Tag Archives: piano

Making Adjustments to a Grand Piano before Performance

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Many musicians such as flute players, violinists, violists, cellists, trumpet players, trombone players, and tuba players can carry their instruments to and from rehearsals and performances. Pianists unfortunately cannot carry their instruments around with them as they are not portable like the instruments I mentioned above. The pianist usually ends up playing an unfamiliar piano in an unfamiliar acoustic space, be it a concert hall, or some other space such as a school theatre or senior’s residence. This presents a huge challenge because the pianist has to change the way they play to figure out how to coax the best sound out of an unfamiliar instrument, and also adjust to the acoustics of the performance space (which may be a completely dry acoustic or a very wet and echoey space). The piano itself may also be in pristine condition, be almost unplayable, or sound bad.

Virtuoso pianist Anton Kuerti (1938 – ), who is well known in Canada, demonstrates in a short 6 minute video some of the things that can be done to fix tonal defects and regulate the piano action to make it easier to play before a performance. This is not recommended as something the average pianist should do, as it takes special knowledge about pianos, and most theatres and concert halls would not allow a pianist to mess with a piano unless they were a qualified piano technician.

Franz Schubert: Seligkeit, D. 433

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Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer who lived during the late classical and early romantic eras. He wrote chamber music, piano music, symphonies, operas, but it is for his around 600 lieder (art songs) that he is best known. For those songs Schubert used poems written by the top poets of his time. He not only composed beautiful melodies, but also wrote piano accompaniments that were very ingenious in the way they helped to tell the story behind the poems.

Here is one of Schubert’s most beloved art songs called Seligkeit (which means bliss). This is a lively charming little waltz tune. In this recording it is sung by Soprano Kathleen Battle and accompanied on the piano by James Levine. On the homepage of my website I have put a link where you can purchase my arrangement of this song for piano solo. Enjoy.

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2

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Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Johannes Brahms was a German Romantic composer, pianist, and conductor. He wrote solo piano music, chamber music, symphonnies, piano concertos, a requiem, and organ works. Some of his first compositions were written for the pipe organ. Brahms had a dream of becoming an organ virtuoso, but abandoned that idea because he struggled to play the organ well. Instead, Brahms became a piano virtuoso. He gave the premiere performances of his piano concertos. Brahms music is full of various rhythms, meters, and counterpoint. His introduction to Hungarian and gypsy folk music at a young age influenced his compositional style, and explains his fascination with irregular rhythms and use of rubato (robbed time) in his music. Brahms’ music was traditional in the sense that he used traditional classical forms when writing his music. His music was a complete contrast to the bombastic, showy “modern” music of the time such as that of Franz Liszt. Liszt apparently thought that Brahms’ music was too “hygienic”, and Brahms disapproved of Liszt’s music, apparently falling asleep during one of Liszt’s piano recitals during a performance Liszt gave of his b minor piano sonata. 

Julius Katchen (1926-1969)

Julius Katchen was an American pianist who is especially well known for his recordings of Johannes Brahms’ piano music. He made his debut performance when he was 10 years old, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in d minor. Conductor Eugene Ormandy heard about young Julius and invited him to play in New York with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Julius Katchen studied music with his grandparents Mandell and Rosalie Svet until he turned 14. His grandparents taught piano at the Moscow and Warsaw Conservatories. In 1947 Katchen toured Europe and moved to Paris, France. He died of cancer at the age of 42 in 1969.

Julius Katchen’s solo piano recordings of the works of Johannes Brahms are very popular among pianists, and those recordings are often described as one of the best recordings of Brahms’ piano works. 

In this recording, Julius Katchen plays Brahms’ Intermezzo Op. 118, No.2 from his Op. 118 six pieces. I hope that you enjoy this beautiful piano piece. 

Stephen Heller: Etude in E Major, Op. 45, No. 9 (Gerald Moore, Piano)

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Stephen Heller (1814-1888)

Stephen Heller was a Hungarian pianist and composer. He showed musical talent at an early age. When he was 10 years old his father took him to Vienna, Austria where he studied piano with the noted pianist Anton Halm. He toured Germany and lived there from 1830-1838. Composer Robert Schumann heard about him and wrote about him in his music journal (Schumann was a music critic for a time). Heller then went to Paris, France which was a major hot spot for artists, writers, and musicians. He met Chopin, Liszt, Berlioz, and other important figures of the time and in a short period of time built up a reputation as a pianist and piano teacher. Stephen Heller wrote mostly for the piano. He had a gift for writing beautiful melodies. In many pieces there is a grace and sunny character.

