John's piano

(Note: This is the first in a series of posts about the pianos of some of our members.)

John's 1920 Heintzman

I greatly enjoy playing my Toronto-built Heintzman upright, whose inside label proclaims it as a "grand piano in upright form". It is the same one I​ took lessons and​ practised on as a child back at my mother's home in Vancouver in the 1940s. 

My grandmother purchased it, I believe, before I was born, though I know of no one else in my family who played. I checked the serial number one time on-line, which gave its date of manufacture as 1920. 

Today in its new position in our upstairs sitting-room (and it cost a pretty penny just to have it moved there from downstairs!), and after a long-overdue tuning, it sounds better than ever!

Music played at the November 20, 2016 session

Host: John

It was snowy outside but the warmth inside got our literary and musical juices flowing. There were some “golden oldies” and some pieces rarely played.

Round 1:

- Gregory: “Elegie” by J. Massenet
- Gordon: Waltz op. 69 #2 by F. Chopin
- Jeff: Prelude op 11 # 12 by A. Scriabin
- Karin: Méditation # 3 from “Avant dernières pensées”, by E. Satie
- David:  Farfarinette by J. P. Rameau (this was the theme for Jurgen Gothe’s “Disc Drive” on the CBC)
- Teresa: Prelude in D flat major by F. Chopin
- Sachie: Sonata Op. 10 # 3, 1st movement, by L. Beethoven
- John: 3 hymns/folk songs: “Londonderry Air”, “Purity”, and “Yield Not to Temptation”

Round 2:

- Gordon: Gavotte in D, by J. S. Bach
- Teresa: Etude in G Major, by Cornelius Gurlitt
- Greg: “The Maple Leaf forever” by Alexander Muir, and “Rule, Britannia” by Thomas Arne
- Jeff: Années de pelerinage, 3ième année, Aux cypres de la Villa d’Este (S163 #3) , by F. Liszt
- David: Fur Elise, by L. van Beethoven
- John: “The Little Light Tree”, own improvisation and words to “I had a little nut tree”

Looking for some practising tips?

This page on the Pianist Magazine website has ten tips on how to improve and maximize your practice time: Maximizing Your Practice Time.

Music played at the October 23, 2016 session

Host: Jeff

A big crowd (11 of us plus Jeff and his wife) came to Jeff’s home where we enjoyed playing his Steinway grand (ca 1977), an excellent view north to the Ottawa River in brilliant sunshine, and excellent hospitality.

Round 1

Janice G: F. Schubert, Impromptu Op. 90#2
Greg: J. S. Bach, Prelude #6 in d minor, BWV 851
Erin: Torjussen, To the Rising Sun, Op. 4 #1
John: Traditional Russian songs, Serenada and Serdtse
Gordon: J. S. Bach, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Christopher: Scarlatti, Sonata K. 213 in d minor
Jeff: J. Brahms Capriccio Op. 116 # 7
David: F. Mendelssohn, Song without Words, Op. 30 #6
Carly: F. Chopin, Nocturne in e minor, Op. post.
Janice S: J. S. Bach, Invention 8, BWV 779
Vanessa: F. Chopin, Nocturne, Op. post 72
Lynda: Grieg, Norwegian Melody No. 2, Op. 12 #6

Round 2

Greg: N. Rimsky-Korsakov, Song of India
Vanessa : Thelonius Monk, 'Round Midnight'
Lynda: Alfred Rolando Ortiz, Cumbia Deliciosa
John: Free improvisation
Gordon: D. Shostakovitch, Prelude Op. 87 #1
David: Scottish folk tune arranged by Michael Logozar, “The Water is Wide”
Jeff: A. Scriabin: Prelude Op. 11 #10
Janice S:  J. S. Bach, Invention 13

CBC Radio documentary about old upright pianos

The CBC presented a 20-minute radio documentary this past Sunday about the sorry end that awaits so many old upright pianos these days. Listen to the documentary.

Music played at the September 18, 2016 session

Thanks to Mary Lou for sharing her sonorous Mason and Hamlin grand in a beautiful Gatineau Park-like setting.

Here's what was played:

Greg -- Granados, Spanish Dance, Op. 5 No. 5
Teresa -- Kabalevsky, Dreams, Op. 88 No. 1
Christopher -- Couperin, Barricades Mystérieuses
Jeff -- Liszt, Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année, Sunt lacrimae rerum (tears of things)
Mary Lou -- Brahms, Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2
David -- Schumann, An Important Event and Schubert, Waltz in D Major
John -- traditional Russian folk songs, Katjusha and Korobushka

2nd round:
Mary Lou -- Fauré, Barcarolle No. 1 in A Minor
Greg -- Brahms, Waltz in A Flat Major, Op. 39 No. 15
Jeff -- Liszt, Nuages Gris, S. 199
Teresa -- Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Once Upon a December
David -- Grieg, Death of Ase from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, SoundCloud recording of David playing
John -- own improvisation

Angela Hewitt will be playing a lot of Bach

Ottawa native Angela Hewitt will be playing an awful lot of Bach over the next few years, including a series of piano recitals right here.

See this article in the Ottawa Citizen for all the details: http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/pianist-angela-hewitt-embarks-on-a-bach-odyssey-12-recitals-over-4-years

Music played at the August 14, 2016 session

Host: Francine

We had another great session of piano music at Francine's, with a battle between dissonance and consonance (in the musical choices). We welcomed two first-timers to the group, Gordon and Carly, and everyone enjoyed the post-playing conversation and snacks.

Round 1:

Greg - June from the seasons, by P. Tchaikovsky
Gordon - Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement, by L. van Beethoven
Karin - Petites Litanies de Jesus,  by Gabriel Grovlez
Janice - Oriental, op. 5, by E. Granados
Christopher - Arioso, BWV 1056 (arr. Scaife), by J. S. Bach
John - Song of St. Catharines, own composition
Carly - Nocturne in C# minor, op. Post., by F. Chopin
Jeff - Années de Pèlerinage, Aux cyprès de la Villa d'Este (part 1), by F. Liszt
Lynda - Sonata in A, 2nd movment, by F. Schubert
Francine - Milonga del angel, by Astor Piazzolla

Round 2:

Greg - Prelude Op.33 #3 by A. Scriabin
Gordon - Prelude in C by J.S. Bach
Karin - Impresiones intimas #2, by Federico Mompou
Christopher - Le Carbet, by John Kember
John - Song of St. Catharines, own composition, with vocals
Lynda - Un Vals par sonar, by Dr. Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, also with vocals
Jeff - Années de Pèlerinage, Aux cyprès de la Villa d'Este (part 2), by F. Liszt

Music played at the July 10, 2016 session

Host: Lynda

Round 1:

Greg Z. - Bethena (a concert waltz) by Scott Joplin
Erin - Bagatelle in G Minor by L. van Beethoven
Jeff - Preludes Op. 11 #10 and Op. 33#3 by A. Scriabin
Lynda - Song without words, Op. 38#2 by F. Mendelssohn
John - 4 Canadian songs (own composition)
Francine - Lieb’ Schwesterlein by Robert Fuchs

Round 2:

Greg Z. - Theme from movie “Exodus” by Ernest Gold
Erin - Sonatina in G major by Kuhlau
Lynda - Fugue # 5 by J. S. Bach
Jeff - Années de Pelerinage, Troisième Année #2
John - Ottawa Song (own composition)

Playing piano on the Arctic Ocean