To Alistair Hinton: A Request

[dnephi]

How much would it cost us to have you to write a set of 3 etudes (Fast, Slow, and Fast) of fairly high difficulty, or approximately that of the Chopin Etudes, with a total performance time of between 5 and 10 minutes?

I'm quite interested in your response, and still quitting pianostreet.

Daniel

[ahinton]

How much would it cost us to have you to write a set of 3 etudes (Fast, Slow, and Fast) of fairly high difficulty, or approximately that of the Chopin Etudes, with a total performance time of between 5 and 10 minutes?

I'm quite interested in your response, and still quitting pianostreet.

Daniel

Thank you for your kind enquiry.

As such a commission would not be a public matter - and especially as you are quitting this forum in any case - please send your request to me at sorabji-archive@lineone.net and I will answer you personally.

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

I would also be interested in such a thing

[ahinton]

I would also be interested in such a thing

Thank you very much! Well - let's see what may happen. As long as no one expects anything as fine as those Chopin études (which would be impossible unless pianistimo or someone could actually bring back the real Chopin to write some more!), then that could be OK...

Best,

Alistair

[maul]

I'd much rather see Rob perform this task. Ahinton has only a sliver of the talent and creativity that is rob47.

Oh, you thought I was kidding? I'm not. Hinton... just... isn't good. Period.

[shortyshort]

I'd much rather see Rob perform this task. Ahinton has only a sliver of the talent and creativity that is rob47.

Oh, you thought I was kidding? I'm not. Hinton... just... isn't good. Period.

It is indeed very funny. 

But, I would not want to listen to it more than 100 times. 

It would then get boring. 

[ahinton]

I'd much rather see Rob perform this task.

Well, what you may or may not see, or prefer to see, is your own affair, of course. If you do indeed want to see rob perform the task to which you appear to refer, then you'll have to approach him about that; it's obviously less than nothing to do with me.

Ahinton has only a sliver of the talent and creativity that is rob47.

Does anything in particular suggest to you that I might even want to have that much of the particular kind of talent to which you refer?

Oh, you thought I was kidding?

I don't know to whom you might be addressing that, but I personally could not care less whether or not you may have been "kidding" - and I thought nothing at all about what you were doing, as it happens...

I'm not.

You're certainly not something, that's for sure.

Hinton... just... isn't good.

At what? Humoring you? Well, no, that would be true. But then that was probably not what you meant. But then since you've not indicated what you did mean (if anything), then we need not concern ourselves about it, need we?...

Period.

Having one of those, are you? I can't say that I'm especially surprised, but don't worry - it doesn't usually last long...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

It is indeed very funny. 

But, I would not want to listen to it more than 100 times. 

It would then get boring. 

Might this admission be taken as suggesting that your attention span is shortyshort? - or should we give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you'd actually get bored by this specifically because it might actually be boring?...

No need to answer that...

Best,

Alistair

[shortyshort]

No need to answer that...

OK. 

[shortyshort]

No need to answer that...

Changed my mind. 

Might this admission be taken as suggesting that your attention span is shortyshort? - or should we give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you'd actually get bored by this specifically because it might actually be boring?...

It was a bit boring at the beginning, the end tailed off a little soon, and the less said about the middle the better. 

But the lyrics are great. 

[retrouvailles]

I, for one, would love to hear or see this potential composition by Alistair. After hearing his Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Grieg (which I have praised in the past many times) I am anxious for more piano works.

[cherub_rocker1979]

I read Mr. Hinton's chapter in Sorabji's biography and I must say, he has had some fascinating life experiences.

[ahinton]

Changed my mind. 

As Sorabji used to say, the best thing about changing one's mind is having a mind to change in the first place...

It was a bit boring at the beginning, the end tailed off a little soon, and the less said about the middle the better. 

But the lyrics are great. 

Well, at least that's a critique of sorts; let us hope that the composer of all those sonatinas (a veritable Scarlattian total, if the number 666 is to be believed) appreciates your assessment of his work. One may (or may not) wonder what all the others are like...

I rather think that we might have differing views about what constitues "lyrics", but it wouldn't do for us all to be the same, now, would it?!...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

I, for one, would love to hear or see this potential composition by Alistair. After hearing his Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Grieg (which I have praised in the past many times) I am anxious for more piano works.

