🎵 Notes from our November 1, 2020 online meetup

Our first session for November was an online Zoom session.  It was a small but keen group with a mix of old and new music. 

Round 1: 

1. Janice G: Sonata No. 10, 1st Movement, by L. V. Beethoven 
2. Lynda:  Consolation No. 2 in E Major, by F. Liszt 
3. Christopher: La Fille aux cheveux de lin, by Claude Debussy 
4. Gregory: Pineapple Rag, by Scott Joplin 
   

Round 2: 

1. Lynda: Tango Op. 165 No. 2, by I. Albeniz 
2. Janice G: Courante from the French Suite No. 3, by J. S. Bach 
3. Christopher: Skyline, by Ola Gjeilo 

🎵 Notes from our October 18, 2020 online meetup

The originally scheduled in-person meeting at Steinway Gallery had to be deferred due to the recent covid rollbacks, so the performances were in Zoom format.  It was an international event, however, as original co-founder Liz was able to attend from the UK.  Pieces by Turina and Rammstein were new to our composers list.  Other regularly heard composers rounded out the suite.  November marks the 10th anniversary of the Ottawa Piano Group!

Round 1:  

1. Gregory: Bethena, by Scott Joplin 
2. Erin: Suite No. 2  in F, by G. F. Handel 
3. Jeff: Prelude Op. 87 No. 4, by D. Shostakovich 
4. Liz: The Peasant's Boots, by Joaquin Turina 
5. David:  Valse Op. 69 No. 2, by F. Chopin 

Round 2 

1. Gregory: Sonne, by Rammstein, arr. by Johannes Kölsch 
2. David: Prelude in F Minor from Book 2 of the Well Tempered Clavier, by J. S. Bach
3. Erin: Sonata Op. 49 No. 2, 1^st movement, by L. V. Beethoven 

Jeff recommended a book he is now following: By Heart, The Art of Memorizing Music by Paul Clenniwa.

🎵 Notes from our September 27, 2020 meetup

Several members were able to meet face to face (well, mask to mask) and perform on a stellar Yamaha CFX concert grand, at our first in-person meeting since the lockdown in March!  Thanks to Mitchell and Carmen at Ottawa Pianos for allowing us to safely use their performance space.

Round 1:

1. Gregory: Magnetic Rag, by Scott Joplin
2. Gordon: Scherzo Movement from Piano Sonata No. 29 Op. 106, by L. V. Beethoven
3. J.P.: Etude-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 3, S. Rachmaninoff
4. Wes: Andante Sostenuto, F. Mendelssohn
5. Randy: Prélude de la Porte Héroïque du Ciel, E. Satie
6. David: Symphony No. 7, extract from Allegretto Movement, by L.V. Beethoven, piano transcription by F. Liszt

Round 2:

1. Gregory: Maple Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin
2. Gordon: Prelude Op. 51 No. 2, by A. Scriabin
3. J.P.: French Suite No. 4, Allemande, by J. S. Bach
4. Wes: Milonga Del Angel, A. Piazzolla
5. Randy: Ogives No. 1 and 4, E. Satie
6. David: Sonatina in G Major, by W. A. Mozart

Music played on September 13, 2020

Once again our session today was via Zoom, and we are still working the bugs out! It was a small group this time, with a mix of old and new music, including a composer we have never heard before: Hideyuki Hashimoto.

David and John both presented pre-recorded performances (links to the recordings are provided in the programme list). David presented his recorded performances in an interesting way, from three different camera angles.   

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Song without words Op. 19 No. 6 by F. Mendelssohn
2.	Christopher	Etude op 10, no 3, by F. Chopin
3.	Jeff	Preludes Op. 10 No. 12 and Op. 17 No. 3, by A. Scriabin
4.	John	Second part of "Ewige MutterWitz" (in English: Eternal MotherWit / MotherWisdom). The initials signify its dedication to his mother Edith Margaret Woodsworth (1900-1981), by Own composition. Screen share.
5.	David	Presto, by Giovanni Pescetti. Screen share of multi-camera recorded performance.

