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Another smashing success of a PW piano party. Honestly, these things just seem to get better. This is the best attended one I've been to yet. Thanks to Terrytunes for organizing it around Axtremus's, (what has now become) annual open mic recital in Westford. I won't even try to remember the names of all who attended. There was a whole gaggle of PW people, but lots of tag-alongs, too. The non-PW guy I was really drawn to was Santi Falcone, of the much acclaimed, but unforunately, no longer manaufactured Falcone pianos. He's one fascinating guy who might surprise us one day and open shop again.
Here are the few photos I managed to get until my camera batteries decide to ditz out. I'm sure more will follow from other attendees.
This is part of Larry Buck's studio - perfect for performance venues with his monster Petrof. You can see Frank in the front R, then Jeanne's hub Lloyd,Jeanne, Terrytunes, in back of them Bernard's SO, Preston, and the others sort of fade out in the dark (sorry about that).
Frank did his knock-out, very unique & rockin' Moonlight sonata and a few others. I have an 12 sec. AVI that I couldn't fit on my web space. If anyone can help me upload it somewhere esle, I'll post.
Here we were gathering for the classic Piano Party pose.
And here we are - this is primarily just the PW members, who were maybe just half of all who attended, from L to R starting in the back, Lilylady, Jazzmantoo, Lloyd W, Jeanne W, (in front) Santi Falcone, Leebea, (under piano) Chris W1, Beelady's beelet, Axtremus, Frank Baxter, Bernard (contining in back)Beelady, Beefriended, Terrytunes , John Halter, A441 (Jeremy Gloo), Eric Gloo (unfortunately, quite hidden, kathyk, and Larry Buck.
What a wonderful gathering! My husband, Lloyd, and I got to visit again with PW member friends and to meet a few new ones! The recital was wonderful. Axtremus, I think my favorite pieces were the two Chinese oldies, as you billed them, the ones you started the program with - just beautiful - and the Khachaturian "Toccata" which I found very intriguing. Lloyd asked when I thought the Toccata was written - he guessed 1952, then changed his mind saying 1912; I guessed 1967. We're probably both way off. Does anyone know anything about this composer? I hope those pieces will be available on your recital website as MP3 files?
Thanks so much, Larry, for opening up your piano shop to us. That's an impressive space you have there. Nice meeting you and what could be better than a gathering of friends with food and pianos and music to boot! The Petrof you have there has a very quick, light action. Several commented it sounds almost as though it is amplified. Maybe the piano, maybe the space it's in, probably a bit of both. Terrific piano. Very well balanced, I thought, throughout the registers.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible.
Signa: You asked if we all got to play anything. Yes, most of us played the Petrof. We had some wonderfully talented pianists on hand. Wish you could have been there!
Jeanne W
Music is about the heart and so should a piano be about the heart. - Pique
Good fun. Thanks too all for setting it up. Special thanks to Larry for providing such a cool space(and for so freely sharing his knowledge.) Also, thanks to those folks (Darrell's Music Hall?) who provided the Petrof. Very nice indeed.
I'll add my thanks to the others. I had a great time, although I'm not sure I'll be able to tell my friends and family that I spent the evening in a Lowell warehouse with people I met on the internet!
Seriously, it was a very nice party. I enjoyed hearing everyone play the Petrof and seeing some of the pianos in the rebuilding process. I was thrilled to view an 1863 Steinway that's in the shop. It has a lot of cabinet design elements in common with my 1864 square.
Thanks to you all for making a newcomer feel welcome and for putting on a great spread.
Loved the recital too! I was inspired to come home and play all night.
Well done.
If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.
Every moment spent anticipating the arrival of our PW Northeast Gathering II, proved to be well worth the wait. I had the most fantastic time! Having the opportunity to meet with members I have shared good times with in the past was a delight. It was wonderful to meet long time members I have never had the chance to meet and newcomers to our group. It’s not often you can get together with such a large group of people and actually feel a connection with each and every person.
I sat in awe at the open stage recital in Westford for Part I of our gathering. This years performance featured a flutist, violinist and some very talented pianists including Phillip and PW’s very own Axtremus. The final performance by Ax and Phillip definitely needs to be mentioned. It was listed in the program as “to be announced” but without any response prior to sitting down for their planned duet, Ax and Phillip played a familiar tune that spanned a total of possibly 45 seconds and was very well planned and executed for ending a delightful afternoon musical performance. My first impression was, oh, I know this piece...it’s... yes, Looney Tunes theme with the memorable ending.... “That’s All Folks” !!
