PianoTell Recital #3 Is Now Live!

Performer: sgisela, took lessons through high school, resumed playing in 2020.
Piece: Danza de los ñáñigos, Ernesto Lecuona
Comment Policy: General comments, polite comments only

Source of music: sheet music
Instrument: Estonia L210
Recording method: iPhone
Additional info: This is from Lecuona’s suite of Danzas afrocubanas. I worked on La comparsa previously. I debated whether to try working on this at all because there’s a section with a bunch of ninths in the LH, and my hands can’t play all ninths comfortably. I ended up breaking up the ones that were problems for me, and I think that worked out fine. Ñáñigos refers to members of a fraternal order in Cuba; its other name is Abakua. The order was founded in Cuba in the 1830s, with roots in West African religious traditions. While many of the rituals of the Abakua are private, they also participate in public events, most notably festivities on Three Kings’ Day/Epiphany. (Above is summarized from several online sources).

I don’t usually memorize pieces, but most of this one got memorized almost automatically. There are a few hiccups, particularly toward the end, but overall I’m reasonably happy with this.

Performer: Gooseberry from Poland. Experience: 3 ½ years
Piece: Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues
Comment Policy: General comments, polite, supportive suggestions for improvement

Source of music: composite arrangement from various sources + bits by ear
Instrument: Yamaha CLP 735
Recording method: iphone
Additional info: Learning to play this song was a sentimental journey.

Performer: bSharp - California - About 9 years now
Piece: Journey - Open Arms - Arranged by Dan Coates
Comment Policy: General Comments only: Polite, supportive, suggestions for improvement.

Source of music: Sheet Music
Instrument: Yamaha C3X
Recording method: Pianoteq - Bösendorfer 280VC - Warm Preset
Additional info: I wasn't planning to submit this. I'm working on Shallow by Lady Gaga and was thinking I'd submit it, but didn't get a chance to record in time. However, it's near ready and I think I'll record it in the next couple of weeks so that I'm ready for the next recital well ahead of time.

I decided to try something different this time with the recording. I'm playing on a Yamaha C3X with a Yamaha Wireless MD-BT01 bluetooth midi adapter connected to Enspire. Pianoteq is running on an Ipad and is taking MIDI from the MD-BT01. The instrument pack used is Bösendorfer 280VC - Warm Preset. Does it sound like a Bösendorfer? Probably not - it sounds like Pianoteq

Wooo hoooo!!! Congratulations everyone, this looks to be a fabulous recital!!! (also, congrats to me for sliding in just under the deadline.

And as always, THANK YOU @navindra -- for this recital of course, but also for this site!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I'm looking forward to listening!

iternabe Nice job! A detail for watchers who may be playing the same piece - note that I've got him changing fingers on the repeated E's, first one is about 10 seconds in. Some of the chord fingerings are different than what is printed, too. Generally, we're working to help get familiarity with how the keyboard feels and to be able to move up and down it without tension. Go, Iternabe!

rach3master Beautifully played on a gorgeous instrument. Lots of passion and intensity, and, yes, there will be, and are, extraneous noises that come with playing an acoustic piano. They are typically inaudible to a live audience even 6' away, but when we record, they make themselves known. I did like the spatial orientation of your recording, i.e., treble was coming at my right ear, bass at my left, just like when I sit at the piano. I'm interested in your recording technique and set-up. This is probably the wrong place to discuss. Could we do that in a private discussion? For here, I think people would find it useful to see where you placed your microphones and which ones were used where. Also, I can recommend a plug-in from Ozone, the "Spatializer" that I use to widen the sound stage. Used tastefully, I think it enhances the listening experience. Again, beautifully done.

navindra

Nice playing Navindra. Very smooth and melodic. The recording and the piano also sound great! You had me wondering about the "Grand CyberHammer". I always tuned my acoustic and wondered why no one had invented some kind of micro-electronic tuning hammer and thought maybe it had finally arrived! I guess not yet. My technician used to tell me it was not possible. I suppose he is right but...still.

navindra Wow, nice playing on a very well tuned piano. The microphones sounded great. I wonder, if your TASCAM has an extra input, if you put a 3rd mic about 7' high some distance from the piano, say 6' or more, to give you some room sound in the recording might enhance things. Not sure about the pedal thumps, maybe something that could be minimized by your tech. I heard no damper swoosh at all which is great considering the close microphones.

When Sophia approached me with the idea of doing a duet, I liked the idea but was hesitant. I felt possibly too busy to prepare properly. But I told my 12-yr old about it, and she offered me $5 to see the finished video! So even though my performance was not great, at least I get a commission! Also the star of the piece is the piano player, who continues to show off her great musicality!

My 5 comments of the day:

rogerch Flutter by rogerch - WoW!! What a nice piece, very well put together improv.

Nightowl Frankie and Johnnie - Super well done! I'm amazed at how far you've come in 14 months.

Peyton Peyton - The accompaniment track really makes this one take off. It has a very movie soundtrack feel. If I remember correctly I said the same about one of your other improv's.

Animisha To a wild rose by Edward MacDowell - Sweet. A very lyrical piece inspiring visions of rolling hills and wildflowers everywhere.

keff Summertime, originally from Porgy and Bess by G. Gershwin - Not a bad piece. Maybe a bit slow in tempo but I've done a lot worse than how this turned out. You can certainly be proud of your performance, just don't let it go to your head.

That's all for now. I'll try to listen to more submissions tomorrow and the days to come in between doctor visits and stuff.

rsl12 When Sophia approached me with the idea of doing a duet, I liked the idea but was hesitant. I felt possibly too busy to prepare properly. But I told my 12-yr old about it, and she offered me $5 to see the finished video!

So we have your daughter to thank for this! @Sophia what an amazing idea to create a duet! rsl12 I can definitely hear an improvement in your singing from last year, and I love the showmanship in your body language and the unexpected melodica solo. You were both so great!

Animisha This is one of my favorite pieces that I've ever learned, and from start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed your interpretation. Well done!

BicBic I'm not as familiar with Chopin's mazurkas, but maybe I'll need to look into them because I enjoyed this! Well done on dynamics, both the dynamic range (crescendos and decrescendos), and the appropriate contrast between left and right hands.

WieWaldi I do enjoy my Christian from Berlin! Nice interpretation of his arrangement. Some of these can have tricky interactions between the left and right hands but you made it look easy.