you travel,  while it is difficult to carry a grand piano around...   

.

Edited May 26, 2024 by Steve5380

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[Steve5380]

 

Another great interpretation by the excellent pianist MinSoo Sohn, of which I posted another video earlier. Bach's Goldberg Variations is one of his most appreciated compositions for the keyboard.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2024 by Steve5380

[JusteMoi]

 

[Steve5380]

Another excellent interpretation of Bach's Goldberg Variations is the later one of Glenn Gould,  when he was 50 y.o. and shortly before he passed away:

 

 

In his expressive playing it is easy to follow the polyphony of this complex composition.  It is a pity that at just 50 y.o. he looks so aged.

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[1983rophi]

I'm a Fan of JOHN RUTTER. 

 

My fav composition is his: "LOOK AT THE WORLD."

 

also a fan of JOHN WILLIAMS. 

[JusteMoi]

 

[GKS]

 

[GKS]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[mike_amk]

You know guys, while it is really nice to share our fav music, I was just wondering... if some of us who have a good Hi-Fi system at home, perhaps hosting a small afternoon gathering to listen and share our music over tea will be a lovely way to make new friends here.

 

Cheers 🥂 Mike 

 

[JusteMoi]

 

[mike_amk]

I've enjoyed this album of Asian inspired instrumental music, check out TakéDaké With Neptune:

https://www.discogs.com/release/14067781-TakéDaké-With-Neptune-Asian-Roots

 

 

 

Have a lovely music filled afternoon.

Cheers, Mike   

Edited June 18, 2024 by mike_amk
missed out attachment.

[Eriol90]

2 hours ago, mike_amk said:

I've enjoyed this album of Asian inspired instrumental music, check out TakéDaké With Neptune:

https://www.discogs.com/release/14067781-TakéDaké-With-Neptune-Asian-Roots

 

 

 

Have a lovely music filled afternoon.

Cheers, Mike   

Nice. Not many people know about shakuhachi in SG. I played shakuhachi too but our community is simply too small. Glad that you enjoy shakuhachi music. 

[mike_amk]

4 hours ago, Eriol90 said:

Nice. Not many people know about shakuhachi in SG. I played shakuhachi too but our community is simply too small. Glad that you enjoy shakuhachi music. 

Hey Eriol,

Well it is indeed a pleasure to now know of a shakuhachi player in the flesh!

I love listening to the Koto as well, ever since I received my first LP of the Sawai Koto Quartet.

 

I had the honour of meeting Mr. Tadao Sawai's daughter Kazue Sawai, on her trip to Singapore for a Koto concert promoting her new albums, some years ago... and she called me backstage to sign the LP's with her calligraphy brush as she felt a ball-point pen didn't seem Respectful on her father's album, and that she was a part of the Koto Quartet.

 

I shall post that album another day.

 

Edited June 18, 2024 by mike_amk
Typo