Hello and introduction

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

Hello all,

Some of you might know me from Piano World.

Anyhow I am a student, and my primary hobby is music, though I have little hope of being a professional. I strive for excellence, though, and I study with a fine piano teacher. Right now, as you can see in my sig, my primary projects are the Rachmaninoff Sérérade Op. 3 no. 5 and Chopin's Op. 44 Polonaise. The Polonaise is my "fun" project; I just started it to see if I could handle it at all, and much to my surprise I have made great progress with it. Very difficult, but the parts I have down are fun to play. But it's on the back burner right now because I have a timetable on the Rachmaninoff.

Since this site focuses a lot on recordings, I'll just say that I don't have any right now, but I will this fall and I'll think about uploading. I'll be playing a Chopin nocturne (Op. 15-1) for an electronic recital at PW, and I'll plan to record a few other pieces at the same time.

And, in case you haven't guessed it by now :lol:

, I'm a Horowitz fanatic. I do enjoy other pianists, but for some intangible reason I am drawn to Horowitz more than any other.

Cheers!

alf · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:00 pm

Hi and welcome to PS.

Horowitzian wrote:

Since this site focuses a lot on recordings, I'll just say that I don't have any right now, but I will this fall and I'll think about uploading. I'll be playing a Chopin nocturne (Op. 15-1) for an electronic recital at PW, and I'll plan to record a few other pieces at the same time.

Oh, well, by uploading that nocturne you would complete the whole set on PS, since 15/1 is the one still missing if I'm not wrong. By the way, I have been trying to convince myself to study and record it. It would be my first Chopin recording on PS.

pianolady · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:38 pm **Posts:** 7999

I second the welcome to you, Horowitzian. Not long ago I watch the video of Horowitz in Moscow, and last summer attended a talk by his personal piano tuner. He's a cute little old man with some highly entertaining stories of his days together with Horowitz.

alf wrote:

I have been trying to convince myself to study and record it. It would be my first Chopin recording on PS.

Really? No Chopin, yet? Well then yes - you should record it, Alfonso. I haven't thought about or even looked at that Nocturne for a long time. I do like it, though, and would love to hear your velvety fingers play it. Does that convince you?

juufa72 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:02 pm

Welcome! I hope you will share lots of music with us for our listening enjoyment.

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

Thanks, guys! There's no Nocturne Op. 15-1 yet? I'll be happy to complete the selection, but as I said it'll be a while. I haven't even started the nocturne yet. I'm going to this spring, though.

Pianolady, do you have Mr. Mohr's book, My Life With the Great Pianists? It has a lot of interesting stories about his work with Horwitz, Cliburn, Rubinstein, and Gilels; as well as his own personal life story. And that Moscow recital is simply incredible!

I've never been to any of Mr. Mohr's talks, but I've heard about them.

And juufa, that sig line is a scream! :lol:

Terez · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:07 pm

alf wrote:

It would be my first Chopin recording on PS.

I have been wondering if perhaps Chopin makes you feel exposed.

juufa72 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:29 pm

Horowitzian wrote:

And juufa, that sig line is a scream! :lol:

That's why I put it there!

Terez wrote:

I have been wondering if perhaps Chopin makes you feel exposed

Maybe Alfie had a traumatic childhood experience and the sound of Chopin makes him relive the experience? Was it l'uomo nero , Alf?

-Julius

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

Have you seen this? It's in the same vein as your sig, no pun intended!

Quote:

Musicale

C, E-flat and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "I'm sorry, but we
don't serve minors." So E-flat leaves, and C and G have an open fifth
between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished, and G is out
flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp
enough.

D comes in and heads for the bathroom saying, "Excuse me. I'll just be a
second." Then A comes in, but the bartender is not convinced that this
relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices B-flat hiding at
the end of the bar and says, "Get out! You're the seventh minor I've
found in this bar tonight."

E-Flat comes back the next night in a three-piece suit with nicely shined
shoes. The bartender says, "You're looking sharp tonight. Come on in, this
could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat soon takes off his suit
and everything else, and is au natural.

Eventually, C sobers up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. C
is brought to trial, found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a
minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an upscale
correctional facility. On appeal, however, C is found innocent of any
wrongdoing, even accidental. The judge rules that all contrary motions are
bassless.

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

Terez wrote:

I have been wondering if perhaps Chopin makes you feel exposed.

I always thought that was Mozart.

Terez · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:17 pm

Horowitzian wrote:

I always thought that was Mozart.

In a sense, I suppose...depends on what we're talking about exposing. Mozart exposes technical weaknesses; Chopin exposes your soul. :wink:

alf · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:40 pm

Terez wrote:

Mozart exposes technical weaknesses; Chopin exposes your soul. :wink:

It is exactly the opposite, Terez.

Anyway, Monica and Terez, I'll record that Nocturne sooner or later, but want a row of serious remarks from you then! Julius, I had a traumatic childhood, and it was neither Chopin's nor bogeyman's fault. It was HANON's fault! :lol:

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

Terez wrote:

Horowitzian wrote:

I always thought that was Mozart.

In a sense, I suppose...depends on what we're talking about exposing. Mozart exposes technical weaknesses; Chopin exposes your soul. :wink:

You know, I'd never thought of it that way. But that's so true. Perhaps introverts are the ones who have trouble with Chopin.

PS--I've noticed that quotes are a bit dodgy on here. How do you get them to work properly every time? :?:

Horowitzian · **Joined:** Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:33 am **Posts:** 224

alf wrote:

Terez wrote:

Mozart exposes technical weaknesses; Chopin exposes your soul. :wink:

It is exactly the opposite, Terez.

Anyway, Monica and Terez, I'll record that Nocturne sooner or later, but want a row of serious remarks from you then! Julius, I had a traumatic childhood, and it was neither Chopin's nor bogeyman's fault. It was HANON's fault! :lol: