🎵 Notes from the March 7, 2021 online meetup

It was another Zoom session today, and a small one at that.  However, the sound quality was better than usual; the gods of Zoom must have been feeling quite perky!

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: The Easy Winners, by Scott Joplin
• Karin: Fantasia in D minor, by W. A. Mozart
• Gordon: a) (pre-recorded video), Two-part invention in F major; and b) (live) Gavotte #2 in B from the French Suite, both by J. S. Bach
• Jeff: Etude tableau Op. 39 #7 (complete), by S. Rachmaninoff
• Gordon: Prelude Op. 87 #1, by D. Shostakovitch
• Karin: Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 116 #4, by J. Brahms
• Gregory: Of foreign lands and people, by R. Schumann

🎵 Notes from the February 21, 2021 online meetup

A small group gathered today for another enjoyable Zoom session. Here's what was played:

• Barb: Prelude for Left Hand Op. 9 No. 1 by Scriabin
• Erin: Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 12 Child Falling Asleep, by R. Schumann
• Randy: A Tear, by Modest Mussorgsky
• David: middle section of Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66, by F. Chopin
• Erin: Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 1 From Foreign Lands and People, by R. Schumann
• Randy: Für Anna Maria, by Arvo Pärt
• David: Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen, arr. Dietmar Steinhauer; here is a video of David playing this piece

🎵 Notes from the February 7, 2021 online meetup

The snow outside did not hinder us today--one of the few advantages of Zoom!

Today's piano pieces:

• Gregory: Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 #1, by Robert Schumann
• Karin: Nocturne in C# minor, by F. Chopin
• Tania: Morning Bell, Study No. 2, Op. 109, No.9 by Johann Friedrich Burgmuller
• Gordon: Sonata #16 in C K545, 1st movement, by W. A. Mozart
• Wesley: Preludes Op. 28 played in a group: #4 E minor, #6 B minor, and #7 A major, by F. Chopin
• Jeff: Etude tableaux Op. 39 #7, by S. Rachmaninoff, first part
• Gordon: Sonata #16 in C K545, 2nd and 3rd movements, by W. A. Mozart
• Jeff: Prelude in D minor, part, by S. Rachmaninoff
• Wesley and Deborah (piano-flute duet), Siciliano from Sonata No. 2 in E-flat for Flute & Piano, by J.S. Bach (Video recording)

🎵 Notes from the January 24, 2021 online meetup

Our Zoom piano sessions continued, with a nearly “full house” today.  We welcomed a new member, Tania.

Here's the music that was played:

• Gregory: Pineapple Rag, by Scott Joplin
• Tania: Nostalgia, by Olivier Toussaint
• Lynda: Song without words, Op. 53#5 (Volkslied), by F. Mendelssohn
• Gordon: 2 Bagatelles, Op. 33 # 2 and #3, by L. V. Beethoven
• Wesley: Adagissimo from BWV992 “Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother” and Invention #14 in B flat, by J. S. Bach
• Jeff: 3rd part of Etude Tableaux Op. 39 #7, by S. Rachmaninoff
• David: Prelude Op. 28 #15 (Raindrop), by F. Chopin
• Lynda: Song without words, op. 53 #4, by F. Mendelssohn
• Gordon: Album for the Young, op. 68 #23 (Horseman) and #37 (Sailor Song), by R. Schumann
• Wesley: movement #2 of Pathetique Sonata, by L. V. Beethoven
• Jeff: piano transcription of part of Cantata BWV127, by J. S. Bach
• David: Time After Time, by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman, arr. Eva Cassidy, accompaniment played to a recording of Eva Cassidy singing (listen here) 

🎵 Notes from the January 10, 2021 online meetup

Our first session of the new year continued on Zoom.  It was a fairly small group, but enthusiasm for the music remains high.  We also had the opportunity to hear a distant relative of the piano, a spinet.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Solace: a Mexican serenade, by Scott Joplin
• Janice G: Sonata Op. 10 #1, second movement, by L. V. Beethoven
• Jeff: Etude Tableau op 39 #7 (middle section), by S. Rachmaninoff
• Christopher: Arabesque #1, by C. Debussy
• Sachie: Liebestraum, by F. Liszt S541/3
• Sachie: Allemand from new keyboard Suite in A minor, by J. P. Rameau. Sachie played on her spinet, a kind of small harpsichord. Sachie explained that the lack of dynamics in the instrument mean that works for the spinet rely heavily on ornamentation.
• Jeff: Prelude Op 87 #18, by D. Shostakovitch
• Christopher: Night Rain, by Ola Gjeilo

🎵 Notes from the December 6, 2020 online meetup

 Our final session of 2020, held online on Zoom, included a mix of modern and old, familiar and new.  

• Janice G: Sarabande from French Suite No. 3, by J. S. Bach 
• Gregory: Solace, A Mexican Serenade, by Scott Joplin 
• Mary-Lou: Prelude Book 2 No. 6 "General Lavine - eccentric", by C. Debussy 
• Erin: Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 (complete), by L. V. Beethoven 
• Lynda: Intermezzo Op. 118, by J. Brahms 
• Jeff: Etude Tableaux Op. 33 No. 5, by S. Rachmaninoff 
• David: Waltz op. 69 No. 2, by F. Chopin 
• Mary Lou: River Flows in You, by Yiruma 
• Lynda: Let It Snow by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne arranged by Tom Roed in Christmas Encyclopedia 
• David: What a Wonderful World, by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, arr. Eva Cassidy, accompaniment played to a recording of Eva Cassidy singing  

If you're a pianist in the Ottawa area, consider joining us in the new year! You can find information about our group and the sign-up email from the link in the sidebar.

🎵 Notes from the November 15, 2020 online meetup

We held another Zoom meeting with some fine performances.  David’s Internet went down part way through 😬 so he missed most of the second round.  Fortunately, Zoom technology allowed the show to go on by automatically reassigning the host role. 😀

Round 1:

1. Gordon: Six Variations on “Nel cor piu non mi sento” by Giovanni Paisiello, WoO 70, by L.V. Beethoven
2. Mary Lou: Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 in A Flat Major, by F. Schubert
3. Wes: Two selections from Six Short Preludes (II in C Minor, con moto, and IV in D Major, allegretto quieto), by J.S. Bach
4. Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4, by J. Brahms
5. David: Symphony No. 7, extract from Allegretto Movement, by L.V. Beethoven, piano transcription by F. Liszt, screen share of multi-camera recorded performance https://youtu.be/eM9YjqrQRAA

Round 2:

1. Gordon: 2nd movement Piano Sonata No. 31 Op. 110, by L.V. Beethoven
2. Mary Lou: Prelude No. 9 in E Major from Book 1 of WTC, by J.S. Bach
3. Wes: Over the Rainbow, by Harold Arlen arr. George Shearing
4. Jeff: Prelude Op. 11 No. 12, by A. Scriabin

🎵 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