🎵 Notes from the November 1, 2026 meetup

Chopin was a favourite in today's program at Capital City Keyboards. David told us that his set of three pieces was played at Chopin's funeral, at Chopin's own request. 

We also had three new composers added to our roster. Especially interesting was the flute and piano work by Bolling, an interesting mix of Jazz and Classical styles. 

Here's what was played:

• Shirley (flute) and Keegan (piano): Flute Sonata No. 2 in C (I: Pastorale), Philippe Gaubert
• Hedda: Sonata Op. 49 #2 Allegro, Beethoven
• Gregory: Sugarcane, Joplin
• Christopher: Respiro 3, Olivia Belli
• Paul: Lyric Pieces Op. 12 #1 Arietta and #2 Waltz, Grieg
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 118 #2, Brahms
• David R: Preludes Op. 28 #2, #4 and #6, Chopin
• David G: Claire de Lune, Debussy
• Ryan: Goldberg Variations - Aria, Bach
• Mizuki: Consolation #3, Liszt
• Wesley: Waltz Op. 64 #2, Chopin
• Jacqui: Chiquilin de Bachin, Astor Piazzola
• Mihaela: The Winner Takes It All, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA)
• Natalie: Piano Piece Op. 946 #2, Schubert
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 116 #6, Brahms
• Wesley: Bethena - A Concert Waltz, Joplin
• David R: English Suite #3 - Gavotte and Musette, Bach
• Shirley (flute) and Keegan (piano): Sentimentale, Claude Bolling
• Ryan: Nocturne Op. 9 #2, Chopin

🎵 Notes from the October 18, 2026 meetup

Today's session ran the gamut from traditional to modern. Jocelyne's violin solos were a nice touch, and served as a reminder that we are mostly, but not exclusively, about the piano. The oboe accompaniment of Sachie's piece was possibly a first with this instrument, and we hope not the last.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Bethena, Joplin
• Mary Lou: October, Tchaikovsky
• Kathy: Prelude and Fugue in E flat, Book 2, Bach
• Jean-Claude: Capriccio Op. 12 #5, Prokofiev
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 116 #6, Brahms
• David R: Legend of Carau, Drew Jurecka
• David R: Shenandoah, Traditional arr. by Keith Jarrett
• Shaun: Sinfonia #12, Bach
• Sachie: Prelude #3, Gershwin
• Natalie: Fantasies Op. 111 #1, #2 and #3, Schumann
• Jocelyne (Violin): Ode to Joy, Beethoven
• Jocelyne (Violin): I Saw Three Ships, Traditional
• Ryan: Traumerei, Schumann
• Ryan: Minute Waltz, Chopin
• Gregory: Waltz Op. 15, Brahms
• Mary Lou: Keyboard Sonata in F minor K.466, Scarlatti
• Jean-Claude: Nocturne Op. 27 #1, Chopin
• Jeff: Preludes Op. 34 #22 and #5, Shostakovich
• David R: Minuet in G, Bach
• David R: Gavotte in G minor, Bach
• David R: March in D, Bach
• Sachie: Romance Op. 94 #1, Schumann, with recorded oboe accompaniment
• Ryan: Nocturne Op. 9 #2, Chopin
• Ryan: Elegie (first part), Rachmaninoff
• Natalie: Sonata in E minor, 2nd movement exposition, Schubert