Thank you. There have already been a few more piano works since that one (which seems a long time ago now!). There are two sonatas (nos. 4 & 5); 4 was premièred by Carlo Grante and played most recently by Jonathan Powell but 5 has not been performed yet. There's a set of six little pieces written for a young student; Scottish Ballad (commissioned and first performed by Ronald Stevenson); a contribution to A New Hexameron (six very short pieces by as many composers, again commissioned and played by Stevenson) entitled Fantasia Crittogrammatica (the title almost as long as the piece!); a Rakhmaninov song transcription, Vocalise-Reminiscenza (also after Rakhmaninov, written for and premièred by Donna Amato who'd recorded the Grieg Variations), a 90-minute tribute to Sorabji entitled Sequentia Claviensis (premièred by Jonathan Powell just over a year ago), a cadenza for Medtner's Third Piano Concerto and, most recently, a set of Sieben Charakterstücke which opens with a piece called Doktor Busoni and includes an Étude for Elliott (as a tribute to Elliott Carter).

So, although I am not a pianist, I suppose that, over the years, I've concentrated more energies on the piano that any other medium and there are several other works that include it (two pieces for euphonium and piano, a cello sonata, some songs and Variations for Piano and Orchestra, for example). Details are at www.sorabji-archive.co.uk.

Best,

Alistair

[pies]

Hinton, do you have any samples of your piano music online?  I'd like to listen.

[ahinton]

Hinton, do you have any samples of your piano music online?  I'd like to listen.

The name's Alistair - and I think that there might be a few tiny extracts out there (Amazon, possibly) but I can't remember exactly where they are; someone here might have encountered one or two so may come forward with more information than I have to hand. Sorry not to be more helpful! There are just three of my works recorded on CD so far (albeit quite large ones), but only one of them is for piano.

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

I'm curious to know more about that cadenza for Medtner's 3rd piano concerto? Where is it placed at? And why a cadenza for that concerto? I'm very curious to know your intent with it. I love the concerto, by the way.

[ahinton]

I'm curious to know more about that cadenza for Medtner's 3rd piano concerto? Where is it placed at? And why a cadenza for that concerto? I'm very curious to know your intent with it. I love the concerto, by the way.

I wrote it because I was asked to and I must admit that my initial response was one of grave misgivings in that I felt that the piece hardly needed one, really, but it worked out in the end - it's placed between the latter two movements.

Best,

Alistair

[richard black]

although I am not a pianist

Note to the world - he is, actually, but isn't keen to boast about it.

How many pianos in your house, Alistair?

[shortyshort]

Note to the world - he is, actually, but isn't keen to boast about it.

How many pianos in your house, Alistair?

They must be small if he keeps them all in his closet. 

[ahinton]

Note to the world - he is, actually, but isn't keen to boast about it.

How many pianos in your house, Alistair?

In order of presentation - no, I'm really not a pianist, sadly, for all that I much appreciate your kind compliment, so I have nothing in that department about which to boast! I can (or at least used to be able to) get around the 97 (88 to most of you! - but no, sadly, I do not possess a Bösendorfer 290) keys after no real fashion at all, but the point is that, just because I cannot actually do things at the piano that matter, I've nevertheless wanted for almost all my professional life to do them at the composer's distance, since the piano is so important to me, so I've tried to learn as much as I can about how the real pianist/composers did it so that I can somehow tap into tht resource from the composer's standpoint. It hasn't been at all easy, but who cares about that? I don't! There are times when I do wish that I could be a real pianist, but I don't get too worked up about it...

There are two pianos in my house now - a small 1928 Mason & Hamlin grand, beautifully refurbished, that I bought in 1981 just a couple of miles from where I now live  - and an 1896 Steinway B that belonged to Sorabji and which is now in rather desperate need of the kind of complete refurbishment that I cannot presently afford but which is nevertheless in sufficiently good condition to warrant that expenditure if I could manage it.

Best,

Alistair

[shortyshort]

There are times when I do wish that I could be a real pianist

I also wish that. 

Nice post Alistair. 