Part II of our gathering was PW’s very own open stage recital. Larry‘s entire shop was opened for exploration and provided everyone a vast expanse to move around in. I had a friend’s daughter in tow with me (13) hoping this event would help to provide her with inspiration to continue her piano studies. I know I found myself at the piano this morning practicing Brahms Intermezzo prior to signing onto PW!! Thanks to Bernard, for playing this piece. Listening to your performance shed new light for me as I sat down for practice with it this morning realizing I need to finish it. And John Halter, on Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique (at open stage in Westford was amazing!) One performance after another and I found it more and more difficult to leave my seat in the main room.
Thank you, Larry, for your generosity in allowing us the use of your shop and being a generous and gracious host/member.. Thanks also to Larry’s friend Ellen, and all others that assisted in making our event a huge success.
Thank you, once again Frank, for having a huge part in uniting me with all these wonderful and talented people!
Now I am off to locate a duet as a fellow member has offered to join with me in playing at next years gathering!!!
What a great time and what a turnout! Nearly 40 people!
Ax's recital was wonderful and varied as others have mentioned. Ax, we all love the "Chinese Oldies" you played..Might there be some sheet music for them? They were enchanting.
Larry Buck's shop was huge and a great place to throw a piano party! Pianos were in all the rooms in various states of rebuilding. The new performance space was lovely and large enough to hold us all and that big Petrof!
Thanks to Larry and Terry for organizing all the many details and of course to Frank for bringing us all together. It was the best piano party yet.
Next a few pics. Sorry for links, but computer ills here prevent direct posting...
Originally posted by Jeanne W: - and the Khachaturian "Toccata" which I found very intriguing. Lloyd asked when I thought the Toccata was written - he guessed 1952, then changed his mind saying 1912; I guessed 1967. We're probably both way off. Does anyone know anything about this composer? Jeanne W
Jeanne, he's an Armenian composer who lived during the 20th century. This piece was written in 1932. One of his most famous pieces is an orchestral piece called "the Sabre Dance." He's done a lot of other good piano stuff, too, and tends to get lumped in with Prokofiev in terms of style. The tocatta is one of those chestnuts that seems to be popular with advanced pianists. It *is* an impressive piece.
Originally posted by kathyk: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeanne W: [qb] - and the Khachaturian "Toccata" which I found very intriguing. .............. The tocatta is one of those chestnuts that seems to be popular with advanced pianists. It *is* an impressive piece.
I think it's pretty easy... Very easy to learn is one 'shows' you how. here's a lightened up pic
accompanist/organist.. a non-MTNA teacher to a few
About the photos posted here on PW. Has anyone else noticed what interesting things a little blur can do?
Kathy K: Your photos...
Your 1st photo it looks to me like TerryTunes has no nose, for goodness sakes.
The next photo is Frank's. Those of use who have met Frank know he looks a whole lot better than in that photo!
The 3rd photo - now that's a little scary.. Some of our faces have faded mysteriously away… AND DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT ORB FLOATING AROUND LEE'S EAR? A PW member pointed out in a past post something about orbs - supposedly being good luck. LEE: *Looks like something *VERY SPECIAL*, something *GOOD* - is coming your way!
Kathy, in your last (4th) photo - my husband and I...I AM GETTING SCARED: OUR FACES ARE MISSING - WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
BeeLady: Your photos are pretty clear, but the one of Lloyd and myself, the blur, again, does funny things to our faces. :p Try stepping away from the computer a little bit, folks, to put things in a better perspective. (Ouch, I had to have my face this BIG on this forum??? )
More photos may be coming? Will be interesting to see if there are any more mysterious floaters, i.e.orbs and such...
Jeanne W
P.S. Kathy, thanks for the info on Khachaturian. Appreciate it.
P.P.S. BeeLady: Another orb? Is that an "orb" on the wall in your photo of Lloyd and myself with Bernard in the background? So what would be the significance of an orb on a wall??? Good luck for Larry's business/shop??? Anyone?
Music is about the heart and so should a piano be about the heart. - Pique
We're home. Great trip! NYC->Boston, $15 one way on the Chinatown buses. Hee hee.
Like the others have said, it was a great party.
