🎵 Notes from the November 20, 2021 meetup—Last of the year!

A small but enthusiastic group gathered at the Steinway Piano Gallery, enjoying the gorgeous sound of their Steinway Grand Model B.

Here's what was played: 

• Wesley: Confidence Op. 19 #4 and Venetian Gondola Song #2, by  F. Mendelssohn
• Kathy: Prelude & Fugue in G minor, Book 1, by J. S. Bach
• Karin: Prelude Op. 28 #21 in Bb major, by  F. Chopin
• Jorge: Allemande, English Baroque Suite in G minor (own composition)
• Emily: Etude #9, ‘Pour les Notes répétées’, by C. Debussy
• Kathy: Lyric piece: ‘Home Sickness’, Op. 57, #6 , by  E. Grieg
• Karin: Song without Words, Op. 19, #2 in A minor, by  F. Mendelssohn
• Jorge: Gigue, English Baroque Suite in G minor (own composition)
• Wesley: Little Prelude #9 in F Major, Allegro Moderato, by J.S. Bach
• Emily: Etude, Op. 10, #5, by F. Chopin

And that's a wrap for this year.  Stay tuned to the site for updates on our 2022 events starting in January.

🎵 Notes from the October 23, 2021 meetup

Seven piano group members met at the Steinway Gallery today. Perhaps inspired by the 18th Frederic Chopin international piano competition in Warsaw, which was won by Canadian pianist Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu, Chopin was well represented. A piece by Robert Starer may have been a first by that composer for our group.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Gladiolus Rag, by Scott Joplin
• Jackie: Sonatina in C major op. 36 #3,  by M. Clementi
• Wesley: Over the Rainbow, by Harold Arlen, arr. By George Shearing
• David: Milonga del Angel, by Astor Piazzolla
• Jeff: Prelude in B minor Op. 32, by S. Rachmaninoff
• Erin: Prelude #15-Raindrop, by F. Chopin
• Emily: Etude, Op. 10 No. 5, by F. Chopin
• Wesley: Pink by Robert Starer and Milonga del Angel by Astor Piazzolla
• Jeff: Etude Tableaux Op. 33 #5, by S. Rachmaninoff
• Erin: Invention No. 9 BWV 780, by J. S. Bach
• David: Oblivion, by Astor Piazzolla
• Emily: Nocturne Op. 55 No. 2, by F. Chopin

🎵 Notes from the October 3, 2021 meetup

We had a small but intimate session of good music and conversation on a rainy Sunday afternoon.  Even though our in-person meetings are gradually gaining momentum, we will continue with the Zoom option for the foreseeable future.  Over the past year, the Zoom piano sound quality has steadily improved.

Here's what was played:

• Lynda: Anoranza, by E. Granados
• Christopher: Etude Op. 2 No. 1, by A. Scriabin
• David: Contrapunctus 1, by J. S. Bach, screen share of multi-camera performance recorded two days prior to the live performance at Ottawa Pianos on June 26th
• Lynda: Rumanische Volkstanze der Tanz mit dem Stabe, by B. Bartok
• Christopher: Sonatina from Actus Tragicus Cantata No. 106, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, by J.S. Bach, arranged by Eleonor Bindman
• David: Theme from Poldark, by Anne Dudley, screen share of multi-camera performance recorded two days prior to the live performance at Ottawa Pianos on June 26th

🎵 Notes from the September 18, 2021 meetup

The largest group in some time enjoyed a wonderful grand at the Steinway Gallery store.  We welcomed new members Grace and Emily. 

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Song without words Op. 53 #3, by F. Mendelssohn
• Jackie: Sonata in C major, by W. A. Mozart
• Karin: Prelude “Bruyère”, by C. Debussy
• Jeff: Etude Tableaux op. 33 No. 5, by S. Rachmaniniff
• Wes: Sonata KV300h, Andante Cantabile, by W. A. Mozart
• Erin: Invention #9 BWV780, by J. S. Bach
• Grace: 13 Jazz exercises (#1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13), by Oscar Peterson
• Gordon: Two part inventions #4 in D minor and #14 in B flat major, by J. S. Bach
• Randy: Venus (his own transcription), by Gustav Holst
• Jackie: Ballade pour Adeline, by Paul de Senneville
• Erin: Prelude in B, by F. Chopin
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms
• Grace: 13 Jazz exercises (#2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12), by Oscar Peterson
• Wes: “Raindrop” prelude (Op. 28 #15), by F. Chopin
• Gordon: Intermezzo Op. 76 #4, by J.Brahms
• Emily: Prelude (from Prelude and Fugue in G# minor), BWV 887, by J. S. Bach

🎵 Notes from the August 28, 2021 meetup

A small group gathered at Ottawa Pianos but enjoyed the magnificent grand piano and the low-stress atmosphere. Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Song without words, Op. 53 #3, by F. Mendelssohn
• Karin: Prélude in A flat major, by C. Debussy
• Hedda: Reigen (Dance of the blessed spirits), by C. W. Gluck
• Karin: Sonata in B minor K87, by Scarlatti
• Randy: Aisatsana, by Aphex Twin
• Hedda Boogie Prelude, by William Gillocl
• Gregory: Great Crush Collision March, by Scott Joplin
• Karin: Adagio in D minor, BWV 974, by Bach/Marcello
• Hedda: Minuet, by J. S. Bach
• Randy: Musette, by J. S. Bach

🎵 Notes from the July 24, 2021 meetup

In this in-person session at the Ottawa Pianos store, we had a good variety of works from well-known composers, as well as a couple of more obscure pieces.

