Something happened that I can't explain. Please advise.

I mentioned in the other Appassionata thread that a well-known Eastern European (or Russian) concert pianist contacted me because she had heard my "My Lover's Concerto" over on YouTube and wanted to perform it with an orchestra she is associated with in some way, perhaps friends with the conductor--I didn't ask, don't look a gift horse, right?

I mentioned the Concerto Appassionata to her last week or so in passing after addressing the issue of the trombones. She wrote back today saying she liked the Appassionata very much and would do either one--I should choose!!!! But the problem of the trombones still remains.

I should mention that no talk of money has transpired here--I am not paying for any of this. I did emphasize that she and the orchestra were entitled to any and all royalties that might result from the performance. I'm not concerned about the money. I'm only interested in the exposure.

I've never heard of a situation like this and of course am thrilled that she would be interested in doing whichever I choose. Of course, I'd have to rework the Appassionata and write out the trombones and tuba. Perhaps that's a good thing. The "Lover's Concerto" would involved much more work. But "Lover's" is musically better and judging from the comments here would be the more prudent choice. Of course no one here has heard the "My Lover's Concerto" either.

Does anyone have any idea, speculation on why a well-known concert artist would give me carte-blanche to choose which concerto to perform when no money is exchanging hands? Thanks much for any and all feedback. I know this sounds crazy but I swear it's the truth. I am not making all this up.

Isn't the Lover's Concerto just a condensed version of the Rach 2nd?

Yes, but so is the Concerto Appassionata.

So which one was the other thread about? Was that a third one?

The first was critical commentary on the CA. The second is this new situation I'm facing. It's seems unusual to me and I'm asking people if they can shed any light on if it's unusual or if I should just go with it and not ask any question--whatever happens, happens.

But the piece you linked to in the other thread wasn't a condensed version of the Rach, it was your own work, was it not?

Ah, I just listened to the Lover's Concerto...it was a condensed version of your own second, not Rach's. I get it now.

Forgive me. Yes, it is a condensation of my own # 2 but everybody thinks I re-wrote (imitated) Rach's 2nd Concerto in both my 2nd and 3rd. That's what I thought you were referring to.

At any rate, I've decided to tell her to do the Concerto Appassionata, as it is less work for both of us---me to re-write the brass to exclude the trombones and tuba and her because it's an easier piano part. Let the chips (and notes) fall where they may.

Christ-I just listened to the Lover's Concerto...starting at 2:45 that's the most cliche imitation of Rachmaninov passage I've ever heard...and the coda too...I mean come on.

Well, I tried.

What did that say before you edited it?

Hello, I am glad to hear about your success and I do hope you find my post helpful.

By the fact this famous artist likes both of your compositions, it is possible that she not only likes your individual pieces, but your style of composing. This leads me to believe a second and a third concert may follow after the initial one, which you are about to do.

I read your thread as a positive rather than a dilemma. This famous artist prefers your style of composing.

I do understand artists whether very famous or not, all have their preferences. I read posts here all the time about what everyone prefers to play and what they do not like. Everyone has their own style of music they prefer over the other.

Wish you the best with your compositions and performances.

I certainly hope the first concert goes well for you.
I believe, after the initial concert with this famous artist comes out as a public success, other artists may come forward requesting to play your compositions. I would simply choose the one I like better.

Regarding money, if successful in anything, money will follow.

Wish you the best

Thanks much, Schubertslieder. Your positive advice and sentiments are greatly appreciated---unlike you-know-who, who seems to get his jollies spreading insults and dissent everywhere he goes. Some people are born that way, I suppose--a curse for the rest of us.

I am trying desperately to figure out a way to write out the trombones and tuba since the orchestra she intends to play with doesn't have them--specializes in classical literature, I'm guessing, rather than romantic. If I can't find a way, I will just mail the scores to her and say, "Here. You choose. You and the conductor see if you can figure out a way to make this work".

Sounds crazy, I know, but removing the lower register brass pretty much emasculates the music. In the end, if she rejects the idea and says, "Sorry, just not gonna work," well, I'm no worse off than I was before she contacted me. You have to look at this stuff philosophically or go crazy.

I am glad you found my post very helpful.
I do hope you can find a way to deal with the situation about the low register instruments.

It sounds very promising that a famous artist is choosing your composition over all the others. Just think about it.

Best

Regarding you-know-who, ,if you want to laugh about something, read the reaction of other posters not necessarily the one in question, . They are funny, .