Ax's recital was fantastic too. Preston is not a 'music person' but he was enthralled with the Kreutzer Sonata and the pianist who played it. I was blown away too. I still can't get over how quiet and still all the children in the audience were for almost 2 hours straight!
Hey Ax: that was a very interesting setting for the piano! Hee hee ... for those not there: the stage was dressed up for some sort of play or musical and was set up as the interior of a saloon. My favorite was the sign on the left just behind and beyond the pianist which read "Don't Shoot The Piano Player He's Doing The Best He Can". Ha Ha.
The party venue was great, and the host kind; spacious and gracious. Larry Buck was most generous in opening his space to us. The performance space that Larry has created is perfect. If such a space existed near me, I'd go to recitals all the time.
ALL the food was great -- too good by the looks of my waistline today!
I found out towards the end of the evening that the Petrof was on loan from Darrell's Piano Store (in, I believe, Nashua, NH) expressly for this party. Very generous. It is a gorgeous instrument. I thought it was very responsive and ranged from bell-like to thunderous. It's definitely on my list to get serious about when I start shopping (which will be ...)
There was so much beautiful music happening all evening. Kathyk's c minor Nocturne by Chopin was gorgeous as was the Chopin which Chris played (I cannot remember the name but do remember that Chopin wrote only one of them.).
Preston had a fun time too (he's in the other room napping--we've worn him out!) and extends his thanks to all. He took many pictures but I will not be able to post them until sometime next week because he left his camera's usb cable at home.
Special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this a success: Larry Buck, Terrytunes, BeeLady, leebea.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it again, thanks Frank.
Preston & I would like to extend a very special thanks to BeeLady for putting us up for 2 nights so that we could attend the recital and party.
We had a GREAT time.
"Hunger for growth will come to you in the form of a problem." -- unknown
Many thanks to TerryTunes for organizing the Gathering. Many thanks to Larry Buck for hosting the Gathering, and every one who helped to make it the success that it was. Also, special thanks to the Halters and A441 and family -- they arrived early at the Recital and helped arranged the chairs, and that's hard work!
It's just wonderful to meet PW members. It's nice to see members I've met before (A441 and family, BeeLady and family, Bernard, Chris W1, Frank B., Jeanne W and Lloyd W, KathyK, Larry Buck, TerryTune), some I've met for the first time (Beefriended, JazzManToo, LeeBea, lilylady, Preston, rustyfinger). You guys are such a nice bunch of people.
Apple is correct that the Khachaturian Toccata is not the most "challenging" pieces... it just "sounds impressive." I think of that as "efficiency" -- relatively little work on the part of the pianist to get something to sound relatively "impressive."
As for those Chinese oldies... they are my own transcriptions that came about through improvisations, and I play them a little differently every time. Nothing has yet been written down. One day, I hope to write some of them down.
I can't say I've carefully listened to every one's playing at the Gathering... there's a lot of walking-around and mingling there. But I did get to listen to some, and I love A441's very genuine, very personal Jazz/Blue style; it suggests that A441 has made the music truly his own. Listening to Bernard's Sonatine by Ravel was very humbling -- it was played with such delicate sensitivity that it reminds me how much more maturing I need to do. It was more than just music, it's personal. And Frank's rock-n'-rollin' enthusiasm was certainly contagious!
Hey Larry... don't know if you're the one who did the action work on it, but I love the action on that vintage Steinway at the back of your shop! (Wanted to say it in the shop but didn't get a chance to.)
The recital was wonderful. The piano solos were great as usual, but then to add the flute and the violin, fantastic! And it didn't hurt that the three young ladies were not only talented, but also beautiful:-)
Larry's shop made a perfect place to host a Forums Party, plenty of space, gorgeous piano (thank you Darrell's), great food, and I loved the smoking veranda (Santi and I made good use of it, talking shop. Turns out we both knew a lot of the same people in the industry).
Many thanks to the dynamic duo of Terry & Kerri, Ellen, and all the others who pitched in to set up the spread.
It's always fun to see members I've met before, and to have the pleasure of meeting new members.
What more could you ask for? Good company, good music, and good friends.
My Keyboards: Estonia L-190, Roland RD88, Yamaha P-80, Bilhorn Telescope Organ c 1880, Antique Pump Organ, 1850 concertina, 3 other digital pianos ------------------------- My original piece on BandCamp: https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/releases
Me banging out some tunes in the Estonia piano booth at the NAMM show...
