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Hi gang,

I have an unfortunate tendency to post a recording at the first hint of success rather than wait for a more refined version.

So here's my first take (i.e., first successful run thru/recording without significant/blatant errors) of Einaudi's In Un Altra Vita:

http://www.box.net/public/ciq79975gb

This is a rough rough draft, no refinement at all, bad bad dynamics, very little artistry (and truly a caricature of Kawaigirl's ideal version...so this is just ham fisted pianoing so far, but I'm just so bloody relieved after so many bad recording efforts I had to share this or burst.

I actually do know what I need to do to improve this, play it a couple hundred/thousand more times, but so happy today that I finally got a good recording

BTW, this is my own arrangement, I tried to stick as close to the original as possible...had to invert all the chords, but ended up learning the bulk of it as written anyway

Hey Sid,

I thought that was good rough draft of this piece.

Very nice, sid! Your arrangement does a good job of conveying the original tone of the piece, but it does sound a little more do-able.

Yes, there's nothing quite so rewarding as leaning over and pressing that Red Dot at the end of what you know is a decent take!

Thanks, Monica! Thanks Kawaigirl! I appreciate the feedback and encouragement. I'm just so happy I can make this music, still struggling very hard not to wake up from this piano dream

...And thanks again for the introduction to Einaudi, the interest on my debt of gratitude continues to compound

Finally!!! I ordered on 12/11 and it was on backorder at musicnotes.com......finally shows as shipped today!!!

Can't wait to get the book.....now, I just need to learn how to play the piano

Yea, rocky! Can't wait to hear your first recording of one of his pieces. I still can't get over the beauty of his music.

Today I started work on a new Einaudi piece, "Giorni Dispari." That one is not so hard either but very very pretty. It has one section with notes WAY up on the ledger lines and I had to cheat and pencil them all in.

Monica, loved your playing of Nefeli. YOu have a beautiful sensitive touch which really suits the music you play.
I can't understand why Einaudi's music would make someone nervous. It is very restful and relaxing. Also, I disagree with those who find it monotonous. If they listened more closely they would hear the subtle nuances and slight variations which add interest,without disrupting the easy flow of the music.
Of Course, I like minimalist music---Glass is one of my favorite minimalist composers. He wrote the music for the movie "The Hours."
Looking forward to listening to more of Monica's playing.
Gaby Tu

Just finished listening to Sid's recording of Un Altra Vita. Really very very nice for what he calls a "run through." Beautiful piece, and although there were a few spots that it seemed he felt a bit uncomfortable with, on the whole he did a very fine job.
It is nice to hear "works in progress." Gabv Tu

gaby,

Thanks! Really appreciate the vote of confidence. I'm still working away at it (when I'm not banging my head against Comptine), right now building up hand and forearm strength to sustain the piece (one thing to be said about piano, my hands and forearms are really buff looking these days . I don't seem to get tire of this piece...the more I play it the more music seems to come thru.

rocky, congrats, really looking forward to hearing your recording as well. Have you decided yet which piece you'll learn first?

I think I read somewhere that this "best of" book is arranged in order of difficulty?? I may have dreamed that, but whatever the case, I'm sure I'll be looking for the easiest piece to try and learn first. I have a feeling most, if not all, of the pieces are going to above my level at the moment. But I'll give it my best shot!

It's not in order of difficulty, at least as far as I can determine. Try Limbo first. It's all just whole note chords in the left hand and arpeggios in the right hand.

My copy arrived short before Christmas and I had my first peck at Nefeli first, and also tried out Limbo. Considering the fact that I usually torture myself with Chopin and the like (which is well worth it), I found myself pleasantly surprised by Einaudi's music. As far as I can say now, the only difficulty I encounter is speed, but that should be ok in no time. However, to all those of you who posted recordings - really very well done, because although the music's structure may be easy, the more attention you have to pay to phrasing (f, p, etc.) - only then it develops its (who said that?) peaceful and soothing quality. Again, I am grateful for having found you on the ABF.

Patty

Great point, Patty. And that's where this sheet music collection is so helpful, because the pieces appear to have been very carefully and thoroughly transcribed. Sometimes I think Einaudi puts a different dynamic marking on each and every measure!

I didn't think I was crazy...well I actually I might be.....but this is from some website called music-first.com:

The Best Of Ludovico Einaudi....A compilation featuring all the pieces from the albums Le Onde, I Giorni and Eden Roc. The pieces in this beautifully presented collection are organised in order of increasing difficulty.


Not that one should believe everything they read on the internet!

I just learned "Nefeli" and it really is not difficult at all. At first, the speed and amount of notes played per bar can seem a bit much, but after a while, you will notice a definite repetitive pattern which over time will enable you not to even think about these sections.

This song has quickly become one of my all time favorite pieces and I think I may even play it for the next recital.

Personally, I think every single adult beginer should learn this piece as well as Christofori's Dream as it will improve your playing dramatically.

You will learn to stretch your hands on both pieces and Christofori;s Dream will definitely teach you some very wide hand positions and chords.

After playing both these pieces now, some of the other music I have been playing now seems so much easier to reach and play.

Somebody should make these two pieces mandatory to learn!!.....anyone want to start a "song club" of sorts??

Well, I'll be gosh-darned. I'm going to take a careful look at the book tonight. And if that's the case, I'll start picking new pieces to learn from the first half of the book.

Hmmm...now that I've had the chance to look the book over, I guess I would say that they are in a rough order of difficulty. (Though I disagree with some of their rankings. )

Makes me feel rather encouraged, actually, as most of the pieces I've been working on fall in the middle of the book.

Speaking of Einaudi, I just ordered his latest album today. I don't think it's been formally released in the U.S. yet, but I'm getting it from some import retailer I found on amazon. If you go to Einaudi's official website (just google Ludovico Einaudi) he has excerpts from it, and it sounds beautiful. Most of the pieces have orchestration in addition to piano, though.

He has a forum on the web site, too, and it's neat to read the threads because he pops in and contributes every now and then. He says the sheet music for the new album should be available within a few months.

OK, so I anxiously opened the package containing my new sheet music as soon as I got home from work.......well.....ummm......let's just say I will have to enjoy listening to you all play the pieces from this book and I'll just follow along with all the pretty little notes in my book.....because.....I don't think I can play anything in it.....(sigh)......

So......I'm stuck at a beginner level, that's ok....I'm loving every minute...perhaps in a year or two I can pull this book back out.....

For now, it's back to my "The Best of Jim Brickman" arranged by Dan Coates and my easy sheet music from "Les Miserables".....

hey guys After reading all your wonderful comments about this Einaudi guy...........I finally decided to order a CD the Echoes CD......Einaudi Collection, I should be getting it within a few days. I decided to order his CD first and check out his music I think its time I hear what all the fuss is about . Although I've heard a few good recordings here on PW, I want to hear more before I decide if I want to order his sheet music.

I am playing 'Nefeli" almost 20 times per day now!! . I am absolutely hooked!

Is this some kind of addictive piano-crack or something as I just can't stop playing it!!