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Maple Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin
• Karin: Bruyères (A flat major), by C. Debussy
• Erin: Fugue in D# minor BWV 853, by J. S. Bach
• Jackie: Rondo, 2nd Movement, by L. V. Beethoven
• Randy Plus tôt, by Alexandra Stréliski
• Jeff: Prelude Op. 33 #2, by S. Rachmaninoff
• Lynda: Rêverie, by C. Debussy
• Gordon: Two part Inventions #9 in F minor and #8 in F major, by J. S. Bach
• Randy: piano un10 it happened (correct title), by Aphex Twin (pseudonym)
• Karin: Sonata K87 in B minor, by Scarlatti
• Erin: Prelude in E flat BWV 853, by J. S. Bach
• Gordon: Prelude Op. 13 #5, by A Scriabin
• Lynda: A taste of Honey, by Rick Marlow and Bobby Scott
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms

🎵 Notes from the July 18, 2021 online meetup

Today's Zoom session had our usual mix of composers, plus a piece from an Italian composer from the 18th century who most of us had never heard of (Paradies).  We also welcomed new member Julia from Montreal.

Here's the music that was played:

• Gregory: Tales from the Vienna Woods, by Johann Strauss Jr.
• Erin: Fugue #8 in D# minor (from Well-tempered Clavier), by J. S. Bach
• Gordon: Two part inventions #11 in G minor and #10 in G major, by J. S. Bach
• Julia: Prelude op. 28 #4 in G major, by F. Chopin
• Jeff: Etude Tableaux Op. 33 #5, by S. Rachmaninoff
• Gordon: Giga in B flat, by Paradies
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7, by J. Brahms

🎵 Notes from the June 26, 2021 meetup

A small group was able to gather in person at Ottawa Pianos for today's session, playing on a mighty Yamaha grand. Some performers decided to play their entire piece with the soft pedal!

Here's what was played:

• Gregory: Gladiolus Rag by Scott Joplin
• Jeff: Intermezzo Op. 76 #7 by J. Brahms
• Sachie: Berceuse Op. 56 No. 1 by Gabriel Faure, arr. by S. Lawton
• David: Art of the Fugue, Contrapuntus 1, by J. S. Bach
• Gregory: Pineapple Rag by Scott Joplin
• Sachie: Libertango by Piazolla, arr. by Charlier
• David: Theme from Poldark by Anne Dudley
• Sachie: Sing Sing Sing by Benny Goodman, arr. by Dailly
• David: Fantaisie Impromptu, middle section, by F. Chopin

🎵 Notes from the June 6, 2021 online meetup

The very hot afternoon was the perfect opportunity to be indoors, playing music! Among the usual eclectic mix, a piece by Harry Somers (a Canadian) may have been the first time this composer was played here. 

As a matter of general interest, some in the group recommended listening to the Ottawa Chamberfest Chamber Chats on Thursdays (www.chamberfest.com/chamber-chats/).

Here's what was played today:

• Lynda: Strangeness of heart, by Harry Somers
• Gregory: J. S. Bach: Prelude in D, No. 4 of 6 Little Preludes
• Christopher: F. Chopin, Nocturne in C# minor, Op. posthumous
• Wesley: F. Chopin, Waltz Op. 64 #2
• Jeff: J. Brahms, Intermezzo Op. 76 #7
• Lynda: B. Bartok, Romanian Folk Dances #1
• Gregory: I’m in the mood for Love, by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields
• Christopher: J. S. Bach, Sonatina from Cantata #106 "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit", piano arrangement by Eleonor Bindman
• Wesley: Scott Joplin, Bethena, A Concert Waltz
• Jeff: A. Scriabin, Prelude Op. 17 #3

🎵 Notes from the May 16, 2021 online meetup

Even with the fine Spring weather we had a full slate for today's online session, with a most enjoyable range of music.

Here’s what was played:

• Barb:  Harp Etude Op. 25 No. 1, by F. Chopin
• Karin: Intermezzo in A Flat Major Op. 76. No. 3, by J. Brahms
• Gordon: Two Part Inventions No. 1 in C Major BWV 772 and No. 15 in B Minor BWV 786, by J.S. Bach 
• Andrew: Un lift pour Ville Émard, by André Gagnon
• Randy: Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 1 From Foreign Lands and People, by R. Schumann
• Lynda: Libertango, by A. Piazzolla
• David: Contrapunctus 1 from Art of Fugue BWV 1080, by J.S. Bach
• Wesley: 2nd (Adagio)  and 3rd (Rondo) Movements of Sonata Pathétique No. 8, op. 13, by L.V. Beethoven
• Karin: Sonata in D Minor K. 9, by D. Scarlatti
• Gordon: Bear Dance, by B. Bartok
• Wesley: So What, by Miles Davis
• Lynda: Milonga del Angel, by A. Piazzolla
• David: Theme from TV series Poldark by Anne Dudley
• Randy: The Engagement from movie The Birth, by Alexandre Desplat