Sign up and information regarding Organized Chat, group project

[m1469]

This thread is meant for the purpose of signing up for and gathering/organizing information toward a group project involving whomever is interested.



Date/Time :   Saturday, September 24th at 7pm GMT.

Where : Our forum chat room (I will make a designated room for this so it does not interfere with regular chat)

Project Focus/materials :  Schumann "Scenes from childhood"

Who :  Whomever would like to be part of it. (you are also welcome to just come and observe and ask questions, the more the merrier imo).


Want to sign up ?

Simply post in stating your wishes to join, or PM me here at the forum.   (We may need to include time zones, however, I don't want to push people into giving out this information, so I wonder if we can work around it... I will think about that).  We would love to have everybody who would like to join, so don't be shy !


Signed up so far :


abell88

AvoidedCadence*

Aziel

Bernhard  maybe 

Bob

Llamaman*  Dreaming and Catch me if you can

m1469* :  "About Strange Lands and People" and "The Poet Speaks"

perfect_pitch*

pianistimo

practicingnow* + girlfriend*

Ted



This will be an evolving project.


Thanks for your interest,

m1469


* indicates project workers

[llamaman]

OK, I'm good with that. Very good idea. Schumann Romazas? Hmm....... that may be difficult, seeming as I've never listened to them.

[m1469]

OK, I'm good with that. Very good idea. Schumann Romazas? Hmm....... that may be difficult, seeming as I've never listened to them.

Well, neither have I, actually.  But I am hoping to find a/some recordings in the meantime and become familiar.  It's okay if we do not already know them, part of the idea is to become (more) familiar with (possibly) new (to us) repertoire  .

m1469

[Aziel]

I'm in (though not presenting). 

I recommend a better repertoire choice that would bring in more of the general crowd.  Once you get a lot of people they'll keep coming back, so doing something such as chopin's ballades or the goldberg variations would be easier for people to follow. 

But, it's your choice m1469.

[m1469]

Hmmmm, the Goldbergs are also a very great idea (Ballades are a bit hefty for this project in my opinion), and I do have a couple of recordings of these and I would think that others may also.   The other thing is that, I would personally like to do this more than once, so there is time to get to many different selections.  Whatever we don't get this time, we could get another time.

I would like to suggest that we decide for certain what the majority of people would like to focus on by 12 am GMT time, Sept 2nd.  Roughly 72 hours from now.


Thanks for the feedback,

m1469


ps- I am perfectly satisified with a smaller group too, I am just excited to have it happen.

[Bob]

I'm interested, but only to observe.  Any time picked out yet?

[m1469]

Great, Bob, I will add you to the list (as an observer, so no pressure).   I also added you, Ted, as an observer.   Let me know if you do not want to be considered at all.

As far as time goes, I think logically it should depend first on who signs up to actually do the project itself.  Then observers will be taken into account.  Other than that, I don't see a reason to set a time without having an idea of who will be there.  I will personally be fairly flexible if needs be.  So, no, no exact time yet.


m1469 

[llamaman]

Well.......what if you want to do Schumann, we could do Scenes from Childhood.

What about Mussorgsky's Piactures at an Exposition?

[AvoidedCadence]

Hmm.... so far there are only three people signed up as participants.

I was going to mention that Schumann only wrote 7 romances, 6 in 2 opuses of 3 and 1 seperate.  They're not commonly heard works (I guess they're not virtuosic enough) although one which I have sightread (op 28 nr 2) is a gorgeous, moving work.  The only problem I can see is finding professional recordings of these pieces.

I personally don't have a problem with pretty much any rep chosen but I would prefer to do something as a self-contained work i.e. not a single variation taken from the Goldbergs.  Arguably, many of Schumann's small pieces are parts of sets but there is more freedom in their performance (witness the frequent use of Traumerai as an encore).  But, I mean, anything is OK with me.  Scarlatti sonatas... preludes... anything with enough intellectual content to be worth this kind of project, and small enough that it does not hurt my school repertoire.

Sign up, people!

