Mendelssohn Venetian Gondolier 19.6

KevinM

Whilst working on new simpler pieces on my return. Of course I am interested in reviving a few old favourites.

navindra

KevinM Wonderful indeed! I enjoyed this very much, it had grandiose feel to it. Nice sounding piano too! 👏

ShiroKuro

KevinM oh wow that was just gorgeous! And @rsl12 ‘s description of warm is very apt.

Also, every time I hear one of the Songs Without Words, I always want to learn it. Maybe I should.

How difficult are these, do you think? Aren’t they in the category of “deceptively difficult”? (i.e. they are harder than they sound)

rsl12

Sounds great! Your level is higher than I thought, based on your previous question (sorry). Your performance is very warm.

KevinM

Thanks rsl12

That is the difference between learning a new piece and reviving an old piece.

It will take me a while to learn a piece like this from scratch at the moment, and as it is reflects my slower fingers.

KevinM

navindra Thank you.

KevinM

ShiroKuro

Thank you ShiroKuro

I think nearly all of Opus 19 is within your skill level Shiro, and some from Opus 30. The ones with higher Opus numbers I get the impression are more difficult which is partly why I haven't explored them. The very first one 19.1 is one of my favourite of the whole series. I managed a recording of it I'm happy with about 4 years ago, my only real issue with that recording was my playing with tempo to try and add breath didn't work as I wanted. I would like to pick this up again, but will leave that till I've my fingers working again.

19.4 is probably the easiest to start with, then perhaps 30.3.

The second Venetian Gondolier song 30.6 is one of my favourites, but it was always just outside of my skill level, I almost got there but just could not do it. I think you would be up to it.

The songs without words collection are some of my favourite classical music.

ShiroKuro

KevinM thank you for the vote of confidence! I'll take a look, I know I have some (from Op 19 I believe) in books, but I don't think I have all of them in any one place.

Your Op19.1 is lovely as well!

These pieces are so lyric, I think that's why I love them.

Also, I feel like anyone who likes Einaudi would like these.... I might be the only one who hears that connection though. 😅

KevinM

Interesting. I can see the connection with Einaudi. I feel like I should like Einaudi more than I do.

Many of the songs without words are music that is like photographs of landscapes to me. They aren't portraits of people, or close ups of flowers or lichens or mosses. It is like they set a scene, a backdrop and I think Einaudi and Philip Glass also often make pieces that create musical landscapes. Which is where I see the connection.

My photography (only using my iPhone so nothing special) from my frequent local walks is nearly always of the landscape and how it changes with time of day/weather/time of year. I think this connects with the type of classical music I like. I want it to set a scene.