Greensleeves by Kristinaolga

Here is my current version of “Greensleeves”.

It is not very elaborate and I wanted to keep it in its early Lute-version.
I took a very simple source, which I repeated in a higher octave
and at the end I put on a “little cheerfulness” which I heard in an early Bagpipe-version,
to “come out of the melancholy” so to speak.

I am only a beginner with my Forte-Piano and I like to be a bit creative with my pieces
so sometimes I create my own little versions, or, as in “Greensleeves”
I pick what I like most about different versions
and put them together in one piece, so to speak.

Thanks from Kristinaolga.

 

Yes, it is my Square (Forte) - Piano.

 

Interesting sound, it is certainly a bit reminiscent of the lute, and very suited to this kind of song.
Atmospheric playing, but IMHO much, much too slow, it is all but impossible to keep a solid rhythm in this tempo (I believe early music should be rhythmical above all else). The arrangement is ok but there seem to be some dead patches where the accompaniment suddenly falls silent. That sounds a bit strange too me. But if it's written like that, it is probably for a reason.

 

Well, techneut and Monica, you have spotted some weaknesses of mine.

Here is the story. Some years ago I suffered a stroke, from which I made a very good recovery,
and the Square Piano helped me enormously.

It was a right-sided stroke and interestingly my right hand seems to be perfectly alright,
but I have sometimes a great difficulty coordinating my left hand into the action
and I need my left hand “thinking better”, so my left hand can work in coordination.

If anyone has any tips on how I could get both hands working together better
I would be very grateful.

Thanks from Kristinaolga.

 

Kristinaolga,
So sorry to hear about your plight. The fact that your LH is and was affected is perfectly consistent and expected for a right cerebral stroke of the motor cortext as the nerve paths, as they descend, cross in the medulla oblongata (part of brainstem) at a region called the pyramidal decussation. Later these paths exit the spinal cord as peripheral nerves. Therefore, the right side of the brain actually controls the left side of the body (excepting the face which is controlled by cranial nerves that exit the brain directly). After a stroke, it is very common to regain some control of the larger muscle groups (gross motor), but even in mild strokes, fine motor skills (smaller muscles, like those controlling the fingers) are rarely if even partially regained. Also, for reasons beyond what I will explain here, strokes result in spastic (not flacid) paralysis of the affected limbs. Of course, a cerebral vascular accident (stroke) can span the spectrum from hardly detectable (lacunar infarcts) to devistating and fatal depending on their magnitude and location. I'm afraid I don't have enough knowledge or experience with stroke rehabilitation to tell you much other.

While I'm wearing my doctor hat, to all my friends here that may read this reply, let me say that the best means of preventing a primary stroke (all other things being equal) is to have controlled blood pressure and controlled cholesterol. Please be seeing a physician with some regularity to make sure you are pursuing the best health possible (hypertension has the nick-name of "Silent Killer" for a reason). Other risk factors for having a stroke include: diabetes, obesity, smoking and any therapies or conditions that may encourage blood clots.

Sincerely,
Eddy

 

Thank you, Monica.
Today I have practiced all “my favourites” with special emphasis on my left hand and I do hope I am getting there slowly.

Thank you, musical-md.
I am very slim with a healthy life-style, don’t drink and don’t smoke etc.
My bad luck was at the time, that the doctor to whom I went regularly because of typical pre-stroke-symptoms,
failed to diagnose my impending stroke, because I was too young and I looked too healthy,
so he did not take my symptoms seriously enough to bother ever to take my blood pressure before the stroke.

I have met many young people who lived healthy and have suffered a stroke because their doctor did not take their blood pressure either.

But this is the Piano Society and not a medical forum and I only mentioned my suffering a stroke because there might be a possibility
that here in the Piano Society there is a beginner who - like me – has a weakness/laziness/coordonation-problem in one hand
and perhaps we can exchange experiences and find positive ways to improve.

Thanks from Kristinaolga.

 

Well hmm..... it is a bit, now that we have Eddy :lol:

If the LH has difficulty keeping up and coordinating with the RH I don't think somehow that practicing/playing LH only is the key.
Maybe part of it, I don't know. My advice (as it is to each and every problem :roll: ) is to play Bach. The Inventions, primarily,
and anything else you might be up to. They are not easy to the beginner, but the rewards are huge - the hands learn to listen to each other and be equal partners !

 

Thanks for the advice, techneut,

I shall try Bach’s "Two-Part And Three-Part Inventions" and I do hope I can inspire my left hand going a bit better.
I can see what you mean when I look at Invention 1 and I can imagine it to be difficult and I shall try my best.
Thanks again for pointing out Bach’s Inventions, it is very much appreciated.
Kind regards from Kristinaolga.

 

Playing Bach inventions is a well-worn advice. I must be sounding like a broken record to those who have been here longer
But it is true though. There simply is no better study material.

 

Thank you, techneut,

I shall enjoy studying J.S. Bach’s Inventions.

It is fascinating to think that in those oppressive days
when J.S. Bach must have been at times down and frustrated,
that he could always compose the most wonderfully harmonious music,
and even work out methods to help others learn the keyboard.

Thanks for pointing out the Inventions,

best wishes from Kristinaolga.

 

You may wish to consider selections from First Lessons in Bach and/or the Short Preludes, as they are usually attempted prior to the Inventions.

 

Thanks for your kind thoughts, musical-md,
I appreciate them very much.

Kind regards from Kristinaolga.