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Song without words Op. 30 No. 6, by F. Mendelssohn
2.	Christopher	You, by Hideyuki Hashimoto
3.	Jeff	Etude tableau Op. 39 No. 7 (beginning), by S. Rachmaninoff
4.	John	First part of Ewige Mutterwitz, by Own composition. Screen share.
5.	David	Sonatina in G minor, by W. A. Mozart. Screen share of multi-camera recorded performance.

Music played on August 16, 2020

A smaller group of Zoom performers for a hot August day. In addition to our regularly played composers, we heard works in much different styles from two musicians most of us had not heard of.  Less familiar composers are always welcomed in these sessions.  

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Moment Musical , Op. 94 No. 6 by F. Schubert
2.	Lynda	Mazurka in C Major Op. 24 No. 2, by F. Chopin
3.	Jeff	Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No. 7, part , by S. Rachmaninoff
4.	Walter	Fantasy (1st movement) from Shalimar, Op. 177, by Alan Hovhaness
5.	Gordon	Sonata Op. 110, Fuga movement, by L. V. Beethoven
6.	John	"Meanderings on the Black Keys” (own improvisation, recording)

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Elmer’s Tune, by Elmer Albrecht
2.	Lynda	Song Without Words Op. 38 No. 1, by F. Mendelssohn
3.	Walter	Nocturnal, W198, by Peter Sculthorpe
4.	Gordon	Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 23 and No. 36, by R. Schumann
5.	John	“Amazing Grace” (own improvisation, recording)

Music played on July 19, 2020

Another hot summer afternoon of playing via Zoom, with participation from Nova Scotia and England!  There was, as usual, a good diversity of composers and musical styles.

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Great Crush Collision March, by Scott Joplin
2.	Mary Lou	“Vanished Days” Op. 57 No. 1, by Edvard Grieg
3.	Soojin	Prelude and Fugue No. 11 (F Major) from the WTC Book 1, by J. S. Bach
4.	Liz	Summer Song from Six Fancies, by Edward Macdowell
5.	Jeffery	Ballade, Op. 10 No. 4, by J. Brahms
6.	Erin	Sonata Opus post. 120 D664, Andante, by Franz Schubert
7.	David	Presto by Giovanni Pescetti
8.	John	Thought Crevices No. 1 and 2, own improvisation, screen share of recorded performance
9.	Gordon	Pathetique Sonata, 3rd movement, by L. V. Beethoven, screen share of recorded performance

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Jeffery	Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No 7 (Introduction), by S. Rachmaninoff
2.	Liz	Op. 2 No. 1, Menuetto/Trio, by L. V. Beethoven
3.	Erin	Scenes from Childhood Op. 15, From Foreign Lands and People, by R. Schumann
4.	David	Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, arr. Dietmar Steinhauer
5.	John	Wildlife Interludium No. 2, own improvisation, screen share of recorded performance

Music played on June 21, 2020

A hot mid-summer afternoon of playing via Zoom, which we are becoming more comfortable with.  Several performers provided recorded versions of their performances.  The URLs for their performances (plus password if needed) are presented here.  No guarantee that the videos are still available :-)

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Jeff	Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4, by J. Brahms
2.	Gregory	Toccata in D Minor, by J. S. Bach
3.	Wesley & Deborah	Après Un Rêve (flute with piano accompaniment) by Gabriel Fauré. Screen share. Password: opgmusic
4.	Jane T.	The Prayer, by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster, piano arrangement was by Dan Coates
5.	Gordon	Sonata #8, op 13 (Pathetique), 2nd movement, by L. V. Beethoven
6.	David	Sonatina in G Major, by W. A. Mozart
7.	Adrian	Etude Op. 5 No. 11 “Winter Wind”, by F. Chopin. Screen share

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gordon	Fur Elise, by L. V Beethoven
2.	Wesley	Waltz Op. 69 #1 by F. Chopin Screen share, Password: opgmusic
3.	Adrian	D Major Prelude and Fugue from WTC Book 1, by J.S. Bach Screen share
4.	David	Prelude and Fugue in F Minor from WTC Book 2, by J.S. Bach, view David's multi-camera performance at https://youtu.be/ixDRGtub8bw

Music played on May 24, 2020

We had another fun afternoon with Zoom.  Still searching for the “secret sauce” to provide the best piano sound, which is getting better but continues to be a work in progress.

One note: we have a new Scriabin interpreter this session: Karin.

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1a.	Gregory	Waltz in A Flat, Op. 39 No. 15, by J. Brahms
1b.	Gregory	Von Fremden Landern Und Menschen, Op 15 No. 1, by R. Schumann
2.	Karin	Prelude in G Flat Major, Opus 16, No. 3, by A. Scriabin
3.	Gordon	Sonata op. 13, 1st Movement (Pathetique), by L.V. Beethoven
4.	Lynda	Nocturne Op. 48, No. 1, by F. Chopin
5.	Jeff	Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4, by J. Brahms
6.	Sachie	Wedding Day at Troldhaugen Op. 65 No. 6, by E. Grieg
7.	David	Prelude and Fugue in F Minor from Book 2 of Well Tempered Clavier, by J.S. Bach

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Gregory	Lara's Theme (from Dr. Zhivago), by Maurice Jarre
2.	Lynda	Hungarian Dance, by J. Brahms
3.	Gordon	Two-Part Invention No. 8 in F Major, by J.S. Bach
4.	Sachie	Two-Part Invention No. 4 in D Minor (on her spinet), by J.S. Bach
5.	David	Let It Be. by J. Lennon, arrangement by Andrew Wrangell, SoundCloud recording of David playing this piece is here

Music played on May 3, 2020

The OPG had our second Zoom session today. We are still learning how to make it work for us :( With the fine Spring weather, there was a slightly smaller group of enthusiastic participants. This allowed some time to share ideas on how we each go about learning a new piece.

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Lynda	Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, by F. Chopin
2.	Christopher	Romance Op.9 No. 2, by J. Brahms
3.	Erin	Adagio in F Major, Hob. XVII:9, by J. Haydn
4.	Walter	Partita for keyboard No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828 - Allemande, by J. S. Bach
5.	Jeff	Etude Tableaux Op. 33 No. 5, by S. Rachmaninoff
6.	David	Sonata in B Minor, K. 27, by D. Scarlatti Zoom screen share of his performance from a year ago

Round 2:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Walter	Lyric Piece Op. 54 No. 2 Norwegian March, by E. Grieg
2.	Jeff	Prelude in B Minor, Op 32. No. 10, by S. Rachmaninoff

Music played on April 19, 2020

Due to the unique worldwide situation, this was our group’s first online Zoom meeting. It provided us with a unique opportunity to welcome back Liz from England. Liz is co-founder of the Ottawa Piano Group … 10 years ago! She was able to join us from the UK, so it was also an international event, our own version of One World: Together at Home. We struggled a bit with connections and sound quality, but it is amazing that we are able to do this at all.

After the meeting, suggestions for improving future Zoom meetings were developed (see the announcement at the top of the web site)

The most popular composer competition has been suspended until we can resume in-person meetings.

Round 1:

#	Performer	Work
1.	Caryn	Prelude in A minor, by M. Ravel
2.	Walter	Prelude Op. 45, by F. Chopin
3.	Deborah (Flute) and Wesley	Sonata in E Minor for Flute and Keyboard, 3rd mov., by J. S. Bach
4.	Gregory	Prelude in D, No. 4 of 6 little preludes, by J. S. Bach
5.	Gordon	Sonata, #14, op 27/2 (Moonlight) 3rd movement, by L. V. Beethoven
6.	Lynda	Nocturne Op. 32 #2, by F. Chopin
7.	Janice S.	“Children in Slumber”, by R. Schumann
8.	Erin	Fugue from Suite in F., by G. F. Handel
9.	Jeff	Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4, by J. Brahms
10.	Liz	2nd Gnossienne, by E. Satie
12.	Piano duet: David (Secondo) & Karin (Primo)	“Sheep may safely Graze”, by J. S. Bach, Sharon Aaronson transcription