Thread: Classical Thread

Still playing piano, but instead of posting this in 'whatchu listenin to?' I post here:

All you non-classical types, if you ever get the feeling that you might want to try that shoe on, force-feed style, pick one of these + please do it and lmk when you are a convert:

Brahms 2d Piano Concerto (what I'm listening to right now. so rock and roll)
Grieg Piano Concerto (ditto)
Schumann Piano Concerto (stones before there were stones)

Yuja, she aite. Saw her live a few years ago. So hardcore, she's the Ian MacKaye of piano.



Rubinstein is the Too Short of piano. Unquestioned OG with so much style, but precise and will murk you in your sleep. Dude is like 109 in this recording and he's still holding down his corner.



Richter is my favorite when it comes to Schumann. He brings the rage AND the impossible sensitivity. Oh. Richter is the Billy Corgan of piano.

The last three or four days I've spent about 13 hours working on this piece. It is my favorite piece of solo piano music. I am getting close to being able to play it, and that's exciting for me. It's been a goal for ten years. There is still a long way to go...for example, I need to play the Piu Mosso section (the fast bit - the middle 1/3) about twice as fast as I can now.

^ Ha, I'm still fine-tuning that Piu Mosso section, it's above my technical level.

But I came today, brothers and sisters, to share with you the message of Bach.

I don't get it, but I'm trying. I'll say this--the first piece of classical (baroque, if we are being exact, but f that) that I learned. I learned it on guitar. Like this dude:



That was super fun to play. And I was all, 'Bach is ok I guess'.

But now I'm trying to explore stuff that classical piano nerds think is the omg best wow all time.

Like...

Well tempered clavier books 1 and 2
Partitas
French suites

...

they suck, but maybe I can Stockholm syndrome myself into liking them.

My goal is to have this recital ready by the end of June. For no one in particular. But if I had to. I might do it at the park if there's an outlet for the Roland. I just like the music and the playing of it. Anyways.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4B...T16BkHBHxpOPRg



I'm on track for the most part, got most of it memorized if not up to tempo, but I'm a little intimidated by the Bach Fugue (in C major, BWV 846 from the Well-Tempered Clavier, in 4 voices), which I've just started to memorize. It's not that catchy and I'm not sure that I like it particularly, but at the same time I am so excited about being able to play it. It takes your brain to a different place and I'm stoked about that. But also intimidated.



That harpsicord sounds like warm ass in my opinion. I guess it does the job.

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

My goal is to have this recital ready by the end of June. For no one in particular. But if I had to. I might do it at the park if there's an outlet for the Roland. I just like the music and the playing of it. Anyways.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4B...T16BkHBHxpOPRg



I'm on track for the most part, got most of it memorized if not up to tempo, but I'm a little intimidated by the Bach Fugue (in C major, BWV 846 from the Well-Tempered Clavier, in 4 voices), which I've just started to memorize. It's not that catchy and I'm not sure that I like it particularly, but at the same time I am so excited about being able to play it. It takes your brain to a different place and I'm stoked about that. But also intimidated.



That harpsicord sounds like warm ass in my opinion. I guess it does the job.

When did you learn to play? Are you imparting any musical abilities onto your offspring?

Originally Posted by Buff

When did you learn to play? Are you imparting any musical abilities onto your offspring?

2010. A buddy challenged me to see which of us could learn a certain complicated piece first. I'm passing on what I can but it's always a personal thing. Maybe down the road, you know?

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Still playing piano, but instead of posting this in 'whatchu listenin to?' I post here:

All you non-classical types, if you ever get the feeling that you might want to try that shoe on, force-feed style, pick one of these + please do it and lmk when you are a convert:

Brahms 2d Piano Concerto (what I'm listening to right now. so rock and roll)
Grieg Piano Concerto (ditto)
Schumann Piano Concerto (stones before there were stones)

Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto, my favourite classical work EVER!

Originally Posted by Sharkie

Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto, my favourite classical work EVER!

So good!!

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Yuja, she aite. Saw her live a few years ago. So hardcore, she's the Ian MacKaye of piano.

I could do without all the jerky theatrical stuff. Kinda detracts from the performance if you ask me.

Originally Posted by SR

I could do without all the jerky theatrical stuff. Kinda detracts from the performance if you ask me.

I'm not a fan of watching classical music, personally.

I had an aptitude for the piano at an early age. Zero love for it. Broke my mom's heart when I kept fighting piano practice after school. Hated going to piano lessons.

Looking back on it I don't regret it. What's the point of being good at something if doing it makes you miserable?

Originally Posted by King87

I had an aptitude for the piano at an early age. Zero love for it. Broke my mom's heart when I kept fighting piano practice after school. Hated going to piano lessons.

Looking back on it I don't regret it. What's the point of being good at something if doing it makes you miserable?

As a kid I had big hands and long fingers. My whole family wanted me to play the piano but I never liked the piano. I played the flute for a few years and was actually pretty good at it, but my dad and I moved around so much I could never catch on with the band for long enough to keep up and eventually lost interest. I had a really nice Artley nickel flute too.

Now I'm listening to Brahms 2d Piano Concerto. For the third time today. An old favorite I took down off the shelf, and once again can't get enough of it.

The first two movements might be the best music ever made--no hyperbole.