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The 3 B's

Discussion in 'Submission Room' started by pianolady, Nov 25, 2011.

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  1. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I had some time this morning and felt like visiting some of my favorite pieces from when I was kid and taking lessons. It was nice to not have to kill myself over these and just play/record without my usual anxiety. Probably everybody knows these pieces, so I hope I do them justice. Comments welcomed.... :)

    p.s. the Beethoven "La Marmotte" is a lieder. It's new to me; I have never heard it before but I like the melody.

    Bach - Seven Little Preludes, BWV 927 in F Major

    Bach - Five Little Preludes, BWV 939 in C Major

    Beethoven - "La Marmotte" Op. 52, No. 7

    Beethoven - Ecossaise, WoO23 in G major

    Brahms - Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39, No. 15
     
    pianolady, Nov 25, 2011
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  2. Rachfan

    Rachfan Active Member Piano Society Artist

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    Hi Monica,

    I enjoyed listening to all these little pieces. You play all of them very well. They should go into the archive here for young students who want to hear how these pieces sound, as they're often assigned by teachers. The Brahms waltz is interesting, as there is the original, the simplified version, and another version for four hands. There have always been loads and loads of "teaching pieces" around. But all pianists are fortunate that some of the greatest composers, like the Three B's, for example, took the time to write accessible pieces for children. And I believe that the more kids are given these works of the masters to learn rather than just pedagogical pieces, it's far better for their development as musicians and their appreciation of music in general.

    David
     
    Rachfan, Nov 26, 2011
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  3. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Thank you for listening, David, and for the kind words. :)

    I agree with you 100% about that students should be given this kind of music to learn. My first teacher had me working on Mozart, Bach, Schumann practically right from the beginning. I probably wouldn't have loved playing piano so much if I had to do only pedagogical-type pieces.
     
    pianolady, Nov 26, 2011
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  4. musical-md

    musical-md Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Monica,
    These were all very delightful to listen to. They are fine demonstrations that would point any student towards artistic playing. With the Bach, I must add that no matter the level required, he writes such great music.

    One other point regarding teaching, I always add Bartok (4 B's) and use his Microcosmos from the get go, the very first number of which even offers the opportunity to teach about applying phrasing to execution.
     
    musical-md, Nov 26, 2011
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  5. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Thank you, Eddy! :) I'm glad these pass muster (and the mustard too.... :lol: ).

    Bartok - 4 B's - good one!
    For some reason, I did not play much Bartok when I was a kid. But to be honest, I don't really care for a lot of his music, except for the Romanian Folk Songs, which are really neat - I like that set a lot!! :D
     
    pianolady, Nov 26, 2011
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  6. hreichgott

    hreichgott New Member

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    Bartok is finally included in the Suzuki curriculum. Book 2 has "Hungarian Folk Song" and "Children at Play" from For Children. Now if only they wouldn't take 100 years to include pieces...
     
    hreichgott, Nov 29, 2011
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  7. musicusblau

    musicusblau Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    To Bach, prelude f-major: nice playing overall, at the beginning there could be a little more rhythmical eveness.
    To Bach, prelude c-major: that was the first bach-prelude I have played, I remember well. Nice playing, Monica.
    To "La Marmotte": Well, I think you have played nicely that very famous little song. Nice p-part.
    To "Ecossaise": That´s also a sweet piece, isn´t it? I have enjoyed your performance.
    To Brahms-walzer: That´s absolutely one of my favourites. It has so much peace and consolation, it´s a highly devine inspirated little piece. I usually play it with a bit more flow. But your slow contemplative interpretation also has something. You have done so nice rubati and dynamics especially at the end, where you perfectly have caught the atmosphere!
     
    musicusblau, Dec 17, 2011
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  8. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Hi Andreas. I'm happy to see you! Are you getting time off now for the holiday season?

    I did not realize that my rhythm was uneven in the beginning of the F-major Prelude. I really needed a "Bach person" to check and help me, so thank you for pointing that out. I'll practice the piece some more and do a re-recording in a little while.
     
    pianolady, Dec 18, 2011
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  9. Kristinaolga

    Kristinaolga New Member

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    Thanks, Monica, for posting these wonderful little melodies.

    I particularly enjoyed the way you play Beethoven’s “Marmotte”,
    I have never heard this wonderful melody before, and I shall look-out for it's score...

    Thanks again. :D
     
    Kristinaolga, Dec 20, 2011
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  10. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Thank you, Kristina. :)

    I had never before heard "La Marmotte" either. But to be honest, I didn't even know Beethoven wrote any lieders. :oops: I just randomly turned a page in a book that consists of various classical piano music and there it was. I like it a lot too and wish it were longer.
     
    pianolady, Dec 20, 2011
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  11. musicusblau

    musicusblau Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Pianolady wrote:
    Until Christmas, I think, I will be busy with corrections of papers, but then I will practice on prelude and fugue f -sharp-major and try to get a recording during the holidays.

    I will listen to that!
     
    musicusblau, Dec 22, 2011
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  12. Kristinaolga

    Kristinaolga New Member

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    Hello, Monica,

    I have now found the score and have started to learn “La Marmotte”.

