WEEK THREE Updates: Main Thread - Wrapping up the party!
Hello and welcome to the WEEK THREE Main Thread for this challenge! 
Alright everyone - this is the thread where we'll all be posting our daily updates.
Make sure you've read the rules before replying (<- click)
Twice a week between November 15-22nd I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music:
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Waltz you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Waltz you worked on: No. 1
- One thing you found easy: Learning the notes, and rhythms were rather straight-forward, and not challenging!
- One thing you found difficult: Shifting the Hands was a bit tricky to get smooth!
Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!
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Hey everyone! Just want to let you know that I was not able to practice Brahms this week. I suddenly got a few extra gigs coming up in short time that I need to focus on. So I will not be doing challenges for the next few weeks.
That being said, I will finish this project later and maybe post a video when it’s ready :)
I have enjoyed following everyone’s progress threw these waltzes, it’s been a great challenge and an awesome month Dominic has put together!
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Sindre Skarelven Enjoy the gigs! Look forward to seeing your
posts again when you return. I did watch the master class recording and I thought you did an amazing job with the Mozart!
Yes, this month of focusing on Brahms has been delightful. I have so enjoyed all the livestreams Dominic presented, as well as the choice for the challenge! -
Susan Sindre Skarelven Monika Tusnady Thanks so much for your support!! I had a great time with this month of Brahms. And we will be continuing this "composer of the month" tradition moving forward on tonebase!
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The hardest part was pulling back on the speed. I had to stop myself from playing more quickly and more loudly. For me it is a piece to enjoy quietly.
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Richard George Littlewood You are a hoot! You are the only person I know who can play a waltz in 4/4 time - and I love it! Don't ever stop being yourself - the world is richer for having people like you in it!
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Monika Tusnady Are you half English? you write English very well! None of my students know that phrase.
It's not 4/4! I just delay the 3rd beat, waltz-like.
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Richard George Littlewood
What nationality do you think I am? BTW: You are still a hoot! -
Monika Tusnady I had thought you might be French because that is where you are. And you look somewhat French. But now that you mention it Monika with a k doesn't look so French.
Let me google that...
ahh..
''Monika. Monika is a female name in German, Scandinavian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian and Hungarian (Mónika) which can also be seen in India. It is a variation of Monica, stemming from the word "advisor" in Latin and "unique" in Greek.''
So I think you come from the source of all good culture.... you're Greek!!
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Richard George Littlewood I wish! The Greeks invented everything; such a loss that the rest of the world (invaders) couldn't just leave them alone to keep inventing everything else.
My ethnic origin is your excellent googled list, but not my nationality. I speak six languages - that's my final hint.
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Monika Tusnady I think you have Hungarian roots, and Canadian nationality.
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Richard George Littlewood That was beautiful, Richard! This waltz could definitely be a piece in Alla Breve, brilliant! :D
You are a hoot, and Monika is hilarious! :D
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Richard George Littlewood YOU ROCK!
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Monika Tusnady There, you see. Sindre liked it, so it's not 4/4 time!
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Richard George Littlewood see what Google has to say about Alla Breve... Sindre and I also agree that your interpretations is just lovely!
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Monika Tusnady Yes, it seems Sindre agrees with you! Maybe Dominic will defend me....
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Richard George Littlewood Well, we shouldn't think 2/4, 3/4, 4/4...
It simply flow, it has "melos" spirit. Well done, Richard; Waltz 9 is one of my favorites (minimalist, strange, but beautiful). -
Juan Carlos Olite Thank you Juan Carlos. Yes it's a strange beautiful piece of music. And I agree we shouldn't get too caught up in the exact time signature. No one sings exactly in time, and you don't have to constrict yourself too much to the so called time signature. The music came before any time signature. What we see printed on the score is only a guide for that music. Anyway that's what I believe.
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Richard George Littlewood Monika Tusnady Sindre Skarelven Juan Carlos Olite
Hey guys! So I just listened to your waltz, Richard and I really enjoyed its feeling of sadness, with the sighing melodic right hand! Really original how you play it. To be VERY specific, I made this short little video showing how the piece can be played in 2/4 (more similar to how you are doing it Richard!) vs. 3/4. Notice the left hand particularly, and the quarter rests of the 3rd beat left hand in the 3/4 version!
This is not to criticize but rather to define what we are all hearing just for our information!
Let me know your thoughts! And I think it is really fascinating to examine!
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Dominic Cheli Thank you, Dominic, for your clear explanation! Now I understand what you say.
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Finally, I've had only time to play three Waltzes for the last video (7, 9 and 15). But, I have enjoyed a lot this challenge, it would have been perfect for Christmas holidays
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Juan Carlos Olite
Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with this community once again. As always, I have nothing but admiration for your playing. A few things that stood out:
No. 7 has the same sense of grandeur that you also displayed in No. 1
No. 9, in your hands, is infused with the innocence and simplicity one associates with children – it’s just charming.
No. 15 is so self-assured in your interpretation – none of that hesitation I associated with this set of waltzes; of course, this berceuse sounds great no matter how you dress it.
Wow and thank you!
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Juan Carlos Olite Bravo, Juan Carlos! Outstanding performance there! I had to relisten
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Sindre Skarelven Thank you so much, Sindre! I'll keep working this music.
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Monika Tusnady Thank you so much, Monika! You're always so attentive and thorough in your words. Thank you!
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Juan Carlos Olite Beautifully played - very expressive. I enjoyed your video very much!
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Susan Thank you so much, Susan!
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