🎵 Notes from February 18, 2023 meetup

At our Ottawa Pianos venue, we welcomed new member Antonio. Pieces ranged from traditional to Baroque to contemporary, with a recent original composition performed by the composer.  We love to hear people play their own works, so don’t be shy. There were also a few additions to our growing list of composers. 

Here’s what was played: 

• Gregory: Fig Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin
• Karin: La plus que lente, by C. Debussy
• Jeff: Preludes Op. 11 #10 and #24, and Op. 17 #3, by A. Scriabin
• Erin: Moments Musicaux Op. 94 #2, by F. Schubert
• Lorraine: Passacaglia from the Suite in G minor, HMV 432, by G. F. Handel
• Antonio: Promenade Sentimentale by Vladimir Cosma, and Watching Lara, by Yann Tiersen
• Randy: Sarabande #1, by E. Satie
• Rodrigo: Prelude in D, own composition
• Wesley: Bethena, A Concert Waltz, by Scott Joplin
• Anne-Marie: Rhapsody in G minor Op. 79 #2, by J, Brahms
• Randy: Scene Suspended, by Jon Hopkins
• Karin: Prelude #4, by C. Debussy
• Wesley: Gladiolus Rag, by Scott Joplin
• Jeff: Preludes Op. 16 #3, #4 and #2, by A. Scriabin
• Antonio: Greensleeves, by Traditional
• Lorraine: Sonata Op. 2 #1, by L. V. Beethoven

Members might be interested to know that we are are currently reviewing the performance records from our website to make a little statistical study.  Our group is still going strong after 12 years since we had our first meeting in November 2010 when there were just six participants.  One of them still plays for us regularly and there are a few more regulars from the first year.  We continue to have good participation every session, including both recent and longer term members.

Here are some preliminary highlights, pending completion of a more detailed list.  There have been over 2200 pieces performed, composed by roughly 300 different composers (although about 80% have only been played a few times) and performed by about 100 different individuals. The most popular composers have been J. S.  Bach (240), F. Chopin (220) and L. V. Beethoven (170).  Nine of us have performed our own compositions!  There have been 35 duets, and additional instruments have included Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, and voice. The most popular piece has been Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata (22 times), followed by Astor Piazzola’s Milonga del Angel (12 times).  So keep up the good work, pianists!