CD

[tds]

my debut cd ( march 2009 ) with this repertoire in it:

Handel Variations and Fugue Op. 25                  Brahms
  Variation I-XXV and Fugue


Pictures at an Exhibition                                  Mussorgsky
Promenade
  Gnomus
  Promenade
  Il Vecchio Castello
  Promenade
  Tuileries
  Bydlo
  Promenade
  Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells
  Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle
  The Marketplace at Limoges
  Catacombae, Sepulchrum Romanum
  Con Mortuis in Lingua Mortua
  The Hut on Fowl's Legs
  The Great Gate of Kiev

[db05]

I like the Mussourgsky. But I've only listened to the orchestrated version. Asked my (history) teacher about the repertoire, he says it's good. But I wouldn't take his word for it because he likes everything classical. 

[morningstar]

I just voted based on my thoughts about the originals lol. How can on get hold of a recording?

[tanman]

me has voted on.... good 

[concerto_love]

Hmm  I think it's good. I'll be looking for it  . I like that mussorgsky, but perhaps if u release our 2nd cd, I would like to hear u playing something from baroque-classical era or some common pieces from romantic era  . But it's perfect tds, good luck!

[tds]

folks, thanks for responding and giving supports. one of my close friends thinks its not so good. but my gut feeling says otherwise. i will wait a couple more days before i make it final. warmest, tds

[faulty_damper]

I've never been warm to the piano solo version of the Exhibition.  There is clearly a textural lacking which makes the presentation somewhat shallow.  What texture there is remains very monotonic.

I'm not fond of the Brahms' Variations, either.

[tds]

I've never been warm to the piano solo version of the Exhibition.  There is clearly a textural lacking which makes the presentation somewhat shallow.  What texture there is remains very monotonic.

I'm not fond of the Brahms' Variations, either.

yay..i enjoy reading this sort of opinion.

more from you people? fire away!

[tanman]

what about some Ravel? 

Everyone loves Ravel!

[tds]

what about some Ravel? 

Everyone loves Ravel!

yup sure, in later edition. all complete ravel's solo piano music.

[richard black]

I voted 'Bad'. Both those pieces have been recorded dozens of times, and both are better left for maturity anyway (I'm assuming you're young here). I would strongly recommend putting at least one piece on a debut disc that is either unrecorded, or very nearly so. If you intend to have the CD on sale in regular shops, be aware that shops HATE multi-composer discs unless the artist is ever so famous.

[tds]

I voted 'Bad'. Both those pieces have been recorded dozens of times, and both are better left for maturity anyway (I'm assuming you're young here). I would strongly recommend putting at least one piece on a debut disc that is either unrecorded, or very nearly so. If you intend to have the CD on sale in regular shops, be aware that shops HATE multi-composer discs unless the artist is ever so famous.

yay! thanks for ur opinion, richard.

come on people, y'all can do it..hah

[tanman]

yup sure, in later edition. all complete ravel's solo piano music.

 

ALL OF IT??
ME MUST GET IT ONCE IT'S OUT!!!

[tds]

ALL OF IT??
ME MUST GET IT ONCE IT'S OUT!!!

yeah, but not anytime soon!

[tds]

and why no one has voted "very bad"?



...haha..but having said that, i still think it's a good program . at least, i have a strong feeling towards those two works. and I KNOW my rendition will show some of my strengths ( and weaknesses, tho they will be minimized in the editing process ). i will post excerpts of my playing brahms handel, mussorgsky pictures ( and other works also ) as soon as i have the time.


and vote people, vote!

or type words. its fun. lol

[richard black]

thanks for ur opinion, richard.

A pleasure. Well, you did ask, mate!

[db05]

Sir tds! Watch this:

I think you should keep the Mussourgsky, and dump the Brahms for Ravel concerto.

[tanman]

yup sure, in later edition. all complete ravel's solo piano music.

what about the concertos?

