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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 20 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Come Rain or Come Shine/This Time the Dream's on Me | | Composer: | ARLEN | | Duration: | 09:44 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Kawai 5.5' Baby Grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM40 -- 320 MB | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Harold Arlen is IMO one of the most underrated of the major composers operating in the Great American Songbook sphere. He is of course known for "Over the Rainbow", but there are so many other Standards from the 30s and 40s for which he was responsible, in a number of different styles although usually Blues-based, that he rivals Berlin or Rodgers in sheer quality/quantity. Berlin himself admitted that "Harold's best is THE best."
The two songs I chose were, first, "Come Rain or Come Shine", because of its relative familiarity in GAS. This version is a Jazz perspective by Lee Evans that IMO retains all the intensity of the magnificent original. The second is a far more extended and rich set of improvisations on "This Time the Dream's On Me", by Marian McPartland. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 21 | | | Performer's name: | Wie Waldi | | From: | Munich, Germany | | Avatar: |  | | Experience: | 6 month self teaching (+3 years of accordion lessons, 35 years ago as child) | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Video link: | https://youtu.be/q6f7TDEe74Y | | Title of piece: | Linus and Lucy | | Composer: | Vince Guaraldi | | Duration: | 03:49 | | Source of music: | Sheet music, but I simplified it and added the intro from Jerry Granelli Trio. | | Instrument used: | Kawai CN29 (sound: Studio Grand) | | Recording method: | Headphone-out -> DI-box(-20dB) -> Sony-A6300(mic-in)
Unfortunately there is a humming sound recorded. I am not sure, but I guess this happened because the camera was connected to piano/aux and PC/USB at the same time and therefore a ground loop happened  | | Technical feedback wanted: | Yes | | Additional info: | I know this doesn't exactly belong to the Great American Songbook and it is kind of a childrens-song, but this is what beginners are supposed to learn first. On the other hand this piece also belongs to post-1950 jazz standards and was published by Hal Leonard, so this is hopefully not too much off-topic.
With little over 2 months, the progress was rather slow. Especially as there are still mistakes if I play everything from top to bottom. Not to mention the issues with holding tempo and remaining constant volume. Trust me: those issues weren't there during playing; they sneaked somehow into the recording afterwards 
I fell in love with this piece when I heard it for the first time and I always said to myself: If I will ever learn piano, this will be one of my songs. And guess what - I am not alone with that, there is even an old Linus and Lucy challenge thread. Amazingly this song didn't make its way to the recitals so far.
So I can proudly present this as premiere and I hope you enjoy listening! |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 22 | | | Performer's name: | BillM | | From: | Taneytown, Md. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Video link: | https://youtu.be/vmOhMDL8wBo | | Title of piece: | Be Careful Its My Heart | | Composer: | Irving Berlin | | Duration: | 02:17 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Baldwin R Artist Grand | | Recording method: | Shure Mic to iPhone | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | I love Bing Crosby's performance of this song in White Christmas. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 23 | | | Performer's name: | TomLC | | From: | So. Calif. | | Experience: | 6 Years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Stardust | | Composer: | Hoagy Carmichael | | Duration: | 02:13 | | Source of music: | Based on a score. | | Instrument used: | Kawai NV10 | | Recording method: | Digital to Mac (Quicktime) | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | I planned to submit a recording of The Nearness of You that I have been working on. However it has been difficult to find some uninterrupted time to get finished. So here is another Hoagy tune in the meantime. I will try submit Nearness by the 15. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 24 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | An Affair to Remember; I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo | | Composer: | WARREN | | Duration: | 06:29 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Kawai 5.5' Baby Grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM 40 320 Mb | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Of all the truly giant contributors to GAS, Harry Warren has got to be the least known -- from the late 20s to the late 50s, song after song made it into the American Standards. It might be of interest to know that his original name was Salvadore Guaragna, and of Sicilian heritage. I've always thought that some of Warren's music had a distinctly Italianate character, much like Irving Berlin's had a Russian-Jewish flavor. Both gentlemen, though, were thoroughly professional in their craft; they proved that they could write in any American style as needed.
