Recital #14 --- May 15, 2009

Monica K. #1199419 05/14/09 09:49 PM

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20
Performer's name:	JeanieA
From:	Reno, Nevada
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Experience:	about 6 years of lessons
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Suicide is Painless
Composer:	Mike Altman and Johnny Mandel
Duration:	02:34
Source of music:	Sheet music
Instrument used:	Janssen spinet
Recording method:	audacity; using the built-in mic on my Mac. If you listen closely towards the end, you might pick up the sound of Pickles the dog's tags as she rolled on the floor.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	I've always liked both the music and TV show. Although Suicide may be painless, getting this recorded WASN'T! Worst case of "Red-Dot Fever" EVER!!

Monica K. #1199420 05/14/09 09:52 PM

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21
Performer's name:	Coolkid70
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Experience:	One year as a child Started again around early 2008
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Visions Vugitives #1
Composer:	Sergei Prokofiev
Duration:	01:32
Source of music:	Schirmer Edition
Instrument used:	Kawai K3, 2008
Recording method:	1 MXL 770 condenser microphone hooked to computer through a preamp
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	The entire set of Visions Fugitives is very colourful. I particularly enjoy this first movement. It combines a melody derived from E phrygian with a variety seventh chords for a very rich effect. I feel that the set in general fulfills the lines that inspired it: In every fugitive vision I see worlds, Full of the changing play of rainbow hues. (Konstantin Dmitreyovich Balmont) Please enjoy.

Monica K. #1199421 05/14/09 09:52 PM

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22
Performer's name:	Euphonatrix
From:	Germany
Experience:	5 years
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Album for the Young, No. 21 - *** (untitled)
Composer:	Robert Schumann
Duration:	02:10
Source of music:	originally sheet music, now played from memory
Instrument used:	rebuilt Weihenmeyer & Co. upright (piano originally dates from ca. 1921)
Recording method:	one Shure PG 81 condenser mic into Sony Minidisc Recorder into computer via Audacity
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is one of the three pieces in Schumann's collection "Album für die Jugend" (Album for the Young, op. 68) which, instead of a title, bear only three small stars *** - and, of course, Schumann's instructions. In this case: "Langsam und mit Ausdruck zu spielen" ("To be played slowly and with expression"). Robert Schumann's daughter Eugenie recollects in her book "Memories" what her mother Clara answered when asked about the meaning of those three stars: "These, maybe, are the thoughts of parents about their children." My mental imagery goes in a completely different direction, however - this is the beauty that lies in romantic music: It evokes very personal and unique feelings, images and thoughts. I learned this piece a while ago and it has become a part of my repertoire. It keeps changing and growing all the time. This recording dates from today (May 3rd), but I am curious what my playing of the piece will sound like in five years from now :-)

Monica K. #1199423 05/14/09 09:53 PM

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23
Performer's name:	GregF
From:	South Carolina
Experience:	The last 2 years + 2 years 30+ years ago in elementary school.
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Hey Jude
Composer:	John Lennon/Paul McCartney
Duration:	03:39
Source of music:	Lead sheet & left hand tips from Pete the Bean for this piece.
Instrument used:	Yamaha Digital Piano: YPG-625
Recording method:	XtremeMac's Micromemo for Ipod - direct line in from DP.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	One take wonder. A few misses, but I wanted to apply the pressure. On 5/15, I'm playing the prelude music for the recital at our studio and this is my finale piece for that. I think its the first time I've submitted anything over a minute and a half!

Monica K. #1199424 05/14/09 09:53 PM

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24
Performer's name:	mahlzeit
From:	Breda, The Netherlands
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Experience:	Coming up to 4 years.
Direct music link:	click to download
Home page link:	http://www.originalsolopiano.com
Title of piece:	Quick Improv
Composer:	me
Duration:	02:57
Source of music:	From the Aether.
Instrument used:	Yamaha CP33 digital piano.
Recording method:	MIDI into the computer (Red Dot Forever). Used REAPER and a handful of piano plug-ins to convert MIDI to WAV. WinLame to make the MP3 file.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is a quicky improv around a really simple theme. The chords are a basic 1625 pattern. I didn't have more time or I would have produced something better.

