WEEK THREE Updates: Main Thread - Beethoven smiles in the Coda!
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 October 4 - 11th I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music:
Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Variation you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Variation 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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What I worked on: writing variations on the B sections of variations 1 and 2
What was easy: nothing yet
What was challenging: Channeling Beethoven while being me.
The repeat of the B section that Beethoven wrote out in Variation 3 really appealed to me; it seemed like a repeat worth playing. Today I wrote down some ideas on what repeats of the B sections of Variations 1 and 2 might sound like. I’ve attached the scores. This was GREAT FUN!
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Monika Tusnady Really beautiful, Monika!
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Monika Tusnady What creativity you bring to the piece and challenge! I love this very much!
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Monika Tusnady So you added some French flavor to the German ! An interesting thing to do and in my opinion made the variations sound more modern .
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mariannejhampton you are familiar with the criticism often levied against classical music by o-so-open-minded (!) people: that the classical canon is o-so-passé. For me that’s just ignorant novelty-seeking for its own sake. However, I do like a little spice in my musical life. Keeps me on my toes, aware of what I’m playing and hearing.
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Monika Tusnady Agree with you entirely . Spice is good !
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Monika These are really lovely. Thank you for sharing them!
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Monika Tusnady I absolutely adore YOUR variations on the variations. In fact, let's call them #7 and #8. I started to do one also, but I'm quite busy this week. If I get a moment during the weekend, I'll post it. I decided to play around with a waltz version!
I'm going to download your .pdfs!
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Gail Starr OOOH! We can make our own little team of retiree composers! With you on the marketing committee, our music is sure to make the hit parade!
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Monika Tusnady Again, I enjoyed your compositional artistry and your performances! Thank you, Monika!
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I made this video of Var. III Friday night. It was more straightforward than Var. II. So that’s my answer for what was easy. What was difficult? What’s difficult is I’m an A/V novice - someday I hope to get more high tech with my recording set up. For now I’m just using my iPad. I notice the bass is somewhat lost compared to live.
https://youtube.com/shorts/QhwYuYHFdbQ?feature=share-
Susan I had never thought of this variation as straightforward but yes, perhaps it is! Like you, I use only an iPhone for recording and won’t be using anything else; I am not exactly Lang Lang, after all. BUT I had not identified the reason for the weak bass that John pointed out and this must be it! There must be a quick and easy way to compensate, though. Dominic to the rescue?
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Monika Tusnady realistically I will probably just keep using my iPad as well because it’s pretty good and it’s easy. I was thinking perhaps the location of the IPad being on the right might be favoring the treble. I really think my RH was quieter on M. 16-19 I was working hard to keep it light. Oh well…
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Susan Well done, Susan! I like your phrasing very much! It comes from very good and solid technique.
Yes, the bass will be a little cut on the low frequencies with these iPad/iPhone recordings, but it still sounds good and I also like the simplicity of it. But I'm sure Brett has some advices if you choose something more advanced in the future :)
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Susan A beautiful duet from your right and left hands ! Lovely
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Susan Very stable and well played! It's interesting you found this easier than II because for me Var. III was one of the most difficult because of the left hand (something I struggle with I guess). The recording sounds fine to me and I don't think the quality of the recording matters as much as the playing
That said if you're interesting in more info (probably more detail than you want!) there was a livestream a few months ago that goes into depth about piano recording techniques and equipment: https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/basics-of-home-recording-piano
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Sindre Skarelven Thank you for such a nice compliment!
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mariannejhampton Thank you so much Marianne!
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Brett Gilbert Thank you so much Brett. I am left handed so maybe that helped on this one? I will check out that live stream, thank you for the link!
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Susan I'm a lefty also!
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Susan Great playing in the right style of the variation, Susan! I am using iPad too and, you know, it's not the best way of recording. When I have time to look for about microphones for the iPad, for try a best sound, I will share it in the forum.
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Susan Ahhh, now I have seen the information shared by Brett... I must see it...
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Brett Gilbert Thank you, Brett, for sharing this livestream about piano recording!
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Juan Carlos Olite I have only watched the beginning of the video so far, because I liked the first idea he talks about of using the Shure MV88 iOS mic with your iPad or iPhone. I may try that solution soon. I need something easy and economical.
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Susan I will watch the video and think about it. But, as you say this microphone could be a good one. Thanks Susan for the information.
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