So the reason I'm putting this on my blog is because a SECOND YEAR Laurier student played this brilliantly at last week's piano concert. AAAAH! It was crazy! I saw her practicing today and knocked on her door to introduce myself and basically bow before her... haha. She's so nice! And so freaking talented. And she goes to my school.
So anyway, Berezovsky isn't especially easy on the eyes, but he certainly gets the job done! Oooh, I'm also going to post one of my new favourite performers, Mikhail Pletnev, playing a piece by Rachmaninoff that you'll recognize. He's my new inspiration in terms of "personality" or "stature" when I play. Last time I played for my teacher I was like, "Excuse me while I become a Russian...". It really helps!
Okay, here's Pletnev (this is the second half of #3 from the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini - you'll recognize the first part, but the POINT is the second part. He's a rock! By the end he actually stands up to do a glissando, it's awesome). If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, WATCH THE END (like, the last 2.5 minutes or so)! Same with Islamey. Get a feel from the beginning and then skip to the end if you want. Of course, listening to the WHOLE thing would be best, out of respect for the composers and performers. But whatever.
Okay, that's it for now! Sorry if this is incredibly boring to you. I know it might mean next to nothing if you don't know how to play piano - it may be hard to guess what would be difficult and what wouldn't be - so it's harder to be impressed! IIIIIII'm officially a music nerd.
6 comments:
I don't know what the big deal is...I could play Islamey with my eyes closed! Gaspard do la Nuit, too, for that matter. Right up there with Elegie, don't you think?
I love that Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. My theory teacher gave me a CD of Rachmaninoff stuff after some exam or other a long time ago, and it was on it.
For some reason when I was watching these, I was choked up and almost in tears...I blame it on the emotional state called "post call." I almost broke down at the hospital a couple times towards the end of my night, too. Was trying to arrange an urgent CT scan for a kid with a ruptured spleen, and it was becoming a frustrating process. Hopefully I sort of recover before my calls Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
Whoa. That's not even very relaxing to listen to.
Good old Rachy. He's one of my favourites.
Did you really say 'excuse me while I become Russian'?
ps the word verification says 'pregreuv' or 'pre-groove'. touche.
yes claire, i did say that. but my teacher has been ingraining it in me from the start (so it didn't seem weird to say!) - i played it so much prettier before, and now it's quite robust! i encouraged another guy who played rachmaninoff today to get in touch with his inner russian. we all have one. and mine is mikhail pletnev and sergei rachmaninoff mixed together. pretty sweet deal!
and yes, jess... those pieces are RIGHT up there with elegie. haha... riiiight. i can play islamey with my FEET and gaspard with my teeth!
my sunday self knows how your post call self feels. but isn't it good to cry?
i have to go to yet another concert now... i WOULD complain, but this is the life i dreamed of! but i dreamed it had FRIENDS in it (i mean here with me).
For some reason, I ALWAYS cry when I watch a performance. Very weird, but true.
Now unlike Dr. Virtuoso, the performance must be live.
I thought these were awesome, but exhausting. I think I'd rather listen without the visual for a few reasons. Haha. But amazing what humans can do. Holy crap.
I had to stop myself from sarcastically pretending to be a music student for you and Jess, "oh, hahaHA. Yes, oh Elegieeeee. Why, I can play Islamey upside DOWN in a full body cast....hahahaHAAAAA."
But I'm really just kidding and wish I knew about all that stuff. Pathetic.
Love you!!!!!!
that was a VERY creative play on words, rachwomanouton! hahaha
you had to stop yourself... and yet you mentioned the entire thing... so you DIDN'T stop yourself. classic. hahahahahaha
i don't use LOL, i just say hahahahahahahhahahaa (i don't know which is worse). it gets the point across in a less 9 year old girl type of way.
touche.
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