Monica K. #1199425 05/14/09 09:54 PM

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25
Performer's name:	Serge88
From:	Montreal, Canada
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Experience:	7.5 years
Direct music link:	click to download
Video link:	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHhvTynM2ew
Home page link:	http://www.zenphoto.ca
Title of piece:	Hey Jude
Composer:	Lennon/McCartney
Duration:	04:26
Source of music:	Sheet music from Phillip Keveren
Instrument used:	Digital Piano Roland FP-7
Recording method:	Line out to Zoom H2
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes

Monica K. #1199427 05/14/09 09:54 PM

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26
Performer's name:	babama
From:	Netherlands
Experience:	20 months (+ years of childhood keyboard/synthesizer experience)
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4
Composer:	Schubert
Duration:	08:23
Source of music:	sheet music
Instrument used:	Roland HP-201
Recording method:	Adobe Audition
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is one of the first big pieces I studied on for months. I posted an older version and this version before on PW topics, and now for the recital. Hope I can send in a new piece next time.

Monica K. #1199428 05/14/09 09:54 PM

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27
Performer's name:	ohitpro (Tom)
From:	Columbus, Ohio
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Experience:	About a year and a half with a digital piano - had a keyboard before that.
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Harmony of the Angels - Op 100 No 21
Composer:	J F Burgmuller
Duration:	02:04
Source of music:	Sheet music
Instrument used:	Casio PX-200
Recording method:	MIDI to Synthfont using Steinway soundfont
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is a flowing piece and I never made it through without a few glitches - that's why I'm a beginner! I'm still working on left hand dynamics and appreciate the constructive criticism I received from the last recital and tried to incorporate into my playing. Thanks for any comments or advice on this one, too!

Monica K. #1199430 05/14/09 09:57 PM

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28
Performer's name:	Gary001
From:	UK
Experience:	14 Months, Self Taught.
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Tune in G
Composer:	Clementi
Duration:	01:20
Source of music:	The Piano Handbook, p75
Instrument used:	Casio Privia PX-720
Recording method:	Line-in on iRiver iHP-140, converted to mp3 via Audacity.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	I haven't worked on this peice as much as I'd have liked. The piece I originally planned to submit to the recital is still too rough though. I'm still not happy with the timing of the dotted eight and sixteenth runs in bars 5-7 and 13-15.

Monica K. #1199434 05/14/09 09:59 PM

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29
Performer's name:	TTigg
From:	SoCal
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Experience:	Just over 10mths (June 08)
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Wonderland
Composer:	David Nevue
Duration:	03:13
Source of music:	Sheet Music (memorized) with a little improv at the end
Instrument used:	Knabe WK151
Recording method:	Zoom H2 Audacity to convert Windows Movie Maker to syn up video & audio
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	Love his stuff and will be doing more for sure. Lunch, well it's just about 12pm now so I'm going to head next door to the local taco place which has bitchin tacos for great value too ! SC Here's a link to the YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdSVRqNMh9Y

