My news: compositions, concerts and piano camp.

[ramibarniv]

Hello all,
1) I am in the midst of translating my song cycle dedicated to the Holocaust into English, so it can be actually sung with English lyrics.

2) Just finished a series of concerts with a chamber orchestra conducting and playing the solo of Bach F minor and Haydn D major concertos.
Also in the midst of concerts featuring my song cycle.
Regular recitals and gigs.
Here are some highlights of my upcoming concerts:
May 16 in Utica, NY, 1st Presb Church and May 19 in University of the West Indies, Barbados, WI.
In June, a concert/lecture of Gershwin for a university in Israel.
In October, SF, concert featuring my song cycle for clarinet and piano.
In Nov, Beethoven 4th with a Symphony orchestra in Israel.

3) My piano camp in Utica, NY has one last slot available, June 15-22.
    2 last slots available in October 12-19.
                         http://ramisrhapsody.tripod.com/
Best regards,
Rami

[mattgreenecomposer]

I just finished playing the Bach Dminor concerto.  I was looking into the F-minor one next-I love that piece.  I noticed it is really short though.  Technically more demanding or less do you feel than the D-minor?

[ramibarniv]

I just finished playing the Bach Dminor concerto.  I was looking into the F-minor one next-I love that piece.  I noticed it is really short though.  Technically more demanding or less do you feel than the D-minor?

The F minor is easier than the D minor and as you said, shorter, so all in all, faster to learn... but, beautiful as can be...
Regards,
Rami

[michel dvorsky]

Hey Rami. Have you heard of this dude?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Alkan

A relative of Charlie Valentino apparently.

Alkalicious?

[tds]

wow, thanks for the undated news, rami! i would love to go watch ur concerts, alas i am so far away, and i doubt that i can make it this time. all the best! tds

ps. is it possible for us to hear your respected opinion about virtuosity? if it is, you may kindly participate in this thread: http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25825.50.html

and one more thing, do you consider urself a virtuoso?

[ramibarniv]

wow, thanks for the undated news, rami! i would love to go watch ur concerts, alas i am so far away, and i doubt that i can make it this time. all the best! tds

ps. is it possible for us to hear your respected opinion about virtuosity? if it is, you may kindly participate in this thread: http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25825.50.html

and one more thing, do you consider urself a virtuoso?

I'll look into the virtuosity thread and see if I can contribute anything.
I usually try to stay away from threads about who can play faster, who has the bigger stretch, etc.
Virtuosity is one of these terms that is being used often, but I never gave much thought to what it means exactly.
I suppose I consider myself a virtuoso, but I am not sure, I'd need to define the term first. Other people do refer to me as a virtuoso.
BTW, where are you at?
Regards,
Rami

[tds]

no, me neither, i couldn't care less myself about things like "who plays chopin op. 10 no 1 the fastest!". the word virtuoso itself seems to have gone thru a shameful process of devaluation- from genuine, musical heights and glory coupled with total mastery of the instrument to something of a mere display of showmanship, which also seems to ever grow in quantity and quality, yet belittling the value of musical purposes and ends.

i don't see myself a virtuoso, and truly not sure if i want to be called that.i perceive myself simply as, in this order: a person who tries hard to be good to self and others; a musician; and a pianist. and with the many limitations i am bound to, i've failed many times even to maintain this perception, despite my persistence to keep trying. maybe in the end, it's desire and the much efforts involved that count? i don't know....

but what i know is this: virtuosity nowadays can be viewed as a bad taste, and that's very unfortunately.

best regards, tds

[ramibarniv]

Haven't had a chance yet to look at the other thread on this subject.
I was never concerned with speed, never worked on speed either. Now-a-days, when I am older, I naturally feel everything slower than when I was younger.
I compared a recording of Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso, which I made some 30 years ago with one I made recently and the recent one was longer in a few minutes...
That is not to say that I don't appreciate some brilliance to playing. But brilliance is not always just speed, it is attack, articulation, clarity, phrasing, balance, etc.
I also don't belittle showmanship and personality, but, I guess, everything has to be with a measure and not over done.
I am also not sure that virtuosity needs to be a negative thing. It depends if it serves only itself, or the actual music being played.
Anyway, these were some of my thoughts on the subject.
Regards,
Rami

[tds]

I also don't belittle showmanship and personality, but, I guess, everything has to be with a measure and not over done.
I am also not sure that virtuosity needs to be a negative thing. It depends if it serves only itself, or the actual music being played.

well said. thank you. tds

[ramibarniv]

well said. thank you. tds

Thank you.
I just finished reading the entire long thread you pointed me to...
I don't feel like butting in there now...
I must tell you again that these type of questions never occurred to me, I just play the piano...
Regards,
Rami

[tds]

I must tell you again that these type of questions never occurred to me, I just play the piano...

simply sublime!