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...from the notes on YT...
Today’s piece, the next in my #respite series, is “Notturno”, the 3rd of a set of 6 pieces, “Sei pezzi per pianoforte” by Ottorino Respighi, published between 1905 and 1907. It is the best known piece of the set, and in my opinion, as well as many others, it is the best of the set. The great pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli even played it as a stand-alone solo in Milan in 1938. You can find more information on “Notturno” as well as the other pieces in the set here: .
After reading the many comments by others, pianist, musicologist, critics, I confess that I am at a loss at how to describe the piece. Is it “impressionistic”? Like Debussy? Like Rachmaninoff? “Romantic”?
Yes, it is all those things to some extent, but what I think is most significant is that this is a very early work by Respighi, and it shows his own particular genius. It fits another category I have – “Magic Piano Music” – where I get to coax truly beautiful sounds out of a piano, music that sounds different than it looks on the page. Working on the piece, playing it, listening to, savoring its beauty, all gave me respite, and my hope is that it does the same for you. I am truly grateful to be able to share such Gifts as may be mine with you in bringing you this piece.
Please help me grow my audience and support my work at no cost to you by liking this video and subscribing to my YouTube channel. If you’d like to help more, help me bring more music like this to you and others, please “buy me a coffee” by using this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/andrewkraus.pianist).
For those interested in the technology involved in the recording, the video was captured with an Olympus OM-5 with the M Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens. Audio was captured with a kit built microphone from JLI Electronics – the Endora. You can read more about the technology inside it on the JLI Electronics website here: https://www.jlielectronics.com/diy-microphone-kits/endora-microphone-kit/. This dual capsule microphone was created by Jules Ruykebusch, and you can hear how it can sound and the many ways it can be used on this recording here:
Video was routed via USB into my workstation; audio was routed through XLR to an old, but still functional RME Fireface 800. Both were then routed to OBS for real-time synchronization. Minimal audio post-processing was done in Adobe Audition and video trimming in Premiere Pro.
#respite #Notturno #Endora #Respighi #JulesRuykebusch