PianoTell Recital #2 Is Now Live!

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.

Sgisela

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.

@rsl12 What a brilliant performance!
Your sense of enjoyment was infectious, as I had a big on my face from beginning to end.
I loved it!
btw, have you heard the Tom Lehrer verion of this, the Elements, set to the Periodic Table?

@Rubens That was beautifully played! so many different textures and moods throughout, and your ES920 absolutely shone.

TC3 Thanks for your comments. I may be able to show more of the keyboard in future videos.

Sgisela Thanks for the comments. Agree, the intro was rather long and I wonder if the original version had something similar.

@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

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!

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.

Player1 — Ashokan Farewell – Player1, I want to talk to you seriously. Your choice of the piece – so wistful and sad, and with that title – is it to say something? After reading your recent posts I started wondering whether you wanted to say goodbye to the piano? Please, don’t! Please keep playing, find a piece of music that really speaks to you and is relatively easy to learn, or else, find an easy piece that is just nice and will give you instant gratification and a sense of accomplishment – it’s not difficult, the internet is full of all kinds of scores. It is a trick that at least has always worked for me in moments of dejection. Your very personal and emotional relationship with the music is worth preserving and honing, and I’m sure it’s also worth sharing with others. I for one would love to hear you play again!

Rubens — Sonata no.2, Op.36 (1913), 2nd movement – I’m lost for words. Because, really, all words fall flat after listening to your impressive performance. So I went and listened to you play the 3rd movement

I once told you that I wanted to play like you when I grow up. I will not retract that confession now, but I want to make a caveat:
I now know that I will never play like you, but you will always inspire me to grow

rsl12 Thanks! Yes, it starts a bit weaker, gets better as I go along. It's a breathing thing (as I'm sure you know from your own training) as much as it's a pitch thing. I need to prioritize my singing practice a bit more, it has a tendency to fall by the wayside when I get busy ..

Gooseberry

Thank you. My current plan is to keep playing as long as I can. I'm a couple of years away from full retirement and when I finally do retire, the plan is to have a baby grand in the living room.

So, no fears of my walking away. There is always music in my life, even if the only one who can hear it, is me.

Nightowl Sgisela — Do Tebe (to you)
Wow, that's a beautiful piece and you played it effortlessly - you are clearly a natural! How long have you been playing piano? Also, I also loved the way you started and ended the piece with a close up of sunflowers - very nice

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the piece. I took lessons through high school and then life + lack of an instrument got in the way, and I stopped playing for more than 15 years. I started again in late 2020.

Rubens 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 so much for the very kind words. When I first heard the piece, I found it very emotionally compelling and I’m glad I’ve been able to convey some of that. I do agree that it has a ‘nocturnal’ quality — one of the reasons I recorded it at night and with somewhat reduced lighting.

Sophia
That was a really lovely and confident performance. You are quite a natural at this and have a good sense of how to present the material and make it fun for the listener. I was smiling and bobbing my head while you were playing. I especially like the way you "punch" those chords.