[aewanko]

Whatever you do, do not dump the Brahms.

[tds]

what about the concertos?

no plan on recording them. but, i'll let you play them, ok? hey does guam have an orchestra? of course it does, of course! wait, does it? heh. if so, i can come over to conduct, n u be the soloist. hows dat?  

[tds]

Whatever you do, do not dump the Brahms.

i agree with you. haha.. u dah coolest u know

[db05]

no plan on recording them. but, i'll let you play them, ok? hey does guam have an orchestra? of course it does, of course! wait, does it? heh. if so, i can come over to conduct, n u be the soloist. hows dat?  

I wanna concerto with you!!

[tds]

I wanna concerto with you!!

what concerto would u like to play with me? talk to the board of the filipino's philharmonia orchestra ( is it the name? ) so we can perform together.. 

[db05]

what concerto would u like to play with me? talk to the board of the filipino's philharmonia orchestra ( is it the name? ) so we can perform together.. 

Right now there's just Metro Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. I'd like to start my own, will you be conductor? It will be called Spa Orchestra.

[tds]

Right now there's just Metro Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. I'd like to start my own, will you be conductor? It will be called Spa Orchestra.

hah go for it, girl!

[tanman]

no plan on recording them. but, i'll let you play them, ok? hey does guam have an orchestra? of course it does, of course! wait, does it? heh. if so, i can come over to conduct, n u be the soloist. hows dat?  

  

yes, Guam has an orchestra. 

Spa Orchestra.

 
great idea!
I wanna play ravel left hand concerto!!!

[tds]

brahms' handel variations n fugue. btw, piano is somehow difficult to play. middle to upper register is dull, no brilliance..

[tds]

I wanna play ravel left hand concerto!!!

r u a leftie?

[tds]

more brahms' handel

[tanman]

r u a leftie?

nope. but my mom and brother are. 

[tds]

nope. but my mom and brother are. 

tell them they are lucky

[communist]

Right now there's just Metro Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. I'd like to start my own, will you be conductor? It will be called Spa Orchestra.

can i be guest conductor 

[db05]

can i be guest conductor 

Sure! Spa-Oke!!

[mad_max2024]

I wanna play the cymbals

[imbetter]

I like both of the pieces but i dont necessarily like the idea of just two very long pieces.

[tds]

I like both of the pieces but i dont necessarily like the idea of just two very long pieces.

or maybe i can play em twice as fast

[db05]

I like both of the pieces but i dont necessarily like the idea of just two very long pieces.

or maybe i can play em twice as fast

I think he's suggesting to include short works. 

[tds]

I like both of the pieces but i dont necessarily like the idea of just two very long pieces.

I think he's suggesting to include short works. 

or another very long piece?

[tanman]

or another very long piece?

 
Miriors!!

[mad_max2024]

Throw in fur elise as a bonus track. 

[tds]

Miriors!!

or gaspard?

Throw in fur elise as a bonus track. 

funny fur elise used to be my favourite piece

[mike_lang]

I don't think we can vote until we hear it...

[tds]

I don't think we can vote until we hear it...

nice thought, but thats another issue. i was just thinking repertoire wise.

[arensky]

An impressive debut. The pieces are well matched, big epic 1860's/70's pieces, and from very different ends of the repertoire spectrum. I think it's a bit monolithic, it recalls the days of the LP when you could only fit so much on the vinyl. Since that's no longer a problem I think you should consider recording a shorter piece or two, something smaller and more intimate. The Schumann Arabesque or Blümenstuck immediately came to mind. Or you could keep it big and record a Chopin Ballade or Scherzo, Tchaikovsky's Dumka or branch out into the obscure, Liapunov or something like that. Just my two cents.

Both of them. 

