Sad news today. One of the grand dames of the keyboard has left us.
"Moura Lympany, the colorful and elegant British concert pianist whose career lasted more than 65 years, died on March 28 in Menton, France. She was 88...Ms. Lympany avoided specialization, yet she is often associated with Russian music, particularly Rachmaninoff (she was the first to record his complete Preludes) and Khachaturian. She gave Khachaturian's piano concerto its first performances outside the Soviet Union, touring with it in 1940."
Read the rest of teh NYT Obit here
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Pianos and the National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry (set up to preserve sound recordings "that are culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States")has announced the current crop of recordings select for the registry. This the NRR's third year since started in 2002 by the Library of Congress.
Among those chose are these gems:
“Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor", Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano; Leopold Stokowski, conductor, Philadelphia Orchestra (1929)
"Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 23, b-flat minor", Vladimir Horowitz, piano; Arturo Toscanini, conductor, NBC Symphony Orchestra (1943).
A full list of the newest recordings selected for the registry can be found here and you can find the National Recording Registry on the web right here
Among those chose are these gems:
“Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor", Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano; Leopold Stokowski, conductor, Philadelphia Orchestra (1929)
"Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 23, b-flat minor", Vladimir Horowitz, piano; Arturo Toscanini, conductor, NBC Symphony Orchestra (1943).
A full list of the newest recordings selected for the registry can be found here and you can find the National Recording Registry on the web right here
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Evening in the Palace of Reason: When Johnny Met Freddy
Spring is afoot and summer is not far behind. So, if you're like me, it's a fine time to start thinking about your summer reading --or something for those fine sunny spring mornings.
One book that has recently caught my attention is "Evening in the Palace of Reason" by James Gaines. A story of the meeting between J. S. Bach (always a welcome figure around these parts) and Frederick the Great. The encounter, which resulted in one of Bach's undisputed masterworks, takes place when is Bach already in the sunset of his years and Frederick The Great is on the rise. An encounter that tells us as much about music as the meeting of two very different world views.
A splendid little review of the book can be found here at the Denver post. Publisher's info is here.
One book that has recently caught my attention is "Evening in the Palace of Reason" by James Gaines. A story of the meeting between J. S. Bach (always a welcome figure around these parts) and Frederick the Great. The encounter, which resulted in one of Bach's undisputed masterworks, takes place when is Bach already in the sunset of his years and Frederick The Great is on the rise. An encounter that tells us as much about music as the meeting of two very different world views.
A splendid little review of the book can be found here at the Denver post. Publisher's info is here.
and speaking of new pianos
A brand new Steinway D concert grand has made it's way to Idaho (courtesy of the Mormon's) and will be getting a little excercise soon. Read about it here.
What a deal ! ?
Or so I think.. I would have thought Dave Stewart's Bechstein (played by Annie Lennox, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and others) would have fetched more more money at auction. Alas, the conservative end of the ball park figures suggested previously were, no pun, right on the money. I should have bid : - )
Read it here
Still it did better than the piano in Tenn. that went for a whopping .11 cents. Here
Read it here
Still it did better than the piano in Tenn. that went for a whopping .11 cents. Here
Sunday, April 03, 2005
We Have Kontakt (2)
For the home computer-based musician (and what, really, can't be done with utterly convincing resultls on the computer these days?) comes news of Native Instruments' "Kontakt 2". The instrument library alone for this puppy is killer. Indeed, so rich and rockin' is the libary it will certainly give a nudge to those who might have otherwise been on the fence. Especially fetching are the contributions from VSL (Vienna Symphonic Library" and PMI (Post Musical Instruments).
Read all about it
Read all about it
Martha, Martha, Martha....
"pianists Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire have been playing together, or almost together, for many years. And more than most two-piano teams, they play for excitement.
That is risky business in a stage setup with pianos facing head-on, which doesn't allow the players to see each other's hands or, for that matter, much of each other at all. Some teams have devised gimmicks - heavy breathing, say, or facial twitches - to communicate; others play for safety and comfort."
It's all here
That is risky business in a stage setup with pianos facing head-on, which doesn't allow the players to see each other's hands or, for that matter, much of each other at all. Some teams have devised gimmicks - heavy breathing, say, or facial twitches - to communicate; others play for safety and comfort."
It's all here
Liberace and Lang Lang: A Match Made in Heaven
An interesting review of Mr. Lang Lang, a pianist who is vastly over-hyped. Alas, I fear he is the classical music world's answer to liberace. If only the critics would say it so more plaingly.
"But what of the music that needs only 10 fingers, or fewer? What happens when the contrasts are less violent, the difficulties less tangible, more abstract? There the results were frustrating. When the music became sparer, more reflective, Lang seemed to work to make it more interesting, as if he were trying to keep himself engaged."
Fizze and Read
"But what of the music that needs only 10 fingers, or fewer? What happens when the contrasts are less violent, the difficulties less tangible, more abstract? There the results were frustrating. When the music became sparer, more reflective, Lang seemed to work to make it more interesting, as if he were trying to keep himself engaged."
Fizze and Read
Piano and Japanese Animation
now here's something intereting.. A nice diverseion from "Simpsons" and "Space Ghost" eh?
"Miu Nomura once loved to play the piano. As a little girl, the music made her heart soar and she eagerly shared her songs with all of those around her. Now an introverted teenager, Miu has become too shy to express her feelings – even through her music. Her playing has suffered and her piano teacher, the moody Mr. Shirakawa, has become impatient with her inability to reach the next level.
When Miu develops a crush on upperclassman Takahashi, her best friend Yuuki is the first to notice. Unfortunately, Yuuki's too distracted with her own emotional troubles – she's fallen hard for third year track star Takizawa! However, Mr. Shirakawa has also noticed something...a sudden and remarkable change in Miu's
playing. Can he help her rediscover the joy of the piano and find the courage to share her heart and music once more?" Link
"Miu Nomura once loved to play the piano. As a little girl, the music made her heart soar and she eagerly shared her songs with all of those around her. Now an introverted teenager, Miu has become too shy to express her feelings – even through her music. Her playing has suffered and her piano teacher, the moody Mr. Shirakawa, has become impatient with her inability to reach the next level.
When Miu develops a crush on upperclassman Takahashi, her best friend Yuuki is the first to notice. Unfortunately, Yuuki's too distracted with her own emotional troubles – she's fallen hard for third year track star Takizawa! However, Mr. Shirakawa has also noticed something...a sudden and remarkable change in Miu's
playing. Can he help her rediscover the joy of the piano and find the courage to share her heart and music once more?" Link
Wanna Buy a Piano
if you're looking for to put a little of pop music under your fingers, literally, well there good news afoot. Dave Stewart of the "Eurythmics" is selling off his beautiful and oft heard Bechstein grand piano. Bechstein's are beautiful beasts and ought to feature a pretty penny. But you'll have to hurry. I'm sure it'll meet it's resever price.
"The black BECHSTEIN grand - which Stewart has owned for over 20 years - has been used to compose all the band's major hits, including SWEET DREAMS and HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN. But the piano is being auctioned in London tomorrow (04APR05) with a reserve price of $5,700 (GBP3000), in preparation for Stewart's move across the Atlantic."
More here and if you're ready go here
"The black BECHSTEIN grand - which Stewart has owned for over 20 years - has been used to compose all the band's major hits, including SWEET DREAMS and HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN. But the piano is being auctioned in London tomorrow (04APR05) with a reserve price of $5,700 (GBP3000), in preparation for Stewart's move across the Atlantic."
More here and if you're ready go here