The first of the two submissions was Warren's last major "hit"; he wrote it in 1957 for the movie "An Affair to Remember". The arrangement here was provided by English Jazz pianist George Shearing - but one who sensed the wisdom of writing in a classical style for certain pieces. Just a beautifully sensitive running left hand. By contrast, the second is Warren's appropriation of American Swing and Big Band, so popular in the late 30s to early 40s. This by and large is Warren's own arrangement, and you can sense how evocative it is. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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| 25 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Here's That Rainy Day; Moonlight Becomes You | | Composer: | VAN HEUSEN | | Duration: | 10:17 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Kawai 5.5' Baby Grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM 40 320 Mb | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Similar to Harry Warren, Jimmy van Heusen has provided a great number of contributions to the Great American Songbook -- but the songs are far more familiar than the person who composed them. Van Heusen, like Warren, provided a number of "hits" in conjunction with movies -- a rich storehouse that was very popular from the late 30s to the early 60s.
The first of these two pieces - "Here's That Rainy Day" is a transcription of Bill Evans, who in general is considered one of the finest practitioners of Jazz Piano, and more particularly with "The Standards". The second, "Moonlight Becomes You" is somewhat earlier Van Heusen - the late 30s. Like so many of the Standards, it was introduced in a movie. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 26 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Skylark; Two Sleepy People | | Composer: | CARMICHAEL | | Duration: | 07:57 | | Source of music: | Sheet music. | | Instrument used: | Kawai 5.5' Baby Grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM 40 320 Db | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Hoagy Carmichael is yet another who has provided some giant contributions to the GAS -- he was the composer of "Stardust", which pretty much owns the #1 ranking in American Standards -- not to speak of "Georgia on My Mind"; "The Nearness of You"; and the infamous "Heart and Soul" - and so many others.
"Skylark" he wrote in 1937 -- the piano arrangement here is that of Nelson Riddle, who oversaw his final project in the mid-80s with Linda Ronstadt to produce a two-album set of Standards. The second, "Two Sleepy People" was also written in the late 30s, again for a movie. The arrangement is a transcription of Oscar Peterson's performance from the 1950s. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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5000 Post Club Member
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| 27 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years of lessons up until HS graduation. Off & on since retirement in 2004. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Someone to Watch Over Me | | Composer: | George Gershwin | | Duration: | 03:52 | | Source of music: | From 'Simply Standards' book. Arrangements by Mike Springer. | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano | | Recording method: | thumb drive w/audacity to convert from wav to mp3 & increase sound level. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | My thanks to the piano teachers sub forum 'student saver' threads where I learned about Mike Springer and other fun arrangers and composers. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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OP
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189 |
| 28 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years lessons until HS graduation. On & off since retirement in 2004. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Over the Rainbow | | Composer: | Harold Arlen | | Duration: | 04:03 | | Source of music: | The World's Most Beautiful Music -'easy'piano. Arranged by Dan Coates. | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano. | | Recording method: | thumb drive recording. Audacity used to normalize volume and convert from wav to mp3. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Another arranger discovered thanks to the piano teachers sub forum 'student saver' thread.
