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Topic: Bach Italian Concerto - warts and all  (Read 1477 times)

Offline jimroof

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Bach Italian Concerto - warts and all
on: January 11, 2016, 08:58:08 PM
More from my old college recital tapes.  A few notes...

This was performed as part of my Junior recital that included three Debussy Preludes (in English... Fireworks, Minstrels and The Hill of Anacapri), Beethoven Opus 31, #3, and Chopin's Gm Ballade.

First movement - listen for my having to suddenly become a composer around the 2:21 mark.  Hey - at least I kept the fingers moving.  You know the old saying with Bach.  When in doubt - pedal and trill.  This was what I opened with and I was a bit nervous to be honest and Bach has a way of making a pianist feel like they are naked on stage with nothing to cover their body except a microphone stand.

Second movement - I liked my overall interpretation, but I could not fully control this piano.  It was a rather brittle sounding instrument with little sustain for a 9 foot Steinway, and the action had this hard little break about half way down that robbed me of a few notes speaking here and there.

Third movement - NO, I WAS NOT ON DRUGS!  At my recital jury, Cary Lewis (then artist in residence at Georgia State) commented that he had bet the other two jurors that I would never finish the piece at the tempo I started it at.  Believe it or not - I did.  Second believe it or not - I SLOWED IT DOWN for my recital.  Clearly not enough.

So, here it is, warts and all.  I would play it today in a much more bridled manner while STILL holding to much of what I heard in the piece 37 years ago when this was recorded.

Chopin Ballades
Chopin Scherzos 2 and 3
Mephisto Waltz 1
Beethoven Piano Concerto 3
Schumann Concerto Am
Ginastera Piano Sonata
L'isle Joyeuse
Feux d'Artifice
Prokofiev Sonata Dm
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Offline siveron

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Re: Bach Italian Concerto - warts and all
Reply #1 on: January 13, 2016, 04:46:30 AM
Great work, you're really talented!

Offline deandeblock

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Re: Bach Italian Concerto - warts and all
Reply #2 on: January 14, 2016, 07:51:29 PM
Strange you get so few comments... maybe because we had this concerto posted by someone else a while back


Anyway, I think it's awesome! 
work hard, play hard

Offline swilliams002

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Re: Bach Italian Concerto - warts and all
Reply #3 on: August 23, 2022, 06:10:49 PM
I really like how you did the first movement, great dynamics and tempo. Good job!
"You shall seek me, and shall find me: when you shall seek me with all your heart." - Jeremias 29, 13
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