To get a good idea of this particular poster, you must read a thread, "My Performance of Islamey". If you can't find this thread, I will bring it forward by posting something.

Schubertslieder, your aggressive behavior towards me borders on something I'm ready to report to the administrators/moderators. I have not disrespected you in any way, and it seems logical that you would return the same respect. Please discontinue these references to me. Now.

If you really knew as much about music as you pretend to, you would not have brought up that thread.

Are you threatening me?

I certainly hope you are threatening me in any way shape or form.

Are you threatening me?

It feels and sounds like a threat so I need to know if you are threatening me.

You hope I'm threatening you? Surely that's not what's implied by the tone of the post...

You can't even write correct English. Stop trolling and get off these forums. There are many sites where your ludicrous behavior would be received much better. This site is for intelligent people who are serious about music, or serious about learning it, and any posts that do not promote that environment are inappropriate.

Edit: before I was even done typing this post you threw in a few more useless posts, with a few more blatant grammar errors to boot. If you could see how you are perceived by the PianoWorld community you would delete your account and never join an Internet forum again.

If you thought I am here to be threatened or abused in any way shape or form, you are terribly mistaken.

You have now succeeded in destroying the OP's thread. Congratulations.

Did you just discredit my knowledge in music?
Let me just make myself very clear. I am not here to be threatened or abused.

Oh, you've made yourself plenty clear - you've replied to the same post about 8 times in a row, without adding any value, either to the thread or even to your own argument (is there really an argument? ). Is your goal to set a record for the most posts in one thread in a row, or what?


Well then, I must ask: what ARE you here for? I see no value in what you have posted on this thread, at least, in reply to me (which now comprises a large part of your total posts on the forum).

As long as you understand that I am not here to be discredited, threatened or abused, we can continue with conversation.

Do you or do you not understand that I feel threatened, abused and discredited by your posts?

Schubertslieder :

We all often have things we wish to say that refer not to the topic directly, but, as an off-shoot of the topic, to what someone else on the thread has said.

The manner in which we post is our own style. That said, however, I wonder if it is possible for you to pause, gather your thoughts on a given issue, and then present them coherently in a single post rather than post multiple, consecutive posts as you have recently being doing?

I seriously believe that it does stretch your credibility among us when you post as you do.

I have a question.

Can you explain why you posted each of these replies?

Edit: cross-posted with Bruce, who made the same point in a different way.

I am simply posting what I feel.
My feeling is that I feel discredited, abused and threatened by Polyphony on this thread as well as the other thread by Joey Townley.

Here is my advice for you, Schubertslieder.

1) Post what you feel all you want. But do it in one post so as not to wreck the thread.

2) When you refer to members, make sure to spell their usernames right.

3) If you feel abused, by all means report me to a moderator. I can assure you that they will agree with everything I have said on this thread and the other one regarding your behavior.

In fact, I hope one of the moderators will contact you about this issue sometime in the near future. I am getting progressively more annoyed with each meaningless post you make.

Also, wouldn't it be a nicer route to just continue your conversation in PMs? It seems like half of the threads in the last few days are devoted to Polyphonist and Schubertslieder one upping each other or Polyphonist and someone else one upping each other. It's a bit narcissistic to think that half to two thirds to all of each thread needs to be you proving your manhood to one another. What about if you took a running count of what percentage of the thread is devoted to your retorts and counter retorts, then if it's over 10%, just message that person directly? That might make the rest of the community a bit more satisifed.

If he's bothering you, and I can well imagine he is, ignore it and respond to other people's posts.

Thanks for the advice. I will take it.

Best

When counting the percentages of posts on the thread made by Schubertslieder and I, the discrepancy is remarkable. On one hand you have strings of posts making one point at best, or usually no point at all. On the other you have a few sensible posts from me scattered through the mix, each devoted to a different attempt to get him to see how he is spoiling the forum for the rest of us and repeatedly asking him to stop.

OP - Congrats on getting your piece performed. That must be awesome for you!

[a demonstration. You see what I did there?]

I understand, but I should not have to deal with a poster like this on a supposedly well-moderated, sophisticated forum.

The advice was directed at me, not you. Your posts do not warrant such a civil reply.

I am leaving this thread for the time being.

FYI...locking this and another thread.

I have to start teaching soon and don't really have the time or interest to go back through and figure out who started it or who's at fault.

All I know is that two people have ruined two threads, so I'm locking them. Regardless of who's fault it was, either could have ended it and chose to keep the nonsense going.

Since no one was willing to step forward and stop the madness, I'm happy to oblige...