[abell88]

Well, I'm definitely interested...but hesitant to sign up...I may come and lurk furtively in the corner, careful not to catch anyone's eye...

[pianistimo]

i'll talk about the brownies i made and eat them all so people feel like they are part of a live chat (background munching).

we want to hear what you will say about the schuman romances, mayla.  (pick the one in F  pick the one in F)  compare it to brahms.  were they having a duel to vie for clara's affections? or was it FLORISTAN?  tell us about floristan and eusebius.  who were they anyway?  tell us the secret message it contains  "i  love  you"  in german  " ich (c) lieb (e) oh, what's you? ok. that one might be in C major.  is there a romance in C major?  i love romance, mayla.  tell us about the latest romance novel you've read, too, and how it ties in...ok. 

ok.  sept 2nd.  sometime.  anytime.  we'll chat mayla.   my chat name at aim is PianonutP 
this will be the first time i have attempted this.  usually say i don't have time, which is the truth.  but, after the birthday party, i'll be free.

[m1469]

Okay, it seems that those of us who are doing the project work are happy enough with Schumann.  I am feeling more inclined toward the Scenes from childhood, as they are fairly accessible (perhaps) on several levels (recordings, scores, playability, information).  I think this can be a good place to start.  Now we just have to pick which one we would like to do.

I like your thoughts, AvoidedCadence, about us working on the same one.  So, since there are only three of us (so far), it might be a great opportunity to do that now.  We could still collect information on the set, but then something specific about the chosen work.  I think it would also be fun if we all learn it and record it, post it in the audition room, and we could talk about our own interpretations of the work with each other when we meet.  It's just an idea, but it could be similar to a studio class of sorts.   Of course we could all choose different ones from the same set, but doing the same one could be really interesting.

What do you think ?

Well, I'm definitely interested...but hesitant to sign up...I may come and lurk furtively in the corner, careful not to catch anyone's eye...

Okay, I have added you to the list, and I will be very careful not to look at you so I don't make you blush or anything.. he he

Pianistimo :

ok.  sept 2nd.  sometime.  anytime.  we'll chat mayla.  and, maybe wrestle a bit for ted.  my chat name at aim is PianonutP 
this will be the first time i have attempted this.

I have also added you to the list.  It will be great to have you around, and sure, let's wrestle for ted, he he.  Now, the actual chat will not be held on AIM, so we don't need your aim name.  It will be in our forum chatroom, you can just walk right in. 

The actual exact day and time have not yet been decided, but it will be sometime during the weekend of the 23rd-25th of September (3 weeks from now).  So, you have plenty of time to warm up to the idea  .



People are still welcome to sign up, but repertoire has been chosen as well as a general timeline.   So now it's just about specifics.


Cheers,

m1469 

[perfect_pitch]

I should be in for it. I hope to see you guys on the 23 to the 25... However I wonder about the Time Zone difference. I am +8 hours from Greenwich Mean Time. I wonder how that will work.

[llamaman]

I think I'm EST. I dunno though. Wherever (sp.?) Toronto is.

[m1469]

I should be in for it. I hope to see you guys on the 23 to the 25... However I wonder about the Time Zone difference. I am +8 hours from Greenwich Mean Time. I wonder how that will work.

Great !  I will add you too.  I am assuming you are wanting to do the project ?  As far as times workout, we will just see I suppose.  People don't have to give out your time zone (I'm not going to  ).  You can just relate everything to GMT time, if you would rather.   

(if you are not sure how that all works, have a look at this site which gives you GMT (also forum default time) and then at your clock and figure out the time difference.)

https://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/


Example :  "anytime between _____ and  _____ GMT would work for me" type thing.  OR you can just give your time zone if you please.



Okay, bye bye

m1469 

[m1469]

So, my continuing thoughts on this project are that we not only pick one piece to study, but that we pick at least two contrasting pieces out of the set.   

That's all...


*tough trucker-girl, transister radio voice*... "over"


m1469 

[practicingnow]

May I be included?  Sounds interesting and fun - thanks!