Cheers,

shorty

[ahinton]

They must be small if he keeps them all in his closet.  

You will perhaps by now have read my previous post and, for clarification, I can confirm that the Mason & Hamlin is in a room on one level and the Steinway in a slightly larger room immediately beneath it. Putting a piano in a closet sees to me a bizarre idea on the face of it - or at least it might do were it not for the (possibly apocryphal and I wish I could find the source!) remark attributed to the occasionally wonderfully abrasive Chopin that musical performance seemed to be such a necessity in the grand English houses of his day that it was not unimaginable that people might eventually install pianos in those "smallest rooms" - but I can assure you and anyone else here that might be interested that the rooms in my house that are devoted to certain plumbing necessities contain appropriate sanitary ware but no pianos...

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

I'd much rather see Rob perform this task. Ahinton has only a sliver of the talent and creativity that is rob47.

Oh, you thought I was kidding? I'm not. Hinton... just... isn't good. Period.

This kind of post is exactly what has come to characterize this forum for some time now.

Alistair Hiniton needs no defense from me, and, in any case, can take very good care of himself.  What I am addressing is the unnecessary nastiness of this comment and the ones that follow in the same vein.  They are not amusing.  They are adolescent, cheap shots taken by the posters for no other reason than to belittle someone else in order to feel better about themselves.

I can't imagine anyone speaking this way to Alistair if they were in his presence.  It's uncivilized in its cruelty and crudeness. No one in a public space would tolerate this kind of behavior.  So is it that the internet -- and its anonymity -- gives people carte blanche to behave like fascist bullies?

I wish Nils would moderate this site more to eliminate this kind of crap.

In the meantime, knock it off, will you?  Go act out someplace else. 

[mephisto]

I agree with you 100 %.

[shortyshort]

I can't imagine anyone speaking this way to Alistair if they were in his presence.  It's uncivilized in its cruelty and crudeness. No one in a public space would tolerate this kind of behavior. 

And does Mr. Hinton behave that way in public. 

Does he go around listening to other peoples conversations and correcting them?? 

He probably does. 

In the meantime, knock it off, will you?  Go act out someplace else. 

sorry, and you are.......?? ?? ??

[general disarray]

And does Mr. Hinton behave that way in public. 

Does he go around listening to other peoples conversations and correcting them?? 

He probably does. 

sorry, and you are.......?? ?? ??

You can drop the pose of being someone who just wants to have a "little fun" on this forum.  You have a history of going for the jugular.  First, it was the pianist with the music camp whose biggest crime was self-advertisement.

Now it seems to be Alistair, whose crime is correcting grammar and typos -- a practice that hardly approaches in viciousness statements in this thread describing AH as an inferior composer or those that cutely hint that his pianos are housed in a "closet."  What's that about?  A barely disguised attempt to "out" a man who is neither gay nor homophobic?  Where does that place you with your silly hints at "closetedness?"  Is that your issue?

Who am I, you ask?  No one you'd be interested in since my big joy in life, unlike yours, is not enjoying the humiliation others.   

[shortyshort]

First, it was the pianist with the music camp whose biggest crime was self-advertisement.

You don't appear to be as new to this forum as your post count claims. 

I hope you realise that you can get "BANNED" for having two accounts pianistimo. 

[ahinton]

You don't appear to be as new to this forum as your post count claims. 

Can a "post count" claim anything?...

I hope you realise that you can get "BANNED" for having two accounts pianistimo. 

But can one get banned - sorry, "BANNED" - for having two entirely distinct writing styles? (or maybe you didn't notice that...)

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

You don't appear to be as new to this forum as your post count claims. 

Post counts mean nothing.  In fact, I've lurked here for almost 2 years, signing up only recently.  You only seem to be proof that participation is not such a desirable option.

[maul]

*cry*

[ahinton]

*cry*

Are you referring here to the choral work of that title by the English composer Giles Swayne (b.1946)? If so - or, indeed, even if not - your meaning is far from clear (although, on the strength of certain of your previous posts, perhaps that's for the best)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

of

Are you referring here to the famous opera by Rossini?

Thal

[avetma]

Are you referring here to the famous opera by Rossini?

