🎵 Notes from June 15 2024 meetup

There was a full house at Steinway Gallery, and we wish to remind the group of all the support that Jennifer Messer has provided to our group over the past number of years.  We welcomed new member Monica.  There is a continuing trend for ensembles, with three this time.  In addition to many of our favorite well-known composers, we heard works for the first time by de Abreu and Westenra.  Incidentally, de Abreu is Brazilian, and the rousing piece played today is part of an encouraging shift to more works by composers from Latin America.  

Here’s what played:

• Gregory: Elite Syncopations, by Scott Joplin
• Karin: Song Without Words Op. 19 No. 2, by Felix Mendelssohn
• Christopher: Reverie in F minor, by Dennis Alexander
• Perry and Andrew (two piano duet): Braziliera from Scaramouche Suite, by Darius Milhaud
• David R: Prelude in B minor, by J. S. Bach, transcribed by Alexander Siloti, SoundCloud recording of David playing this piece is here
• Monica: Os Pintinhos no terreiro Zequina, by de Abreu
• Natalie: Mazurka Op. 17 #4, by F. Chopin
• Mary Lou: Rondo in A Minor, by W. A. Mozart
• Hedda: Intermezzo No. 1, by Manuel Ponce
• Dennis: Song of the Pilgrim, by F. Mendelssohn
• Grace: Experience, by Ludovico Einaudi
• Françoise (piano and vocals) and Kevin (violin): Faun, by Olafur Arnalds
• Françoise (vocal), Dennis (piano) and Kevin (violin): Dark Waltz, by Hayley Westenra
• Jeff: Aux Cypres de la villa d’este No. 1, by Franz Liszt
• Mizuki: Polonaise Op. 26 #1, by F. Chopin
• Lorraine: Sonata Op. 78 #24, by L. V. Beethoven
• Perry: June (from The Seasons), by P. Tchaikovsky
• Grace: Three Preludes, by George Gershwin

🎵 Notes from June 2 2024 meetup

We had an opportunity to perform at Hedda’s on her Kawai grand piano.  One interesting occurrence and a first, was that two different pieces were played twice by different performers. Great minds think alike!  Another first was a piano/violin duet by Arvo Pärt, who is not typically known for piano works.  Also unusual were two works by Liszt, one of his later pieces and one from his youth.  A mixture of older and modern works rounded out the session.

Here's what was played:

• Gordon: Farewell (Abscheid) S251, by F. Liszt
• Hedda: Intermezzo in A minor, by Manuel Ponce
• Karin: Imaginary Landscapes, by Laurens van Rooyen
• Natalie: Polonaise Op. 26 #1, by F. Chopin
• Christopher: Intermezzo op. 118  #2, by J. Brahms
• Randy (piano) and Kevin (violin): Spiegel im Spiegel, by Arvo Pärt
• Anne-Marie: Intermezzo op. 118  #2, by J. Brahms
• Mizuki: Polonaise Op. 26 #1, by F. Chopin
• Gordon: Etude #12 S136, by F. Liszt
• Hedda: Boogie Prelude, by William Gillock
• Anne-Marie: Stairway to Paradise, by G. Gershwin
• Natalie: Granada from Suite Espaňol, by I. Albeniz
• Mizuki: Prelude in E mia fille aunor, by F. Chopin
• Karin: La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin, by C. Debussy