Week 4: Submit your recording!

Marc M Cool! And pretty awesome to see Beethoven's cryptic handwriting along side ... I mean, thanks to all the editors Love the funny moments (esp the awkward silence ). The slow section actually reminded me a bit of his Pastorale Sonata.

Priya Viseskul Thanks! And YES, I'm so glad editors deciphered everything for us.

The moments of sudden silence make me think of listening to an old LP player...it's as if the pianist is lifting the needle and dropping it back down somewhere, haha.

Marc M great playing! I really like the part which goes silent and you turn to look at the camera

Peter Golemme Glad you made it. Can you check that your vdo is not private? Wouldn't want to miss it!

Peter Golemme just a thought, if you want to post your recording to the upcoming community concert this Saturday? 

Dominic Cheli so sorry again to have messed up on the technology again!! Forgot about the “private” switch.  Thanks for trying to alert me. I was at my event for most of the afternoon, didn’t see your message till I got home….

Maybe it’s just as well, my performance was not nearly as finished as all the others, every one of which I enjoyed so much!  I’m going to fix the setting and post it here, but I think it belongs more in the earlier “challenge” stage any way, rather than the performance page. I’m not done with this piece, maybe you’ll get to hear an updated version at a future concert.  Thanks for your patience Dominic and your kind guidance at these events.

  Priya Viseskul Argghhh!!  Messed up on the technology again! I’m sure I’m coming across as a total Dunderhead to my Tonebase colleagues!  I made myself late for my event trying to finish this, unable to get it off my iPad for about an hour.  I dashed out of the house for my event after seeing it had finally uploaded to YouTube.  Forgot that last little setting.

I’ll fix the setting and post it here anyway.  But thanks for the encouragement..I’ll see whether I can polish it further and if so maybe post it for the Christmas concert.  I do have something in mind for that already…

PS.  I watched the concert when I got home, and I LOVED  your Bagatelle.  A beautiful performance &. Such a beautiful piece.  All of them really. Thanks again. 

Peter Golemme Thank you  and oh well such is life when the technology just doesn't want to agree with you on the day  No pressure, though, so whenever you feel ready to share it with us!

Aaron that's simply beautiful, Aaron! Thanks so much for sharing. 

Peter Golemme that's amazing ... and must have needed quite a stamina to get through! I like it 

Peter Golemme love it that you pull out all stops and play with full musical vigour! Bravo! 

Priya Viseskul Thank you Priya. Among the most physically draining things about this piece is the RESTRAINT needed to play the soft parts softly in the midst of all the snappy staccato and sForzandos.  It's like pulling back against a powerful dog straining on the leash. This was Take 4 and I was running out of steam, but each Take was a little better than the previous.

Natalie Peh Thanks Natalie.  It was a little soon to try it at this tempo, but I couldn't resist.  This is Beethoven in very high spirits.  The boistersness of it wants a somewhat fast tempo, and the risk of stumbling or falling off the edge every step of the way adds to the exhileration!  But one doesn't want to get too much faster than this, as it would obscure the lyricism of the legato theme in the midst of all that stacatto..

I loved your alla tedesca . Played with such grace, balance and good humor.  Another example of Beethoven in  good spirits.  You'd think he was the most cheerful fellow around, if it weren't for the Tempest, the Moonlight, Appassionata.  Our two pieces are examples of when the sunlight breaks through those very dark clouds of emotional struggle!

Peter Golemme I'm listening to this now--great fun. Sound is nice and balanced and playing is clear. Also, I like your piano. Bravo!

Marc M Dear Marc, thank you so much.  And the surest way to my heart is to compliment my piano!  It's a Mason & Hamlin BB, 6'11'.  It weighs 900 lbs., and this baby is LOUD!   It was given by M&H to the concerto contest winner at New England Conservatory in 1916. It still has the plaque on it from her award. It stayed in her family for 3 generations until they ran out of piano players, and I bought it in 2018 and had it done over by a master technician/builder. I love it!

I am a great admirer of your playing as well as your video productions!  I got ahold of Lumafusion last year and have been playing around with its basic capabilities such as Multicam and dissolving clips.  I aspire to reach your level of sophistication and wit

Your Bagatelle performance was wonderful.  Not only in your playing but also in your conception. I felt like I understood the purpose of sections that had seemed rather oblique to me before.  and the look(s) at the camera -- priceless! keep up the good work

Peter Golemme I like your tempo, and I have to agree that pushing it just that little bit more than is comfortable, does give it a certain edginess. The slightest hint of danger!

Peter Golemme Thank you! I'm glad you liked the bagatelle. Although the piece is marked Presto, I think the clever harmonic changes and counterpoint gets missed at that speed. So, most recordings don't "do it" for me. I found playing it a little bit slower brings out more music and is more understandable to me (though too slow and it becomes belabored because it has a lot of repetition...unless it's Glenn Gould, whose slow interpretation is great fun).