Not sure if I've ever played this perfectly, but the 'red dot' or for my digital piano '00:00' gave me the jitters. I've heard that it gets better. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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OP
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189 |
| 29 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years lessons up until HS graduation, then on & off since retirement in 2004. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | My Buddy | | Composer: | Walter Donaldson | | Duration: | 02:14 | | Source of music: | Lesson piece from Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method by by Mark Davis. The lesson piece only had the chorus, and after listing to a recording from the 30's on YouTube, I really wanted to add the verses, so I did that part of the arrangement myself. | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano. | | Recording method: | thumb drive recording from digital piano. Audacity used to normalize volume and convert from wav to mp3. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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OP
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189 |
| 30 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years of lessons up until HS graduation, then on & off since retirement in 2004. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | A Foggy Day | | Composer: | George Gershwin | | Duration: | 01:41 | | Source of music: | Sudnow Method 'dot song'. | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano | | Recording method: | thumb drive recording from digital piano. Audacity used to normalize volume and convert from wav to mp3. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Tony B's forum posts got me interested in the Sudnow Method for voicing jazz standards and I subscribed to the website for a year. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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5000 Post Club Member
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| 31 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years of lessons up until HS graduation, then on & off since retirement in 2004. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Bye Bye Blackbird | | Composer: | Ray Henderson | | Duration: | 02:25 | | Source of music: | Simply Standards book arranged by Mike Springer | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano | | Recording method: | thumb drive recording from digital piano. Audacity used to normalize volume and convert from wav to mp3. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Discovered Mike Springer arrangements thanks to piano teachers sub forum 'student saver pieces' threads. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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OP
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
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| 32 | | | Performer's name: | lilypad | | From: | Vancouver, WA | | Experience: | 8 years lessons up until HS graduation, then no piano or keyboard access until retirement in 2004. On & off since then. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Take the "A" Train | | Composer: | Billy Strayhorn | | Duration: | 01:53 | | Source of music: | BigTime Piano Jazz & Blues arranged by Faber & Faber | | Instrument used: | Yamaha CLP-635 digital piano. | | Recording method: | Thumb drive recording from digital piano. Audacity used to normalize volume and convert from wav to mp3. | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | My first 'good enough' recording of this piece sounded bland to me and not like the piece that I have in my head.
I tried emphasizing key parts of the piece, but the recording still came out bland. I listened to a YouTube video of Randall Faber playing the piece and it sounded much more expressive and also it didn't sound as if he used any pedal. I tried the piece without pedal (my normal mode is heavy foot) and it sounded much better to me. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
5000 Post Club Member
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| 33 | | | Performer's name: | Barbaram | | From: | Ireland | | Experience: | 10+ | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Cry Me A River | | Composer: | Arthur Hamilton, Arr Dan Coates | | Duration: | 01:42 | | Source of music: | Sheet music | | Instrument used: | Kawai CS8 digital | | Recording method: | DP to Audacity | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | This is from a collection of very accessible arrangements of GAS pieces by Dan Coates. I feel he manages to bring plenty of atmosphere and interest while keeping the challenge within reach for a wide range of players. I got the book for our previous GAS recital and have played a number of the pieces from it over the years. I learned this one earlier this year for this recital and I really like it. I had ambitions of also submitting "As Time Goes By" but it never came together for me. Another time! |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 34 | | | Performer's name: | winterflower | | Experience: | plenty | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | I Loves You Porgy | | Composer: | Gershwin | | Duration: | 01:39 | | Source of music: | I was practicing trying to use from something of a leadsheet (er, a Hal Leonard Real Book). | | Instrument used: | Pianoteq 7: 1922 Erard (apparently; slight chance it was actually 1926 Pleyel) | | Technical feedback wanted: | Yes | | Additional info: | I am glad that I was able to stream Porgy and Bess. It was affecting and effective.
But moreover I like this music. That's enough.
Comments welcomed. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 35 | | | Performer's name: | winterflower | | Experience: | plenty | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Bess, You Is My Woman Now | | Composer: | Gershwin | | Duration: | 04:40 | | Source of music: | still attempting to use something like a leadsheet. On duet portions, I had a nice excuse to ignore more of the harmony, mostly play melody.... | | Instrument used: | Pianoteq 7: 1922 Erard (likely) | | Technical feedback wanted: | Yes | | Additional info: | I reversed the songs' chronology because I prefer this order of moods. (But did I contrast / mix moods enough?)