Thal

 

[ahinton]

Are you referring here to the famous opera by Rossini?

Thal

No - and I'm not sure which of his many operas you're referring to here; if, for example, you meant The Barber of Seville (to use the usual English translation of the original title), the word "of" is but part of it, whereas "Cry" is the whole of the title of Swayne's piece. But then perhaps you meant something else altogether, in which case no doubt you'll enlighten us as so often you do! (although I confer upon you no obligation to do so before you partake of your Sunday roast...)

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

buuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpppp

Roast finished, washed down with 4 pints of guiness.

Thal

PS hic

[ahinton]

buuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpppp

Roast finished, washed down with 4 pints of guiness.

Thal

PS hic

Then it's no small wonder that you're suffering from a certain amount of indigestion; had your lunch only been "washed down" with a glass or four of decent wine, that would almost certainly not have occurred (OK, I know that I simply cannot stand Guinness at any price or time in any case, but my point is that the stuff is simply not tbe best complement to any kind of food).

Anyway, you didn't respond re the Rossini...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Anyway, you didn't respond re the Rossini...

That is correct

[ahinton]

That is correct

It is indeed, but, since you raised the topic, do you not owe - or would you not like to give - interested members some kind of explanation?

Best,

Alistair

[schubertiad]

To general disarray: In order to survive on this forum it is necessary to filter through the numerous sociopaths who lurk around the forum. With a bit of practice your brain can pretty much convince itself that these people don't exist. I have now read through so many truly idiotic posts from the same lunatics that my mouse hand unconsciously scrolls down the moment i see their name by a message. In this way it is possible to discuss things with others who are genuinely interested in discourse and giving advice without having to slit your wrists every five minutes.

[ahinton]

To general disarray: In order to survive on this forum it is necessary to filter through the numerous sociopaths who lurk around the forum. With a bit of practice your brain can pretty much convince itself that these people don't exist. I have now read through so many truly idiotic posts from the same lunatics that my mouse hand unconsciously scrolls down the moment i see their name by a message. In this way it is possible to discuss things with others who are genuinely interested in discourse and giving advice without having to slit your wrists every five minutes.

That's wise and practical advice borne of evident experience - but it is also worth noting (on this forum, at least) that such characters are pretty much in the minority of the membership as a whole, even though they may at times be disproportionately vocal...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

It is indeed, but, since you raised the topic, do you not owe - or would you not like to give - interested members some kind of explanation?

Best,

Alistair

No

[ahinton]

No

I take it that you mean "no" in either instance; in that case, why did you raise the subject of Rossini here in the first place? - or is your uncharacteristic taciturnity the direct result of a surfeit of Guinness?

Anyway, since you have raised it, here's a famous story which was originally about Rossini and took place in Paris in the 1860s, with names and location changed and the time brought forwrd to the present.

The curator/director of BITS (the British Institute for Thalberg Studies) espied a certain Scottish composer while strolling through St. James's Park and went up to him and said "I hear with delight that your string quintet is being revived soon!"; the composer replied "what? all of it?"...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Best,

Alistair
Best,

Alistair

Surfeit of wine?

[shortyshort]

Surfeit

Is that a posh word for bucket??

[thalbergmad]

Sounds like a medieval bucket.

[ahinton]

Surfeit of wine?

Not at all - and I suppose that I should really apologise for setting you up for that predictable response of yours (done it before, remember?!) - but it was certainly not a surfeit of Guinness...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Is that a posh word for bucket??

Go look it up and decide for yourself; in the meantime, I imagine that, for you, it's probably some kind of instruction to you to search something out on the internet so, if that's the case, you might care to look up the definintion of the word there...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Sounds like a medieval bucket.

What does? A surfeit? Oh, come now! You know what it means, do you not? And, if not, then let's simply substitute the words "unwarranted excess" and have done with it.

Anyway, rather than worrying about such things, why not just sober up and do what I've just done - listen to Leif Segerstam's recording of Allan Pettersson's Tenth Symphony, after which the only possible thing to do is scrape oneself off the wall...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

listen to Leif Segerstam's recording of Allan Pettersson's Tenth Symphony

No doubt i would need the bucket after that.

Thal