(Actually my girlfriend is learning this piece, so can you put us both down?)

[m1469]

Great Mr practicingnow, I will add you + girlfriend (is there a screen name, or do we want to just leave her as "girlfriend" ?)


Glad to have you two aboard 

m1469

[abell88]

I just bought a Schumann book that has the complete Kinderszenen -- has a piece been chosen?

[m1469]

.

[stevie]

a chat cant be any good without me in it 

mayla, you are randomly sexy.

[m1469]

a chat cant be any good without me in it 

Well, are you wanting to do the project, or what man ?  I will add you if that is so (note: we already have a topic of discussion  ).

mayla, you are randomly sexy.

oh 

[stevie]

i randomly prefer unscheduled impromptu random chats though, i randomly might not take p[art, or i randomly may.

[m1469]

i randomly prefer unscheduled impromptu random chats though, i randomly might not take p[art, or i randomly may.

Well, actually that's just great too !  Whatever you would like  .  I just couldn't tell for certain what you wanted and I wanted to include you if you wanted that.


m1469 

ps- there's a lot of "wanteds" in that 

[bernhard]

I would like to be there, but at the moment all I can give you is most definite maybe. (Nice topic).

(I am not sure yet if I will be free on the day)

[m1469]

Well, okay.  I will include you on the list as a maybe, but there is no obligation.  I have just thrown out a day and time (which would be my ideal) in that weekend to give people something to work with.  However, as I have said before, I personally can be quite flexible.


m1469 

[stevie]

so what about people that randomly want to come in?

whats the point in making a list?

mildly, to see if its worth doing or possibly barely true?

[m1469]

Well, I don't quite understand your question.  But, the point of making a list is for those who would like to commit to doing the project itself and the work that will entail.  I can do it on my own, but I thought it would be fun to do as a group project.  So, the list is especially for those whom have expressed an interest in doing the project.  I am not personally going to make a big deal about getting everything together by then if I have no idea if a single person would show up.  Then it would not be any kind of a group project.  But, anybody who wants can randomly show up and observe and ask pertinent questions. 

Otherwise, I am simply making a note of the people whom have expressed an interest in being included in some way.  ORGANIZATION  .


m1469

[stevie]

hmmmmm, so people come in and randomly ask questions and discuss these pieces?

i randomly like them, but not THAT much.

i still randomly fail to see the point of doing a chat as opposed to randomly making a thread about it.

it may be randomly possible to understand, but still i bairely comprehend the point.

anyway, what i use the chat for is random discussions about randomness, not serious discussions about randomly serious randomly not random stuff.

[m1469]

Well, stevie, if you don't see the point, then that's just fine.  I figure it is nice to use our resources, and in this case, we have a chat room on the forum.  I mean, why have a chat room at all when we could create a thread to talk about whatever ?  The interaction is different.  Why limit the chat room use to complete randomness ?  Why not have a topic, why not have something that people can work toward ?  If you don't want to come, that's okay.  But, what's the point of arguing about something you don't have to take any part in if you don't see the point and don't want to be a part of it ?  Be your own self stevie, it's just fine.  I am going to create a separate room for this topic, it will not interfere what-so-ever with normal chat.  So, what is your point, exactly ?

m1469

[stevie]

mayla, its a shame you couldnt hear the tone of my voice(well if i were talking), because i didnt mean to criticise anything, i was more asking what the point is than anything.

yes, the interaction will be different, so i kind of see your point, but this kind of orderly discussion intimidates me  because it is my nature to gravitate towards randomness.

obviously the random reference that could be made would be to say 'scenes of childhood?! , sounds like an illegal porn movie to me'

it is only my nature 

[m1469]

mayla, its a shame you couldnt hear the tone of my voice(well if i were talking), because i didnt mean to criticise anything, i was more asking what the point is than anything.