    It is such an inspiring and lovely melody !

    Thanks again for posting it.

    I also would like to take this opportunity and wish everybody at the Piano Society

    a Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year and very good luck in 2012

    with lots of music and lots of inspiration.

    Kristinaolga.
     
    Kristinaolga, Dec 24, 2011
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  13. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I'm glad you found the score. It's like a Christmas present to yourself, isn't it? I've just learned that some Mompou books I ordered have arrived but I have to pick up the package at the post office, which I can't do until Monday, so my present will have to wait.
    Merry Christmas to you too, Kristina. :)
     
    pianolady, Dec 24, 2011
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  14. Kristinaolga

    Kristinaolga New Member

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    Hello, Monica,

    You are right, it is like a Christmas-present to myself
    and I am very enthusiastic to learn this wonderful melody.
    Mind you, it is not easy, but it is great fun
    and certainly “gets both of my hands going”.

    Thanks for your kind wishes
    and I do hope you receive your books very soon.

    Kind regards from Kristina. :D
     
    Kristinaolga, Dec 25, 2011
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  15. RSPIll

    RSPIll New Member

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    I'm glad you found the score. It's like a Christmas present to yourself, isn't it? I've just learned that some Mompou books I ordered have arrived but I have to pick up the package at the post office, which I can't do until Monday, so my present will have to wait.
    Merry Christmas to you too, Kristina. :)[/quote]

    Hate to be a Grinch, Monica, but Post Office is closed Monday. No Mompou until Tuesday.

    Scott
     
    RSPIll, Dec 25, 2011
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  16. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Really? Rats!! I didn't know that. Darn it!! :x I was going to stay in my pajamas all day tomorrow and just play new music the whole time. I have to go back to work on Tuesday... :(
     
    pianolady, Dec 26, 2011
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  17. Kristinaolga

    Kristinaolga New Member

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    Hello, Monica,

    I do hope you have received your books from the post-office.

    I am still learning Beethoven’s “La Marmotte” and I am very pleased about my progress.
    Good thing is that the melody is so inspiring that I don’t mind trying again and again and again,
    and an hour quickly passes and I have developed further.
    I am very pleased, because my left hand coordinates very nicely with my right hand.

    Best wishes for 2012 from Kristina
     
    Kristinaolga, Dec 29, 2011
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  18. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Hello Kristina,

    I'm glad you are making good progress on "La Marmotte". :)

    Yes, I had one of my sons go to the post office yesterday to retrieve my package of Mompou books. So now I have a lot of new music to explore and I'm very happy about that! :D The only problem is that I have to get a few pieces off my piano first, plus I am working very hard on a couple big pieces for an upcoming amateur piano group gathering, and so I don't have much time to spend on other music. But many of these new Mompou pieces are short and not very difficult so the music will make a good diversion for when I need a break and want to play something else.

    I just thought of something....since you like "La Marmotte" so much, you may also like Faure's "Pavane", and Paderewski's "Sarabande" from his Humoresques de Concert - Op.14. Both of these pieces have that beautiful and melancholy feel to them.

    Happy New Year to you too, Kristina!
     
    pianolady, Dec 29, 2011
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  19. Kristinaolga

    Kristinaolga New Member

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    Hello, Monica,

    Thanks for pointing out Faure’s “Pavane” and Paderewski’s “Sarabande”. I am "almost there" with my "La Marmotte" and I have just had a look
    at the scores of "Pavane" and "Sarabande" on the Internet and I look forward to study them.

    Faure’s “Pavane” should be interesting to study because one has to be careful not to play it “too sweetly” and I imagine it a challenge to “get it right”.

    I was quite surprised about Paderewski’s “Sarabande” because I did not know he composed such sensitive melodies. I have a few records of him playing Liszt/Chopin and I only associated him with Liszt/Chopin-interpretations.

    I have listened to your interpretation of Paderewski’s “Sarabande” and I like it very much

    I am glad you have received your package of Mompou books and I wish you good luck with learning the “couple of big pieces” for the upcoming amateur group gathering.

    Best wishes from Kristina.
     
    Kristinaolga, Dec 30, 2011
    #19
  20. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Hi Monica,

    I had a listen to your various recordings by the three B's, I found something to enjoy in each piece--the playing!

    nice "baroque" detached style of playing in the Bach in F Major and C major, while still maintaining legato voicing

    Interesting the "marmotte" is a lieder. It sounds to me like it could be an arabesque by Bergmuller. I enjoyed the short staccato like feel you give the octaves, and the top octave note accent

    I liked your control of dynamics in your Beethoven piece. Did you use a soft pedal the second time or did you just play softer?

    Your interpretation of the Brahms waltz is sensitive and I can hear accents on the 2 and 3 beats which gives the piece the distinctive waltz feel!

    I read you have acquired some mompou literature. I am jealous :lol: But am happy for you, I do enjoy his music. Look forward to more mompou from you! (alliteration and rhyming unintended :wink: )

    Riley
     
    pianoman342, Dec 30, 2011
    #20
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