Monica K. #1199435 05/14/09 10:02 PM

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30
Performer's name:	Mar_red
From:	Poland
Experience:	1 year and 10 months of piano playing (plus a few years of accordion and guitar playing , more than 20 years earlier )
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Autumn Leaves
Composer:	Joseph Kosma
Duration:	05:06
Source of music:	: I took part of the chords from Internet the rest is my interpretation played by ear
Instrument used:	DP Roland FP-7
Recording method:	DP to audacity
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	As before, it is the next stop on my journey to my piano destination i.e. playing known standards or beautiful but less known tunes in the style between jazz and so called cocktail piano. This rendition of this wonderful standard is probably the â€œFlag Shipâ€ of my present repertoire and at the same time my next tentative foray into realm of â€œcreative interpretationâ€. (Iâ€™m not quite sure if it deserves to be named improvisation...) Itâ€™s a simple, adult beginnerâ€™s interpretation (improvisation), not too far from the melody, mainly on diatonic notes. On the other hand, I think the listener should always hear some elements of the tune even in an improvisation. Itâ€™s more readable. I was practicing it as a piano only tune and some day pushed, by chance, the â€œSplitâ€ button on my Roland and suddenly I heard a kind of Trio. It would be my dreams come true if I ever played in such an ensemble. So I decided to present to you this 1.000.001 version of Autumn Leaves in such a form. And now some technicalities. The split magic transformed my left hand into acoustic bass and cymbal - the rhythm section. In the left hand I played some kind of stride piano which proved to be convenient and translated mainly into (acoustic) bass and cymbal on the first and the third beat and cymbal with parts of chords on the second and fourth ones. (Arpeggiated chords in the left hand are still beyond my reach . I guess itâ€™s the result of not playing from sheet music at all.) The chords are played more or less by both hands. There is also a part containing walking bass - my first attempt. I hope very much you would enjoy it regardless of its too wide scope of deficiencies . And last but not least. Here is the source of my inspiration... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWfsp8kwJto

Monica K. #1199436 05/14/09 10:04 PM

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31
Performer's name:	ab-ster
From:	Seattle
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Experience:	I've been playing piano for 20 years by ears, but I started learning sight reading and classical pieces for 3 months.
Direct music link:	click to download
Video link:	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-EsiwgsKUc
Title of piece:	Chopin Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor
Composer:	F. Chopin
Duration:	03:21
Source of music:	Sheet music
Instrument used:	1976 Steinway B
Recording method:	Audacity, M-Audio Pulsar II microphones, PC
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	I made a few mistakes here and there.

Monica K. #1199438 05/14/09 10:05 PM

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32
Performer's name:	AdagioM (Michele)
From:	Oregon
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Experience:	Off and on for 11 years
Direct music link:	click to download
Home page link:	http://pdxknitterati.com
Title of piece:	Vals No. 6 from Valses Poeticos
Composer:	Enrique Granados
Duration:	02:00
Source of music:	Sheet music
Instrument used:	Weinbach 170 Grand
Recording method:	Zoom H2, on the music desk, high prop stick!
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	I love how melancholy and sentimental this is. The description in the book is "vals sentimental." I envision a woman looking at faded photographs of her long ago love. She goes into quite a reverie in the second half of this piece. There are 7 waltzes in this collection, plus an introduction and conclusion. I've played the two slow ones (nos. 3 & 6) and a third one (no. 1) slowly! Yes, there's a reason my name is ADAGIO.

Monica K. #1199439 05/14/09 10:08 PM

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33
Performer's name:	Pianonewb
From:	No. Virginia
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Experience:	1 month
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Jesus Paid it All
Composer:	Mrs. M.M. Hall/John T. Grape
Duration:	05:06
Source of music:	improvised score/play by ear
Instrument used:	Kohler & Campbell New Yorker, studio model
Recording method:	condenser mic straight to board and onto cd. ripped cd to computer as mp3.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is a simple arrangement. I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I learned the chords from "Piano Chords and Scales Made Easy", and improvised the melody from singing it. For the left hand I watched the pianist at church until I found a simple, easy to learn pattern that would fit. I started out learning it in G, but realised after 2 weeks that i couldn't sing it in that key, so switched it to C. I hope I didn't hurt your ears too much.

Monica K. #1199441 05/14/09 10:10 PM

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34
Performer's name:	Honnli / Steven
From:	Melbourne
Experience:	About 2 years of near-continuous playing starting from the end of 2006, plus 2 and a half years of lessons 10 years ago.
Direct music link:	click to download
Video link:	http://www.youtube.com/user/Honnli
Title of piece:	Cruel Angel's Thesis
Composer:	Shiro Sagisu
Duration:	02:28
Source of music:	Sheet music.
Instrument used:	Yamaha DGX620
Recording method:	Digital to PC through USB, and then used the Steinway sample from The Grand 2.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This is the opening theme from the anime "Neon Genesis: Evangelion". This arrangement was arranged by Piano Squall.