Gerald Moore (1899-1987)

Gerald Moore was a famous British piano accompanist. He accompanied many of the great singers and instrumentalists of the 20th Century including: Victoria de Los Angeles, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau, Yehudi Menuhin, Josef Hassid, Jacqueline Du-Pre, and others. Here is a rare recording of Gerald Moore playing Stephen Heller’s Etude in E Major, Op. 45, No. 9. It was recorded in 1949. Gerald Moore is his best recordings played with a singing tone, fluidity, and natural timing. I hope that you enjoy this simple but nice little piano piece.

Fini Henriques – Lullaby (Victor Borge – piano)

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Fini Henriques (1867-1940)

Fini Henriques was a Danish composer and violinist. He was a colleague of Victor Borge’s father and both he and Victor Borge’s father played in the Royal Danish Orchestra. Fini Henriques was an excellent composer. He wrote music for piano, violin, and chamber ensembles. Fini Henriques also wrote operas.

Here is a rare clip of the Danish comedian and pianist Victor Borge playing a Lullaby by Fini Henriques. This piece was sentimental for Victor Borge because his mother used to play it for him when he was a little boy. I hope that you enjoy this music.

Gabriel Fauré plays his Barcarolle No. 1

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Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Gabriel Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher.  He was one of the top French composers of his time.  Today he is known for works such as his Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine, his masterful art songs, and his piano pieces.  Fauré lived long enough to be recorded playing the piano on piano rolls.

Here is a piano roll recording of Gabriel Fauré playing his Barcarolle No. 1.  Listen to how beautifully the music flows and the beautiful melody and the harmony that supports it.

Chopin Nocturne in B Major – Vladimir de Pachmann (piano)

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Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Frédéric Chopin was a Polish composer and piano virtuoso of the Romantic period who lived most of his life in Paris, France. When he was a young man, he left his native Poland to go to Paris. There he met many of the important artists, writers, and musicians of his day including Felix Mendelssohn and Franz Liszt. Chopin was one of the inventors of a new style of composition for the piano with singing melodies and ornamental flourishes. His melodies are beautiful and often contain a touch of melancholy. Chopin’s compositions are mostly for the solo piano, although he also wrote a cello sonata, two piano concertos, and a piano trio.

One of the first pianists to live long enough to be recorded was Vladimir de Pachmann. Vladimir de Pachmann (1848 – 1933) was a Russian/German pianist especially known for his performances of Chopin’s music. He also had an eccentric on-stage style. He was known for making gestures, muttering, and addressing the audience during his performances (even talking during some of his recordings). Vladimir de Pachmann was one of the top pianists of the 19th century. He died in 1933 at the age of 84.

Here is a recording of de Pachmann playing Chopin’s Nocturne in B Major, Op. 32, No. 1. The recording was made when Vladimir was 78 years old. Notice how expressive and elastic the playing is. This is a complete contrast to today’s pianists who are taught to play a piece in strict tempo without slowing down or speeding up too much during a piece. Enjoy!

Witold Małcużyński plays two Chopin Waltzes

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Witold Małcużyński (1914-1977)

Witold Małcużyński was a famous Polish pianist who specialized in playing the music of Chopin. He studied piano with Margarite Long and Isidor Philipp. He received some coaching from the famous pianist Paderewski and competed in the Third International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland in 1937. He won third prize in that competition. Małcużyński’s piano playing had great passion and poetry.

Here are two recordings of him playing the Chopin Waltz in D Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3, and the Chopin Waltz in c sharp minor Op. 64, No. 2. Enjoy!

Jean Sibelius- Romance op.24 no.9, Impromptu op.5 no.5

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Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer and violinist.  He is said to be the greatest Finnish composer.  Sibelius is credited with helping Finland develop its own national identity.  He is best known for his seven symphonies.  Other well known works include: Finlandia, Valse triste, his Violin Concerto, and Swan of Tuonela.

 

Sibelius loved the violin but didn’t like the piano.  He composed several collections of piano pieces for money. The pieces vary in quality.  His piano music is beginning to get some recognition from amateur pianists as well as professional pianists.

Sibelius was known to drink excessively, eat excessively, smoke cigars, and party hard.  Despite living a wild lifestyle, Sibelius lived to the ripe old age of 92.

 

Havard Gimse – pianist (1966 – )

Havard Gimse is a Norwegian classical pianist who has an affinity for the Scandinavian piano repertoire, in particular Norwegian music.  He has performed on many of the world’s great concert stages including: Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Here are a couple of piano pieces by Sibelius played by Havard Gimse: his Romance op.24, no.9 in D Flat Major, and his Impromptu op.5, no.5 in b minor. Enjoy!