Okay, stevie.  The point is exactly, to talk in "live" chat about a specific subject.  It will of course have a life of it's own, especially if people have spent time with the pieces and time in some form of study.  But that is the point, in and of itself.

yes, the interaction will be different, so i kind of see your point, but this kind of orderly discussion intimidates me  because it is my nature to gravitate towards randomness.

stevie, it's okay.  This is not meant to exclude anybody, but, part of the point is a little more organization.  There can be a lot of freedom in that.  If you feel better about leaving all of your options open, that's perfectly acceptable.   Part of the point for me is to use this as an opportunity to stretch myself a little.  I will have some work to do to have anything intelligent to say about this topic.  I feel motivated to do the work when I think about meeting people in a chat.  Plain and simple, I want to grow and learn in a variety of ways.

obviously the random reference that could be made would be to say 'scenes of childhood?! , sounds like an illegal porn movie to me'

 

Well, in this case, it most definitely is not.  Unless of course, that's what Schumann intended  heh...

it is only my nature 

Well, sure, I suppose.  But, there is a lot to all of us, including you.  "A lifetime's worth" of exploration and discovery 


m1469

[stevie]

use this as an opportunity to stretch myself a little. 

of course, i can help with that 

i understand now, its more like a book club, where they go away for a week, read the book, then come together and discuss it in a random chat..

hmmm, im not sure if i can be bothered to research, i might just make random comments and try to remain on-topic, as much as i can

[llamaman]

Sorry I haven't relly been participating lately, I've been away. Could we change the time? I don't fancy staying up late, school has been getting to me. I'll take Dreaming and Catch me if you can. It might be difficult though. They are both 2 or 3 grades above my level.

[abell88]

Llamaman, aren't you in North America? 6 p.m. GMT is 1 p.m. Eastern...or do I have you confused with someone else (apologies if so)?

[m1469]

Sorry I haven't relly been participating lately, I've been away. Could we change the time? I don't fancy staying up late, school has been getting to me. I'll take Dreaming and Catch me if you can. It might be difficult though. They are both 2 or 3 grades above my level.

Llamaman, I checked your profile and it says you are from Canada.  Our start time would be between 11 am - 4 pm for you, depending on where you live.  So, you will not be staying up late and I think we will just be leaving the time as is.


m1469 

[m1469]

Well, I am a bit curious where in the *** everybody went to ?  C'mon peoples ! 

[stevie]

Well, I am a bit curious where in the *** everybody went to ?  C'mon peoples ! 

hahaha, which swear word did you use there? ill have to use my imagination

[abell88]

I'm interested...I've bought the music and played through the pieces, though haven't learned any of them...but an hour or two later would be better for me, as I teach Saturday morning.

[m1469]

I'm interested...I've bought the music and played through the pieces, though haven't learned any of them...but an hour or two later would be better for me, as I teach Saturday morning.

Well, Llamaman checked in, and I know he does not want to start too late ... though I am not too clear what time he was thinking was going to be too late.  But, let's move it an hour later, if you know that would work for you.  It doesn't make much difference for me.  So 7pm GMT.  Well, and, there is still plenty of time to learn something, if you would like 


m1469

[llamaman]

Sorry, I made a mistake! I went the wrong way calculating he time difference.

[bernhard]

I am truly sorry I couldn't make it. How did it go?

Next one?

[abell88]

It was fun...we got into the philosophy a bit, of how the title (we were dealing with m1469's posting of The Poet Speaks) could influence interpretation, and the legitimacy of a visual artist or dancer taking the music as inspiration for their art, but ignoring the title and basing their work on I guess what we could call the absolute music. 

And a very funny thing: someone asking, "m1469 do you really love this piece?" and when m1469 answered yes, they said something like, "Oh, then I guess I'll rephrase what I was going to say...but it doesn't sound like much to me. "

[llamaman]

OK, I'm gonna have to drop out. I'm overloaded with schoolwork. I'll still watch the procedings, but I'm not going to participate.