Thanks everyone for a "GRAND" time!!!! A most joyous occasion! What a great way to spend a day. Thank you Ax for the kind words. Terry, I still have not located my music. Linda will be loading some pics as soon as she can figure out how to do it correctly. Linda, Eric, and the Halters were very excited about the whole day.
Kenny, wish you were there. Good luck and hang on to that BB!
Thanks to everybody who put this together. I had a great time getting to know people better, as well as meeting new faces. I think the Dallas group regularly plays the same model piano we had the opportunity to explore last night. It sounded more like a concert grand than a seven footer to my ears. Thanks to Russ, Darell Music, for kindly dropping it buy
Thanks to Larry Buck. Your talents were evident in that 'B' you were working on and I, at least, think it was a good idea to uncover it for the event. I wondered what JeanneW thought of it and if she got a chance to try a few notes. I think some are curious about how much strength can be built into hammers that need hardener. The approach Larry took is the same I've heard of, where you practically soak them that first time around, only in this case they hadn't yet been touched by any needles. Lots of power! With the dampers up (and a set of pedals) that thing is going to Rach.
It was good to see BeeLady and the hive. Sorry we didn't spend much time together. This was a lot of people! Hope to see everyone perhaps another time this year?
I would also like to thank Terry for the table cloths. Terry took measurements and sewed three beautiful table cloths just for the event....in addition to everything else
Ax and Chris, Thank you for your thoughts on the Steinway B "in progress". Regulation and voicing have a way to go still.
Chris, the hammers are completely filled the first time. More is added as needed. From where you heard the piano, more can be added as "taste" reqires. The risk from too much is loosing fundamentals and ending up with a diminished range of partials. I try to listen carefully and plan acordingly. At this point I will finish the regulation and let the customer decide where it goes from here in terms of voicing and touch weight. Suffice to say, more sense of power and clarity can be added if required.
It would be interesting to know who did the pin block and sound board. It is very nice work. The action was replaced completely somewhere in it's recent history. The owner and I decided to replace those hammers, shanks and flanges again, regulate and voice the piano. That is my part in it. It would seem the piano has quite a bit to give. I used New York Steinway parts.
Again, Thank you to everyone.
If people are interested, I am certianly interested in hosting the next PW Gathering in this area.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain
You ask my thoughts of the Steinway in the back room... Yes, I did play a few notes - I snuck back there in the hopes of playing by my lonesome. My initial impression is it's a nice sounding Steinway, I didn't, however, really give it much of a try out - the pedals were not connected which made for quite a challenge playing it and I soon gave up! And, truth to tell, I was too much caught up with everything (the party! the people! the music!) to concentrate on much of anything. The Petrof - yes, it certainly has a big sound! TerryTunes comment was "It sounds like it's amplified!" I agree! Chris, you refer in your post to "BeeLady and the hive". You make that phrase up? That's a good one!
TerryTunes: You MADE the tablecloths?! Wow, I'm impressed! Thanks again for all of your work (and anyone else I might have forgotten to thank earlier) in helping put this together - it is much appreciated!
Question (Off Subject): I made some flippant remarks earlier in this thread about the photos here being blurry. I accessed PianoWorld through a different computer today and all the photos are *so much sharper, clearer* - they look great, in fact. On my home computer, the photos look so different, still much inferior, to the point that blur distorts people's faces. I know this isn't a piano question, but...can anyone tell me, can different computers make this much of a difference in how you view photos and graphics???
Jeanne W
Music is about the heart and so should a piano be about the heart. - Pique
Larry, my vote is cast to hold it at your place again...
I could hardly believe that you had so much space in which to work! And I loved touring it. It was wonderful to access where piano techs do their 'thang'!
And THE PLAY PLACE was great! Can we get Russ to offer another grand next year?
Oh, just another thought here,.... this might involve participation of those that live close to you that can help with the host/hostessing, and if they are willing to help out again.
I think that TerryTunes did a fantastic job promoting the event to PWF, and making everyone feel welcome, as well as, staging the food set up.
TT was one of the first to welcome me to the forum and told me about the events. You are a great asset TT! Can you help again next year? And I hope Ellen, and Beelady can also.
I volunteer to help out more, now that I know what this is all about. And I am sure that everyone that attended will, as well.
I suggest that everyone that reads and posts here to try and hold an area event. We have something in common.
Our love for the pianoforte!
Roberta
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."