Cratersmash — Sonata No. 3 in A Minor
You already wrote in the update thread, your piece is difficult. I just had no idea how difficult this is. On top of that, it was almost 10 minutes. No sheet music, all memorized. I am very impressed how good you played this. Lots of dynamics and a very good tempo. Thanks for sharing.
PianoTell Recital #2 Is Now Live!
Gooseberry — Pigalle
You started in 2021? Didn't expect this. This waltz is maybe not the most challenging one, but you play it with so much ease, as it was no effort at all. Maybe the piece wasn't easy, but you made it look easy. There was some really nice rubato, very good expression and the most important: it was very musical. Thank you for sharing.
- Edited
Thanks. I have nothing new on the music desk at the present time. I'm not even practicing since I recorded this recital submission.
I'd like to to blame some nefarious outside influences over the past couple of months, but really it's just me not wanting to play and nothing at all to do with any rumored connection with a band of horse thieves and bank robbers. As I keep saying, my Faber books aren't interesting enough. The RCM isn't either. My progress with Always on My Mind is stalled at the end of the first page too. I can play it the entire sheet, but it sounds odd because my interpretation is off. The chord fingering is weird in a couple of measures too and I'm having to work out alternate fingering for those. Which adds to the odd sound.
Maybe I'll do something for Christmas. I think I have an arranged and mega-simplified Jingle Bells around here somewhere. Could be fun. Could be a disaster. I might be forced to swap my piano for a black hat and matching bandanna.
- Edited
I’d like to give somewhat more detailed feedback, but things are really busy right now, so I’m keeping things brief. Here’s my first batch.
iternabe — O mio babbino caro
Great job! You’re making really good progress. Good job switching between registers.
keff — Over the Rainbow
What a nice arrangement! It’s a perennial favorite song of mine, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard it with that extensive an intro. Thanks for sharing!
plop_symphony — The Midnight Ball
Very well done and evocatively played! I’m very impressed that you’ve only been playing 2 years.
Schubertian2 — Ballade 4
A huge congratulations to you on this. It is a major accomplishment! Well done.
WieWaldi — Quick Five Blues
Very nicely done! You give it a nice swinging feel. You’ve made excellent progress.
Nightowl — What A Wonderful World
Keep up the good work! This is a great song. If you want to find a teacher, I think it could be a positive experience, but you’re also clearly enjoying yourself as it is.
Sophia — A Classy Rag
This is a great rendition of a classy rag! I like how you you vary the dynamics. You’re making fantastic progress.
rogerch — Slow Steps
I’m always very impressed with people who are able to improvise. This is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
thepianoplayer416 — When You Wish Upon a Star
The AI voice over threw me a bit! It’s such a stark contrast to the sentimentality of the music. I think the song works very nicely at this tempo, although I can also see it working well a bit slower. I certainly wouldn’t speed it up any more than this. It’s also nice to hear you coming back to the piece.
Sam — The Never Finished Piece
Kudos to you! I can’t imagine composing something, and I’m impressed by people who are able to do so. It was lovely!
@thepianoplayer416 - When You Wish. A nice rendition of a classic tune. You inspired me to look up the Real Book chart, I might have to take a stab at this myself sometime. Thanks!
@SalmonJack - Bliss Ten. Another original composition, fantastic! I like the ambiguity you mentioned. In rock ‘n’ roll, we call that dyad a power chord! Looks like you have some nice scenery to complement your music too. Well done!
@keff - Over the Rainbow. Another classic tune! I got my Real Book out for this one too, much more interesting chord progression than I would have guessed. You played the song with an appropriately delicate touch and relaxed technique -- at least from what I could see. Move that camera angle to include more of the keyboard!
Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.
Sophia
I love the nonchalant ease with which you play this piece, like a walk in the park. Your rhythm notably sounds natural and musical. You make learning the piano look easy, but not everybody has your gift!
Gooseberry
After 3 years of learning my playing consisted of a loud and unmusical succession of notes. At the same level of experience your playing sounds like a professional recording that could be used as a movie soundtrack.
Sgisela
There is a nocturnal lyricism in your playing that tugs at the listener's heartstrings and pull them into the depths of a soul-stirring journey. The part at 2:58 is achingly beautiful. The typical "wet" sound of the Estonia fits this music perfectly. After finishing listening to this I restarted immediately.
Thanks for your comments.
The song "When You Wish Upon a Star" came out in 1940 sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jimmy Cricket was a slow version. There were other versions that are slightly faster including one by Louis Armstrong. I recently heard a version played by a strings ensemble with piano & vibraphone (no singing) about the same speed of my recording.
Rubens Thank you for your most generous comments.
Sadly the ES920 can't claim the credit for the sound. I have only had it for a couple of weeks. I got it to replace my sixteen year old Kawai MP5 (which still works fine, but showing signs of wear)
The piano sound is courtesy of Native Instruments, 'The Giant'. I have had it for several years. I have a few other NI pianos, but still keep coming back to The Giant for it's wide sonic range and playability.
Rob
Oh, embarrashing, as the late great Sir Sean Connery would say. I do really like what I hear from Native Instruments and am considering to make the plunge into vst world with the new one, Claire. What makes me hesitate is that I keep hearing that there would be less of an organic feeling of being connected to the instrument as opposed to playing with the onboard sounds. What are your thought on this? (Sorry for being OT, friends, it's a one time thing, I promise.)
Rubens I have read some mixed reviews about Claire. I think it may lack some pedalling features, although some demos sound good.
A couple of days ago, I bought Noire in their cyber sale, (50% off) and I am really liking it so far.
I am not a computer geek, but must have got lucky with my current setup.
Just a mid range Windows PC, and 1st gen Komplete Audio 6 interface.
i prefer to use standard midi connections rather than USB, and have no problem feeling connected, or with playabilty.
I am fairly sensitive to latency, but do not notice any difference when playing either VST or onboard sounds.
on my face from beginning to end.
@Rubens Thank you!!! You've given me fresh life and vigour, and enthusiasm to go on learning and practising to maybe someday actually deserve such praise 
TC3 — Worried Life Blues
That was really very enjoyable to me. Only loved it. In your text you talk about how unfinished your practising stage was at recording time. Seriuosly, only the very last note and expression in your face indicates, this could be true. The rest, from the start though the entire song until the 2nd last note was just perfect. So relaxed and layed back.
Your singing is very nice, too. You have a strong voice and you hit every note with great confidence. I always wonder how you can keep the tempo and rhythm with your LH, while talking out of rythm (1 min mark). I think the real singing together with the beat is easier for keeping the tempo. Well, you did everything just right and I am happy you shared this with us.
WieWaldi Thanks very much, I appreciate the kind words from a fellow blues pianist. I can hear a few other piano inaccuracies along the way, but I'm glad they didn't come through too obviously. As far as the singing, I'm getting stronger, but there were definitely a few lines that aren't quite as confident as I'd like. The talking a-rhythmically while playing in tempo bit is interesting. I couldn't exactly write it out on sheet music, but I've practiced it enough that I'm saying that bit pretty regularly, so it may actually be in time in some sense, just not in an obvious quarter- or eighth-note sort of way. It would be interesting to get some notation software to chart it out and see what it looks like. In any case, thanks for the response!
Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.
MarieJ — Waltz in F minor – Your artwork and music videos are a feast for the mind and soul – thank you for sharing them with us, and I mean it! You play beautifully, and your choices are always tasteful and inspiring. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Tim Neumark but now I want to delve into his music.