It's (almost for me) December 1! Time for the informal Piano | Tell Holiday Themed Recital! Please share your holiday recordings here. This is a normal PT thread so your submission goes live as soon as you submit. Happy Holidays!

Performer: rogerch
Piece: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano

Source of music: Lead sheet
Recording method: Zoom H1essentials

    This is from a number of years ago. Enjoy!

    Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.

      I'm loving the submissions so far! and thanks @rogerch for setting this up.

      I missed the recent Recital #2 due to some circumstances, but I'm inclined to post something here in the coming days (maybe even today?) of me improv'ing to some holiday piece(s).

      This would be my first posted recording in my lifetime, so that'll be exciting.

      Stay tuned.

      Performer: Navindra Umanee in the USA. On and off piano lessons since September 2019.
      Piece: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
      Comment Policy: Critical Comments: Anything goes!

      Source of music: Alfred's Easy Piano arrangement by Dan Coates
      Instrument: Kawai Novus NV10
      Recording method: USB to WAV recording with gain set to +15db. I used the Classic voicing with all defaults except resonance set to 8.
      Additional info: This is a recording from 5 years ago when I first started taking piano lessons. I had no idea what I was getting into; I crashed and burned during the live performance. My hands shook uncontrollably and I couldn't even read the sheet music in front of me. So I went back home and re-recorded my performance on my own terms for my own peace of mind. One day I'll revisit this song on the piano as it's still a favorite of mine. Happy Holidays! 🎉

      --
      Beach L168, Wish, baCh, WOW Petrof, Fake Steinway, VS
      TIME

        Performer: Rob
        Piece: In the Bleak Midwinter (Trad.)

        Source of music: Own arrangement
        Instrument: Kawai MP5 controlling 'The Giant' VSTi in Cubase
        Additional info: Originally posted on Facebook, two years ago, as a 'musical greetings card' for family and friends, back in the UK.

          Performer: HeartKeys, USA, Play for fun by ear
          Piece: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
          Comment Policy: Anything goes

          Source of music: improvising to this classic.
          Instrument: VSL Bösendorfer 280VC. I would've liked to play on my acoustic, but I have no good recording equipment. VSL pianos sound great tone-wise, but you'll notice the velocity issues (ie sometimes it attacks super hard). But on the same token, I like the twang.
          Additional info: I play 100% by ear, and took practically no lessons, and do not read music. I just mess around with music. This recording was me this evening, taking a quick stab at the song (I've played it before at a Christmas service before as well), this version I made.

            Performer: rsl12 (USA). Piano has been a hobby for decades. First half of my piano life was focused on classical, but now I'm into jazz.
            Piece: Sleigh Ride in 7/8 (Anderson/Eidsvoog)
            Comment Policy: Critical Comments: Anything goes!

            Source of music: Sheet Music
            Additional info: This recording is from 2018. I had been trying to get this piece together for years before, but I always started preparing too late to get it in shape before Christmas. Obviously the rhythm is the tricky part! This is not a perfect recording, but it was good enough that I haven't touched the piece since 2018. Which is a shame, because it's such a nice arrangement!

              HeartKeys Congratulations on your first posted recording!! You are much more skilled than you made yourself out to be.

                keff I love the way you stitched these pieces together. Seeing the sheet music up there makes it all the more impressive! Is that your own arrangement of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"? It all sounds great!

                    TC3 Very cool that you sing together while playing! That looks super fun and it sounds great!

                    • TC3 likes this.

                      navindra Great playing! You seem really solid in this recording, even with the red dot. Based on what you have posted since it seems you have gained a lot of confidence in performing!

                      Also, I love the sweater!

                        Rob What a lovely arrangement, and I love your delicate playing! Very cool video!

                        • Rob likes this.

                          HeartKeys I'm really happy I got to hear you play! You have amazing skills and I'm super impressed and inspired!

                          I've been using a Zoom H1essentials to record my acoustic piano. The recorder costs about $100, it's easy to use, and I'm happy with the way it sounds. I know I could improve the recordings with more money and time but I'd rather spend the time practicing more. 🙂

                              rsl12 I agree this is a nice arrangement, and I'm impressed with how well you play! There is a lot going on and you nailed it!

                                rogerch

                                Thanks for the commentary, as well as about the Zoom! I actually have a Zoom H6 (it was perhaps last year when I thought of recording), and just took it out of my storage. I think it sounds pretty good.

                                This was me messing with the song a moment ago on the acoustic 280VC, with the Zoom H6, combined with the microphone of my iPhone:

                                    HeartKeys Ooooh, that is sublime! The piano, the playing, and the recording! I want to hear more! Thanks for sharing!

                                        rogerch Is that your own arrangement of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"? It all sounds great!

                                        Thanks for the kind words. I had a lead sheet for We wish you a merry Christmas written in G but in this case I transcribed it into C. Then I chose just a few simple harmonies. I am hoping to perform the medley in a concert on Saturday with a friend's arrangement of 'We wish you...'. This new arrangement keeps to the key of G but I have now worked out how to modulate from G to C to pick up the second tune.

                                          Kudos to everyone who submitted here wonderful piece. And thanks to @rogerch for opening this thread. I call this a great idea. And I really love how soft and smooth played Feliz Navidad. This is one of the modern classics, I can't listen to, enough.

                                          And very big respect to you @keff , to add your medley. You played it really cautious, also very soft. This is the absolute right mood for Chistmas eve. Thank you for sharing.

                                          Loved your costumes and and the humorous style, you and your wife added to the YouTube Christmas card. Nice playing and wonderful singing of you both, you can count you lucky to life in a musical family. Thank you for sharing @TC3.