🎵 Notes from the October 4, 2026 meetup

A bonus of today's session was seeing the excellent fall colours on the drive to Wakefield. We welcomed Luba to the group. In addition to our usual good assortment of pieces, we had what may have been a first for the group: the same piece played twice on different instruments.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: I Giorni, Ludovico Einaudi
• Gordon: Op. 68 #13 (May Sweet May), Robert Schumann
• Gordon: Op. 68 #28 (In memoriam), Robert Schumann
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 116 #6, Brahms
• Karin: Consolation #3, Liszt
• Luba: Nocturne in B Major Op. 32 #1, Chopin
• Jacqui: Chiquilin de Bachin, Astor Piazzola
• Hedda: Sonata Op. 49 #2, Beethoven
• Mihaela: Oh what a beautiful morning, Richard Rogers
• Mihaela: My heart will go on, James Horner
• Mary Lou: Sonata K466, Scarlatti
• Gregory: Song without words Op. 53 #3, Mendelssohn
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #21, Shostakovitch
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #2, Shostakovitch
• Mary Lou: Rhapsody in G Minor, Brahms
• Jacqui (violin): Chiquilin de Bachin, Piazzola
• Karin: Vocalise, Rachmaninoff arr. by Paul Barton
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 118 #2, Brahms

🎵 Notes from the September 20, 2026 meetup

We had a good session at Natalie's in Kanata, playing on her lovely Boston piano. We welcomed Jacqui and Mihaela to the group. Pieces ranged from traditional to modern, with every genre in-between. 

Here's what was played:

• Jacqui (violin): Vocalise Op. 34 #14 by Rachmaninoff
• Gregory: Songs without words Op. 30 #6 by Mendelssohn
• Karin: Nocturne Op. 32 #1 by Chopin
• Kathy: Adios nonino by Astor Piazzolla
• Christopher: Departure (Lullaby) by Max Richter
• Christopher: andata by Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #21 by Shostakovitch
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #2 by Shostakovitch
• Mary Lou: Sonata K466 by Scarlatti
• Natalie: Piano Piece Op. 946 #2 by Schubert
• Ryan: Prelude Op. 23 #4 by Rachmaninoff
• Mihaela: Lavender's Blue, Traditional
• Mihaela: Let it Be by The Beatles
• Jocelyne: The Swallow by Friedrich Burgmüller
• Jacqui: Prelude Op. 28 #4 by Chopin
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 116 #6 by Brahms
• Mary Lou: Rhapsody in G minor Op. 79 #2 by Brahms
• Natalie: Fantasy Op. 111 #3 by Robert Schumann
• Ryan: Prelude Op. 3 #2 in C# minor by Rachmaninoff

🎵 Notes from the September 5, 2026 meetup

Today's session was in Orleans where we had a chance to play on Michael's Young-Chang Bergmann piano, which was unfamiliar to most of us.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Impromptu Op. 76 #7 by J. Brahms
• Sylvia: Sonata in A major L483 by D. Scarlatti
• Gordon: Opus 68 #13 May, Sweet May by R. Schumann
• Gordon: Opus 68 #28 In memoriam by R. Schumann
• Mizuki: Sonata #8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique", 3rd. Mov. by L.V. Beethoven
• David G: Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, WTC book 1 by J.S. Bach
• David R: Ad Libre by Alexandra Stréliski, here
• David R: French Suite #4, Allemande by J.S. Bach, here
• David R: Saman by Olafur Arnolds, here
• Michael: Véronique by Michael Saykaly
• Wesley: Sonata #8 in C minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique", 2nd mov. by L.V. Beethoven
• Gregory: Toccata in D minor by J.S. Bach
• David R: Pink Panther by Henry Mancini, here
• David R: Atacama Desert by Wynne-Anne Rossi, here
• Wesley: Polonaise, Op. 26 #1 by F. Chopin
• Michael: Greensleeves, traditional
• Mizuki: Arabesque #1 by C. Debussy
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 116 #6 by J. Brahms
• Sylvia: Summertime by George Gershwin
• Sylvia: Autumn Leaves by Joseph Cosma
• Sylvia: Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa & Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Sylvia: Take the A Train by Billy Strayhorn

Thank you to all of our volunteer hosts for the opportunity to play on such wonderful pianos in different homes and venues around the city!

🎵 Notes from August 22 2026 meetup

It was another good session at Ottawa Pianos with "Felix" a Yamaha CFX concert grand, and an enjoyable range of music genres. 