I like comments. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 36 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | The Things We Did Last Summer; Just in Time | | Composer: | STYNE | | Duration: | 07:56 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Kawai 5.5' baby grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM 40 320 Mb | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | Julie Styne had perhaps the longest tenure in providing songs that entered into the Great American Songboook. In the 20s through the 40s, he wrote predominantly traditional songs; but, starting 1945 or 50 or so, he became heavily involved in Broadway Musicals, penning quite a few Standards through the 50s and 60s. His last big hit was "People" from the Musical "Funny Girl" in 1967. The first piece presented here: "The Things We Did Last Summer", was introduced in 1947, and is IMO a perfect example of his considerable in song-writing. The Jazz arranger is again Marian McPartland, with her lush, romantic stle clearly in evidence. The 2nd by contrast is a piece from a Broadway Musical in the mid 50s. The Jazz arranger here is again Lee Evans, who this time imparts an abstract feel to what is clearly a soft-shoe entertainment. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
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| 37 | | | Performer's name: | Tim Adrianson | | From: | Madison, WI | | Experience: | 65+ years | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Title of piece: | Somebody, Somewhere; Once in Love With Amy | | Composer: | LOESSER | | Duration: | 07:53 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Kawai; 5.5' Baby Grand | | Recording method: | TASCAM 40 -- 320 Mb | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | From a GAS perspective, Frank Loesser is a most interesting guy. In the 1930s-early 40s, he was predominantly known as a lyricist for other composers. While in WW II, he began to write both song and lyric, mainly patriotic potboilers to maintain or heighten morale. After the War, he got involved in Musical Theater, and maintained this path until his death in 1968. He was responsible for two monster hits: "Guys and Dol, ls" (1950) and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1963), along with several other Musicals of high quality.
"Somebody, Somwhere" is from one of the others -- "The Most Happy Fella" (1956), which I personally consider to be Loesser's masterpiece. The second, "Once in Love With Amy" is from Loesser's first effort in Musical Theater -- "Where's Charley?" (1947). Both arrangements are Loesser's own, supplemented by my interpolations at various points. |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,189
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| 38 | | | Performer's name: | Sam S | | From: | Georgia, USA | | Avatar: |  | | Experience: | 11 | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Video link: | https://youtu.be/AbSBSCIIIX0 | | Title of piece: | Promenade (Walking the Dog) | | Composer: | George Gershwin | | Duration: | 03:16 | | Instrument used: | Yamaha C3 | | Recording method: | Zoom Q8 | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | The piano part sounds easy, but it was very difficult for me. I worked on it about a month. The problem is that the chords change every half measure - never the same. I missed a few...
Let's set the stage, from the movie "Shall We Dance": Ginger Rogers is crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner. Fred Astaire is chasing her. Ginger wants nothing to do with Fred. Fred discovers that Ginger walks her little tiny (and very cute) dog every day on the Promenade deck. He bribes the steward to get him a dog to walk so that he can encounter Ginger. He ends up with a huge dog - hilarity ensues. Later in the movie the scene is repeated, but this time Fred gets a pack of dogs. It's all very light-hearted and fun.
Thanks for listening! |
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Joined: Dec 2007
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| 39 | | | Performer's name: | BillM | | From: | Taneytown, Md. | | Direct music link: | click to download | | Video link: | https://youtu.be/pymtGNTwcDk | | Title of piece: | What Are Doing New Years Eve | | Composer: | Frank Loesser | | Duration: | 02:30 | | Source of music: | Sheet Music | | Instrument used: | Baldwin R Artist Grand | | Recording method: | Shure mic to iPhone | | Technical feedback wanted: | No | | Additional info: | My piano/vocal rendition of the 1947 Frank Loesser classic. Even though the title suggests this is a holiday song, the composer never intended it to be viewed as one. In any case I hope you enjoy my recording. This is really a fun song to sing. |
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