[tds]

An impressive debut. The pieces are well matched, big epic 1860's/70's pieces, and from very different ends of the repertoire spectrum. I think it's a bit monolithic, it recalls the days of the LP when you could only fit so much on the vinyl. Since that's no longer a problem I think you should consider recording a shorter piece or two, something smaller and more intimate. The Schumann Arabesque or Blümenstuck immediately came to mind. Or you could keep it big and record a Chopin Ballade or Scherzo, Tchaikovsky's Dumka or branch out into the obscure, Liapunov or something like that. Just my two cents.

Both of them. 

thanks for ur input, arensky. u mean i need to add a shorter piece on? i understand what you mean. in fact, my original plan was to start with mompou's paisajes (a masterwork of mompou), before the two large works proceed. but again i thought "well then its no longer great halves". hmm...is it beyond all hopes to just have the brahms and mussorgsky?

[tds]

I wanna play the cymbals

are you sure you can play em? its been reported that some percussionists, tho having the right intention, at the right time, have missed clashing the cymbals. 

[mike_lang]

nice thought, but thats another issue. i was just thinking repertoire wise.

It's quite related, actually - we don't know what pieces you sound best in.  Such pieces are the ones that should appear on your début CD.  If you sound "excellent" in them, they are good for the recording...if you sound "very bad" in them, then they are not.

ML

[arensky]

thanks for ur input, arensky. u mean i need to add a shorter piece on? i understand what you mean. in fact, my original plan was to start with mompou's paisajes (a masterwork of mompou), before the two large works proceed. but again i thought "well then its no longer great halves". hmm...is it beyond all hopes to just have the brahms and mussorgsky?

If you want two big halves that's fine. I thought you could separate the two halves with something like the Schumann Arabesque (it sort of links the Brahms and Mussorgsky imo) or Mompou, if he's your bag. But it's not "beyond all hopes"  to just have the Brahms and Mussorgsky if that's what you want. It's your record, do what you want! 

[tds]

It's quite related, actually - we don't know what pieces you sound best in.  Such pieces are the ones that should appear on your début CD.  If you sound "excellent" in them, they are good for the recording...if you sound "very bad" in them, then they are not.

ML

of course it's the ideal to listen to the cd first and see if the repertoire fits the performer. but it is the case with every cd (or recital). no?

thing is cd has not been made and hence the existence of this thread. so let's deal with this fact in its limitations, and vote if you think it's possible to do so ( many people think it is ). i am sure you have noticed that repertoire section is full of this sort of questions.

and what i have done in trying to bridge the gap is to upload samples of my videos playing brahms handel. it took me 48 hours to upload it (internet connection is ghetto). they are here now, in case you have not noticed.

[faulty_damper]

In response to the video clips of Brahms Haendal variations:

It sounds like piano-playing, not music.  It was much too slow and the musical ideas were presented in a labored manner.  The listener shouldn't have to be subjected to a waiting period.  It's the same as someone speaking too slowly - the listener has time to anticipate what comes next.  That anticipation ruins the communication.  And annoyance sets in.

I was annoyed when I first listened to the second clip.  I was annoyed the next time I tried to listen it.  Then I played the first clip.  And again, it was too slow and I was annoyed.

The musical ideas in the Brahm's Variations isn't complex.  It's very simple but supported by a dense texture.  That density doesn't mean it should be played slower so that the listener has time to process the information.  Doing so just turns listening to music into listening to piano-playing.

While many pianists like to listen to piano-playing, probably because they selectively hear the notes (and not focus on the musical ideas), non-pianists do not listen with this kind of filter.  Most wouldn't care about how many notes there are or how impressive it is.  What they intuitively listen for are cohesive ideas.

The performance in the posted video clips do not present cohesive ideas.  Cohesive ideas bind together to form a whole that can be digested by the mind in such a manner that makes sense.  Your performance didn't make sense.  It sounded like it was droning on and on.  Give my ear a break.  No one likes to be nagged at.  And if the performances in your debut album is just like this, all you do is add more pollution into the vast sea of crap that continues to be issued.