Here's what was played: 

• Gregory: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms
• Wesley: Prelude Op. 28 #15, by F. Chopin
• Christopher: Petite Suite #5 Reverie, Petite Suite #7 Nocturne, by A. Borodin
• Jean-Claude: Capriccio Op. 12 #5, by S. Prokofiev
• Françoise: Lamentation for a Lost Life, by Max Richter
• Karin: Bruyères, by C. Debussy
• David R: Scenes from Childhood #1 Of Foreign Lands and People, #6 An Important Event, #7 Träumerei (Dreaming), #12 Child Falling Asleep, #13 The Poet Speaks, by R. Schumann
• Natalie: Sonata in E minor 1st movement, by F. Schubert
• Shaun: Etude S136 #4, by F. Liszt
• David G: Sonata in D major Hob. XVI:37 1st mov, by F. J. Haydn
• Mizuki: Pathetique Sonata 3rd mov,  by L. V. Beethoven
• Wesley: Milonga del Angel, by A. Piazzolla
• David R: Nocturne Op. 9 #2, by F. Chopin, SoundCloud recording
• Jean-Claude: French Suite #5, Sarabande, Gavotte, Bouree, by J. S. Bach
• Natalie: Fantasy Op. 111 #1 and #2, by R. Schumann
• David G: Sonata in D major Hob. XVI:37 2nd & 3rd mov, by F. J. Haydn

 

🎵 Notes from July 18 2026 meetup

It was a perfect day to be inside playing at Ottawa Pianos, given the rainy weather. We had an interesting session with respect to different instruments: Mizuki is learning the violin and Kevin also plays the flute. We welcomed Glenda to our group. The pieces were our usual good mix from Baroque to contemporary.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Hungarian Rondo, by F. J. Haydn
• Glenda: Pour le Piano: Sarabande, by C. Debussy
• Christopher: Nocturne from Petite Suite, by A. Borodin
• Paul: Aria and 1st Variation From Goldberg Variations, by J. S. Bach
• Françoise (piano) and Kevin (violin): Serenade (Standchen), by F. Schubert
• Jennifer J: Intermezzo Op. 118, by J. Brahms
• Johnathan: Harpsichord Concerto in F minor 2nd mov, by J. S. Bach
• Glenda: Pour le piano: Toccata, by C. Debussy
• Johnathan: Carnaval: Chiarina, Chopin; Traumerei, by R. Schumann
• Françoise (piano) and Kevin (flute): Gymnopédie No. 1, by E. Satie
• Mizuki (Violin) and Erika (piano): Berceuse, by Frank Blachfold
• Mizuki (Violin) and Erika (piano): Sine Bhan, by Duncan Johnson
• Gregory: Lyric Piece #60: Es War Einmal, by E. Grieg
• Mizuki: Pathetique Sonata 2nd mov, by L. V. Beethoven
• Françoise: Your Reflection, by Max Richter

🎵 Notes from July 5 2026 meetup

We really enjoyed our session at Mary Lou's place. It was a perfect summer's day and the drive to just beyond Wakefield sent us through idyllic scenery.  We welcomed Olga to our group.  Our music ranged from baroque to contemporary.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Es War Einmal (Lyric Piece #60), by E. Grieg
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms
• Lorraine: Seguidillas from Suite Espanol, by Isaac Albeniz
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #21 and #2, by D. Shostakovitch
• Grace: Icarus, by Tony Ann
• Karin: Bruyère, by C. Debussy
• Natalie: Sonata in E minor Op. 566 1st mov, by F. Schubert
• Olga: Sonata in C major Hob 10, by F. J. Haydn
• Mary Lou: Sonata K9, by D Scarlatti
• Gregory: Bumble Boogie ,by Jack Fina
• Jeff Visions Fugitive Op. 22 #6 and #3, by S. Prokofiev
• Grace: Waltz for Debby, by Bill Evans
• Mary Lou: Rhapsody Op. 79 #2, by J. Brahms
• Natalie Op. 111, #1 and #2, by R. Schumann
• Gordon Intermezzo Op. 119 #1, by J. Brahms
• Karin: Playin’ it Cool, by Eugénie Rocherolle

🎵 Notes from June 20 2026 meetup

An enjoyable session at Steinway Gallery, including two piano trio works. We welcomed new member Louis.