[pianistimo]

being that schumann was into a sort of fantasy world with his imaginary characters, did he ever (in his writings) explain some of his compositions?  it is interesting to read what they were trying to express vs. what we take away from it.  with some composers, it's like you almost think you know exactly what they were thinking.  not that it matters always because interpretation doesn't have to be literal.  it's just schumann had quite an imagination.  it's been awhile since i've read about him, but i do know that at certain times he was 'driven.'  sometimes i wonder if 'the poet' was not actually his known self to others, but perhaps an unknown side of himself (or not himself).

ps i was out on sat. and teaching a couple of lessons on sunday.  i had to prepare for the lessons before they arrived and afterwards was kinda tired.  it's harder when you teach out of your home, because you have to keep it clean.  the night before, i'm always panicking (what if they use the bathroom) so then i go and clean the house.  (reason for the rest of the tiredness). 

[pianistimo]

just googled a bit.

interesting points i found about using the words 'a poet speaks' vs 'the poet speaks.'  one poet believes that if you use the first wording, you wouldn't be speaking as a poet.  to me, this signifies that when one is in love (as schumann was to clara) that love itself dictates the poetry.  it is less an act of will, and more one of purposely allowing oneself to become overtaken by love. 

when schumann was finally able to marry clara a beautiful song cycle suddenly appeared.  it was entitled 'the heart of the poet.'  schumann used the poetry of heinrich heine, joseph von eichendorff, and also 11 poems (after marriage) by clara herself.  it must have worked magic on clara and probably others who later heard them. 

schumann seemed well aware of the effect that poetry had on people, on societies, on formation of ideas, but most of all - the direct connection it has with music.  www.barbwired.com/barbweb/pomes/poetmusic.html

just some random musings!  susan

[pianistimo]

if love was a bird

if love was a bird
it would fly away and come back

if love was a bird
it would always have a sweet melody

if love was a bird
it would warble with contentment

if love was a bird
it would follow you everywhere

if love was a bird
it would be soft and fluffy

if love was a bird
it would have a nest for you high in a tree

if love was a bird
even if you fell out of the nest, you'd be ok (unless you broke your neck)

if love was a bird
there'd be heaven to fly to

but, if a bird was love
it would be a canary or a dove.

original poem by pianistimo

[m1469]

I am truly sorry I couldn't make it. How did it go?

Next one?

I thought it was quite interesting.  Just doing some research on the set of pieces, and a little bit more on Schumann himself, really helped me to gain a deeper perspective than I had previously had.  Abell, stevie, arleihn and I had some interesting conversations, mostly concerning interpretation.  It was fun for me to have come together with a kind of mixed group of thinking.  A couple of us had recently read books and we discussed some specific aspects brought out by those books.  Other points were brought up by people who may have had previous knowledge, and then there was indeed a little bit of randomness.  I definitely would like to do something like that again, possibly each month, and will be thinking about what could be next.  Thanks for asking


m1469

[m1469]

being that schumann was into a sort of fantasy world with his imaginary characters, did he ever (in his writings) explain some of his compositions?  it is interesting to read what they were trying to express vs. what we take away from it.  with some composers, it's like you almost think you know exactly what they were thinking.  not that it matters always because interpretation doesn't have to be literal.  it's just schumann had quite an imagination.  it's been awhile since i've read about him, but i do know that at certain times he was 'driven.'  sometimes i wonder if 'the poet' was not actually his known self to others, but perhaps an unknown side of himself (or not himself).

ps i was out on sat. and teaching a couple of lessons on sunday.  i had to prepare for the lessons before they arrived and afterwards was kinda tired.  it's harder when you teach out of your home, because you have to keep it clean.  the night before, i'm always panicking (what if they use the bathroom) so then i go and clean the house.  (reason for the rest of the tiredness). 

pianistimo, thank you for your thoughts.  One thing that I learned while digging a little deeper into this set is that I am actually quite fascinated by them.  I also realized that I might have a crush on Schumann    (please don't tell him  ).  But, I definitely saw that there is a wealth to them which reflect a wealthy spirit in this man.  There are layers.  It definitely caught my interest enough to continue learning as much as I can about these works and I have become more interested in Schumann's works altogether.  So, I appreciate your continuations here.


m1469

ps-  I really like your poem