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(emphasis added)

First of all, the video at the end of the post turned me on to Nuvole Bianche. (it's only the first half of the piece)

I've been rather obsessed by this piece for the past two days, and think I'll be able to manage it eventually. But it's nowhere as difficult as Nefeli to me (and I understand we're all wired differently ).


This is the thing that is perplexing me about Nuvole Bianche tonight:

That tough left hand highlighted in the above quote from Monica is indeed a little challenging because most of it is 4 note arpeggios. I finally delved into the second half tonight (basically a repeat) but there are only 3 note arpeggios for the left hand in the second half according to the score I have.

I was a little relieved to discover this, but why in the heck would Einaudi do this?

Should I just play the first section with 3 note arpeggios and make life easier for myself?

Or should I only practice the 4 note arpeggios and carry them over to the second half to add the flavor they bring?

Or should I learn both the 4 and 3 note arpeggios for the left hand and play it properly, as Einaudi imagined it?

Decisions.

You know, BenPiano, I shared your perplexion (if that's not a word, it should be) on this issue. Why have the two different left hands? And, why, if you're going to make it different, would you have the most complex version come first? It sort of violates my intuitive notion of how a piece of music proceeds.

I never really had any brilliant insights on the issue, other than to conclude that Einaudi probably did it that way for a reason, and who am I to argue with how he does it?

My advice would be to put in a good faith effort on learning the more difficult section. But if it really is beyond you at this point, and it's the only thing holding you back from playing the piece, I'd urge you to go ahead and just adopt the 3-note arpeggios throughout. That part of the melody is so engrossing that I can hardly hear the difference in the bass.

Hi Monica, and thanks for the reply. Looking at it again today, I think it might have something to do with bringing in the minor-ness (more questionable word smithing ) of the key it's in then making it more ambiguous for the second half without the thirds. (more undefined, yet more complex musically, perhaps? )

Secretly, I like to think that Einaudi had trouble recording this and made it easy for himself for the second half after finally getting thru the first section without any red dot flubs.

The piece is coming along swimmingly, and I've dedicated some serious time on it over the past few days (at the detriment of my other stuff). It should be ready for the May recital. May 2012, that is.

Just a heads up that Ludovico's coming back to San Francisco in November for one night! Not sure yet if it will be just him or him + strings but I just got my tickets

Ludovico Einaudi Nov 7th San Francisco

Have fun again TTigg.

I'll just have to hope that Ludovico stops somewhere in the midwest again. I'll take Milwaukee again or even as far as Chicago. I'm afraid San Fran is right out unless someone feels like getting me a birthday present!

Thanks Anthony!!
Yeah hoping too. I just hope he doesn't switch his angle of the piano since I'm on the other side of the room this time (lol)
- SC

Tickets arrived yesterday



Now I just have to hope he keep the piano in the same position (lol). Last time we were on the opposite boxes on the other side. Either way, still a great view in such a lovely theatre.

Island (his new release) is a mix of old & new so this should be quite the concert indeed!
- Steve

Okay, the "Islands" album has been released overseas, and some enterprising fan has uploaded it onto YouTube, so those of us stuck in the backwards states can hear the two new tracks ("The Earth Prelude" and "High Heels") on YouTube while waiting impatiently for the album to make it over here.

http://youtu.be/5AovNqx-czI

http://youtu.be/yMXg3maUDCQ

...and musicroom.com has released the sheet music collection for the Islands album, which now leaves me grappling with the dilemma of whether I buy it just for the two new pieces.

Yes I know what you mean.
That is why I love it when composers allow you do pay for and download the sheet music for individual songs from their website (eg. David Nevue).
In this case Einaudi is losing out on the sale of a few pieces because I probably will not buy a whole book.
I've passed on many other composer's books as well because I was only interested in a piece or two.
Bummer.

Hmmm tough decision indeed, I know we do "love" our Einaudi sheet music collection(s)..
- SC

In Islands there are for the first time the sheet music of "Love is a mistery" and "Fairytale" also!

Well, that clinches it for me, then. I'd buy the book to get four new pieces.

Einaudi recently uploaded a YouTube video showing clips from an amazing "secret" concert he played in the Old Vic Tunnels underloo the Waterloo Station in London. Can you imagine stumbling upon that?!?!? And they trucked a grand piano down there somehow, too.

The YouTube clip just plays a mishmash of short clips from each piece, but there's a link that allows you to sign up for the full download of the concert. I'm intrigued because in one of the clips a vocalist is singing along (I think to "Nuvole Bianche"). I'd love to find a translation of the lyrics.

I'm still waiting on delivery of my Islands CD. AnthonyB ordered his from amazon.uk and got it days ago, whereas U.S. amazon keeps changing its story on when I'll get mine; now they're saying 4-5 weeks.

[video:youtube]jft2e5AiVog[/video]

Just found out I'm going to have to miss the San Francisco convert due to wifey's job changing her schedule Secondary at leat we're going to see him in Santa Barbara instead but it won't quite be the same.

If anyone is intersted in the box seat tickets (pictures on on this page) let me know - will be looking to get $100 (cost $110)

Thanks
Steve

[Gets out google maps, realizes that she can't make it back from SF to LEX in time for the next day's 9:30 am lecture.]

Dang!

Sorry you have to miss it, TTigg. Any chance that you could take somebody other than your wife? or go alone?

Hi Monica!
Yeah I was going to do that but since we didn't want to miss it wifey got us tickets to the Santa Barbara show the week before. So we're still going to see the "Islands" tour but just not in the same great venue..
- Steve

Nuvole Bianche is my favorite piece from him look it up on youtube. I first heard it used in a photographers video of our milkyway. Very inspiring and not too difficult to play. At least not the intro.

Hmm got my Islands CD (wifey got it for me) BUT there are only 14 tracks on it (not 22) and none of them are the new ones I thought we were supposed to get High Heels & the other ones?

Disappointing..

Apparently this is the double CD with the extra / additional tracks on it!

Double CD with new & bonus tracks

Just came across this YouTube video through my subscription updates. I'm guessing NOBODY here could've predicted this--it's a live recording of Einaudi covering, of all things, Bruno Mars's "Grenade."


[video:youtube]ENd3tK5dAMI[/video]

I wasn't familiar with the original (I don't keep up with pop music), but I like Einaudi's version.

my kids love grenade (influenced by older cousins), and I dig Einaudi, so I looks like Ill be learning this one shortly.