Sunday, April 21, 2024

🎵 Notes from April 20 2024 meetup

We had another large session today at Ottawa Pianos, and welcomed new member Emil.  There is an emerging trend to have more ensembles. In addition to two vocal/piano works, we had one piano 4-hands, two pianos 4-hands, and one piano six-hands.  There is also a trend to more contemporary works, and this is certainly to be encouraged.  Rest assured that the classics will always be treasured: J.S. Bach was featured four times today.

Here’s what was played:
  • Gregory: Toccata in D minor by J. S. Bach
  • Jean-Claude: Sonata Op. 14 #1 (2nd movement), by L. V. Beethoven
  • Martin: Bohemian Rhapsody, by Freddie Mercury
  • Mary Lou: Nocturne in C# minor, by F. Chopin (+ poem below)
  • Randy (piano) and Françoise (vocals): Sous la pluie, by Juliette Armanet
  • David R: Valse Op. 64 #2, by F. Chopin
  • Françoise (vocals) and Dennis (piano): The Edge of the Field, by Emily Hall
  • Dennis: Song Without Words Op. 85 #4, by F. Mendelssohn
  • Jocelyn: Prelude, by Barbara Arens
  • Karin: Romance Op. 11 #1, by Clara Schumann
  • Jeff: Aux cyprès de la villa d'este #1, by F. Liszt
  • Perry and Andrew (two pianos): Scaramouche - Brazileira, by Darius Milhaud
  • Hedda: Polonaise in E major, from the French Suite #6, by J. S. Bach
  • Christopher: For December, by V. Polett
  • Jenny: Prelude and Fugue in A flat Major, Book 1, by J. S. Bach
  • Paul and Emil (piano 4-hands duet): Ballabile from Suite en forme de valses Op. 35, by Melanie Bonis
  • Randy: No Holly for Miss Quinn, by Enya
  • Jean-Claude: Brompton Square Waltz, by Daniel Edwards
  • Mary Lou: Intermezzo Op. 118 #2, by J. Brahms
  • Dennis: K32 by D. Scarlatti, and Saman, by Ōlafur Arnalds
  • David, Karin and Randy (one piano 6-hands), Romance, by S. Rachmaninoff
  • Jenny: French Suite 4 - Allemande, by J. S. Bach

Monday, April 8, 2024

🎵 Notes from April 7 2024 meetup

We welcomed new members Dennis and Paul at the home of Françoise.  There was a full house in a great setting, playing on a “Red Pops” Steinway Piano.  While we aren’t sure what brought out one of our largest if not the largest crowd, all of us enjoyed the variety of music from award winning contemporary film music to Bach.  Two Icelandic composers were performed, and four duets rounded out the afternoon. 

Here’s what was played:
  • Gregory: Gladiolus Rag, by Scott Joplin
  • Hedda: Intermezzo #1, by Manuel Ponce
  • Karin: Romance Op. 11 #1, by Clara Schumann
  • Randy (piano) and Françoise (vocals): What Was I Made For?, by Billie Eilish
  • Christopher: Intermezzo Op. 118 #2, by J. Brahms
  • Andrew: Aufschwung (Soaring), by Robert Schumann
  • Dennis (piano) and Françoise (vocals): Kindling Oak, by Emily Hall
  • Dennis: Ave Maria, by Sygvaldi Kaldalòns
  • David R: Three Solos for Yuja (from Hunger Games), by James Newton Howard
  • Jeff: Aux cyprès de la villa d'este #1, by Franz Liszt
  • Mary Lou: Rondo in A minor KV 511, by W. A. Mozart
  • Dave A: Les Barricades Mystérieuses, by F. Couperin
  • Martin: Chaconne in G major, by G. F. Handel
  • Françoise: Happiness Does Not Wait, by Ōlafur Arnalds
  • Jean-Claude: Sonata Op. 14 #1 (first movement), by L. V. Beethoven
  • Gordon: Preludes Op 11 #5 and Op 13 #5, by A. Scriabin
  • Lorraine: Prelude BWV 852 in C#, by J. S. Bach
  • Randy and Paul (Piano Duet): Sonatina, by György Ligeti
  • Nick: Sonata L4, by F. J. Haydn
  • Grace: Etude 16, by Phillip Glass
  • Natalie: Polonaise Op. 26 #1, by F. Chopin
  • Dave A and Karin (two Piano duet): Lonely Talk, by Arletta O’Hearn