Piano Extravaganza: An Exploration of Beethoven's Orchestral Style (feat. a performance of the "Pastorale Symphony"
2 Pianos! 4 Pianists! 8 Hands! Join us from the Colburn School as four of the faculty from Colburn's Summer Piano Seminar embark on an exploration of Beethoven's orchestral style through the lens of a transcription of his "Pastorale Symphony". Beginning with a conversation between Dominic Cheli, Fabio Bidini, Micah Yui, and Rodolfo Leone, the artists will cover topics such as: "Why are Beethoven's Symphonies important for pianists?" "How do we emulate different instruments?" and more. This conversation is followed by a COMPLETE performance of Beethoven's Symphony no.6 "Pastorale". An Event NOT to be missed!
Follow this event link to tune in!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/pno-piano-extravaganza-colburn-beethoven-symphony
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
NOTE: If for some reason you have trouble viewing the stream, visit this link and use the "password: beethoven" to join!
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Looking forward to this. We'll join a little late, as there is a performance of 17th century Canzonas here starting an hour prior to this event - but we'll hurry home to see this too!
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Michelle R You can always watch it from the archive. Thankfully it is recorded! I loved it so much I am going to watch it again!
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Pauline we ended up not going to the Canzonas, so were able to tune in from the beginning. Though I am glad it is recorded!
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I am looking forward to this!
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What a fun topic!! Thank you! I play 8 hands with 3 others amateurs. Besides the interesting interpretation challenges of emulating different instruments, I find 8 hands playing has a unique challenges as there aren't a conductor.
Would you mind getting into topics like -
1) How do you resolve stylistic differences? Do you decide ahead of time who's the "director/conductor"? Making Music by committee can be so hard.
2) How do you deal with fermata (which Beethoven music is full off)? Do you predetermined via the numbers of beats?
3)Which editions of 8 hands do you use? For sym 6, there's Schubert(Breitkopf & Härtel,) and Kirchner(on Peters) on imslp.
Beyond Beethoven Sym, how do you find 8 hands music besides on imslp? Or do you make your own?Many Thanks! Looking forward to the live streams.
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That was AMAZING! Just so, so good… Sublime, inspiring, edifying; cathartic even. Like in a fine orchestral performance of the Pastoral Symphony, my tears were flowing at the beginning of the final movement. Very beautiful and moving - thank you so much for this treat! (Also, Dominic’s grumbling runs of the celli and double basses in the thunderstorm movement were really fun.)
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Alexander Weymann I agree!
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This concert reminded me that as a young boy, whenever I was listening to a Beethoven symphony, I would follow along with my grandfather's big book of all 9 symphonies transcribed for piano 4 hands on my lap (since we didn't have the orchestra scores). I think that's how people must have experienced Beethoven symphonies before recordings were easily and universally available, especially in smaller towns and in the country where there was no orchestra to perform them: by playing them at home on the piano.
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Alexander Weymann Sweet memory...
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I loved this! Absolutely wonderful! Delightful and exciting! I watched it LIVE and I am watching it again!
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As I said in the Chat, I can see why Micah said it was "a religious experience" learning this with her three colleagues. Gorgeous and exquisite. Glorious! I stood and clapped in my home at the conclusion of the concert!
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Thank you, Dominic, Fabio, Micah and Rodolfo! I am grateful to hear and see such exceptional artistry and music making! Beautiful from start to finish!
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Importantly - THANK YOU to BEETHOVEN for such gorgeous music to enrich our lives - our souls!
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Please take some time to watch this. A most amazing performance and it was so great to see Dominic playing (his technique was awesome) as well. I, too, willI watch it again! No good superlatives to describe this.
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Excellent! Everything was great- from the discussion and introduction, to the marvellous playing by all the pianists! Bravo!
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What an absolutely fantastic and extraordinary performance!!! Bravo!!! This is a must watch indeed. How you communicated and was breathing together was so moving and special. And bringing out every voice rightly balanced, just beautiful. Thank you Dominic, Rodolfo, Fabio and Micah!!
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I also enjoyed this! Very well done, both the discussion and the performance.