Monica K. #1199443 05/14/09 10:11 PM

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35
Performer's name:	bluekeys
From:	Virginia, USA
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Experience:	2 Yrs, 7 Mos (started at 50)
Direct music link:	click to download
Home page link:	http://bluekeys-diary.blogspot.com/
Title of piece:	Inventions No. 1 and No. 8
Composer:	JS Bach
Duration:	02:28
Source of music:	Sheet Music
Instrument used:	Yamaha YDP223
Recording method:	Midi out, rendered with TruePianos VST
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	These Inventions are fun, but they are wicked hard for such itty bitty little suckers. I spent 4 months learning No. 1 and can still barely play it. I've been doing No. 8 for 2 years and still mangled it near the end. My next one will be No. 4. I hear that's a little easier, so maybe I'll pair it up with another one for a future recital. BTW - for those not familiar, the recording has No 1. first then a pause then No. 8.

Monica K. #1199446 05/14/09 10:13 PM

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36
Performer's name:	Musictuary
From:	Aurora, Illinois
Experience:	Six years of lessons from 7 - 13. Nearly two years of lessons as an adult. Between my two stints of lessons I played piano on and off for about 30 years.
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Allegro con affetto
Composer:	Friedrich Kuhlau
Duration:	02:48
Source of music:	ABRSM Grade 5 (2009 - 2010) A:2
Instrument used:	Digital piano. Kawai CE200.
Recording method:	Audacity and Digital to PC.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	This piece is actually the first movement from Sonatina in A minor Op. 88 No. 3 by Kuhlau. It was one of the three pieces that I selected for my grade 5 piano exam (ABRSM Grade 5 (2009-2010). I selected this piece because at the time I was studying Kuhlau's six OP. 55 sonatinas with my music teacher. Since I was doing the exam on my own I figured there should be some similarities with what I had seen before in the Op 55 sonatinas and this one. When I first played the piece, the beginning measures reminded me a lot of the beginning measures in Fur Elise. I was taken aback somewhat. But I recall reading somewhere that composers of that era freely "borrowed" ideas from each other. So maybe that would explain the similarity between the two pieces. I enjoyed learning this piece as well as the other sonatinas from Kuhlau. I hope you'll enjoy listening to it. Thanks for listening.

Monica K. #1199447 05/14/09 10:14 PM

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37
Performer's name:	joangolfing
From:	Iowa
Experience:	7 years
Direct music link:	click to download
Title of piece:	Nocturne
Composer:	Martha Mier
Duration:	01:37
Source of music:	Romantic Impressions by Martha Mier, Alfred Publishing Co.
Instrument used:	Roland FP-4
Recording method:	Akoustik Piano software, Normalized in Audacity
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes

Monica K. #1199448 05/14/09 10:15 PM

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38
Performer's name:	Always Wanted to Play Piano
From:	41 miles west of Chicago
Experience:	just shy of 18 months
Direct music link:	click to download
Home page link:	http://aw2pp.blogspot.com/
Title of piece:	I Due Fiumi
Composer:	Ludovico Einaudi
Duration:	04:51
Source of music:	Ludovico Einaudi - The Best Of
Instrument used:	Casio Ap-200
Recording method:	Recorded to piano onboard memory, downloaded using Red Dot Forever, rendered to .WAV using Synthfont (Maestro Concert Grand.gig sound font), converted to MP3 using Audacity.
Technical feedback wanted:	Yes
Additional info:	I am playing this piece on the first Friday of June as an actual recital piece. I consider this recording rough by the standards of this forum, but not bad for me. I would be totally happy if I played this piece this well for my live recital. Any feedback you have for me that makes that more likely would be heartily welcomed. For lunch, I had two PBJ's (one I made for myself, and one my two year old eschewed).

Monica K. #1199449 05/14/09 10:18 PM

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