Here’s what was played:

• Allona: Prelude #5, by J. S. Bach
• Louis: One Summer’s Day, by Joe Hisaishi
• Jean-Claude: Nocturne Op. 27 #1, by F. Chopin
• Jeff: Preludes Op. 34 and #2, by D. Shostakovich
• Mizuki: Moonlight Sonata Op. 27 #2 1st mov, by L. V. Beethoven
• Randy: Morceau pour Julia, by Arsentiy Kharitonov
• David R: English Suite #3 Gavotte and Musette, by J. S. Bach, SoundCloud recording
• Françoise (piano), Kevin (violin) and Priscilla (cello) (Trio): Walking Away, by Ronald J. Karle
• Françoise (piano), Kevin (violin) and Priscilla (cello) (Trio): Tranquility, by Carl Busch
• Jane: White Noon, by N. Ikeda
• Michael: Véronique, own composition
• Allona: Open, by Janet Gieck
• Mizuki: Prelude in E minor Op. 28 #4, by F. Chopin
• Jean-Claude: Sonata Op. 10 #1 1st mov, by L. V. Beethoven
• Jeff: Visions Fugitives Op. 22 #6 and #3, by S. Prokofiev
• Françoise: Ode to Vivian (Rework), by Patrick Watson
• David R: Minuets in G major and G minor, by C. Petzold (formerly attributed to J. S. Bach), SoundCloud recording
• Michael: Malagueña, by Ernesto Lescuona

Please see the message from Jennifer Messer: 

While we have truly enjoyed hosting the Ottawa Piano Group over the past 10 years, changes to our programming and difficulty in floor management unfortunately mean that we will need to take a pause from hosting OPG events in their current format next year.

This is not to say that the pianos or our spaces are no longer accessible to OPG members. You are all warmly invited to join our regular in-house Adult Music Sharing events at Steinway, held on the second Thursday morning of each month from 10:30 a.m. to noon starting in September, and running through until June.

We are appreciative of the many wonderful years of music-making, community, and friendship that OPG has brought to Ottawa, and we look forward to continuing to work with you.

🎵 Notes from June 7 2026 meetup

We had a smaller group than usual, which allowed three rounds. Jean-Claude was brave enough to sight-read a duet with Sachie for the last piece! The genres ranged from baroque to modern.

Here’s what was performed: 

• Gregory: Hungarian Rondo , by F. J. Haydn
• Jean-Claude: French Suite # 5 1st to 5th mov, by J. S. Bach
• Hedda: Two-Part Invention #6, by J. S. Bach
• Jeff: Visions Fugitives Op. 22 #6 and #3, by S. Prokofiev
• Sachie: Prelude #1, by G. Gershwin
• Gregory: Songs Without Words Op. 53 #3, by F. Mendelssohn
• Jean-Claude: In the Woods OP. 28 #1, by Edward MacDowell
• Sachie: Sonata in B flat K333 1st Mov, by W. A. Mozart
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 34 #22 and #2, by D. Shostakovitch
• Hedda: Incognito, by Jason Sifford
• Gregory: Here's That Rainy Day, by James van Heusen
• Jean-Claude: Nocturne Op. 9 #2 , by F. Chopin
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 11 #12 and Op. 17 #3, by A. Scriabin
• Hedda: Arietta, by E. Grieg
• Sachie and Jean-Claude (4 hands duet): Sleeping Beauty Waltz, by P. I. Tchaikovsky