Styx. A long Journey, reloaded.

[goldentone]

A great success, Wolfi!  The music in Styx affects me in a way that no other music has. 

[pianowolfi]

Hi wolfi,

Bravo!  And congratulations!  I watched/listened to the complete "Styx" cycle and thoroughly enjoyed it.  You played these pieces beautifully.  I believe that "Styx" is an important composition of our time.  You should be justly proud of this wonderful accomplishment.  While certainly the greatest impact is hearing the entire cycle, can you visualize pianists wishing to draw particular pieces from Styx to play one individually or a small group of three or so in a recital perhaps?  

I knew you play a Steinway B so expected it to be a Hamburg Steinway; but when I tuned in, I was surprised that you play a NY Steinway!  And it sounds great.  Often Europeans prefer the brighter purity of the fundamental tones of the Hamburg model, while Americans are more used to the more woolly sound with the complexity of overtones found in the NY Steinway. I would bet that there is a story behind your piano.

Again, well done!

David  

Hi David, thank you very much for your comments! It means a lot, coming from such an experienced pianist like you! Yes I actually prefer the sound of the NY Steinway for my music, and for Rachmaninoff! I wouldn't mind having a Hamburg too, though! And a Bösi Imperial would be really great for Dies Irae and Styx, the additional bass notes would definitely come in handy!

Yes I can well imagine pianists playing single pieces or selections from the program. I do it myself as well, occasionally. One of my favorite selections, which is also very good as a teaser for prospective listeners: Da nobis Pacem, Butterflies, Sunset Suite.

[pianowolfi]

A great success, Wolfi!  The music in Styx affects me in a way that no other music has.  

Hi Goldy, you are very nice! I think actually, in all humility of course, that you're not the only one in this

I have created two "highlights" of the stream (Means I have cut the breaks and talking and testing and such in the beginning and at the end of the parts)

Part 1: https://de.justin.tv/pianowolfi/b/292562679
Part 2: https://de.justin.tv/pianowolfi/b/292564041

[rob47]

pianowolfi i listened to the fist 5 parts yesterday and really enjoyed them!

congratulations! sorry i can't leave a better response i've been up all night and am a bit out of it lol

i'll def listen to more when i'm more alert

[pianowolfi]

Hi Rob, thank you! nice to see you here! haha I'm also a bit out of it today, I think I'll keep chilling all day long

[scottmcc]

wolfi, I seem to have missed the window to hear the "live" stream and I can't get the justintv thing to work at all, although my internet connection could possibly be at least in part to blame.

I haven't gotten a chance to listen to the entire suite, but the movements which I have listened to have all been a delight.  I must confess that at first when I saw the title I thought this was some tribute to the rock band of the same name, but clearly this is not the case. 

anyway, thank you for presenting these beautiful works, and keep up the good work!

[pianowolfi]

Hi scottmcc, thank you for listening and for your comments ! Maybe Rachfan's suggestion to update the flash player works also for justin.tv.

I know that there is a Rock band of this name. I learned it after I had played the draft of this piece and searched on google. As far as I know, it's a good one, I think of that famous song "boat on the river" which I had always liked, but never knew that the band "styx" was performing it! But I don't intend to evoke a link between my main piece and this particular band. I am referring to that mythological river between life and death, as they do as well I guess, but in all probability I'm coming from a different approach.

[littletune]

Hi Wolfi! I listened to your whole concert and it's sooooooo cool! I really loved it!!   

Oh I really want to post a picture of the sunset here, I don't know why I just think it goes kinda well with your music... I hope you don't mind! 

[pianowolfi]

How beautiful! The Mediterranian Sea has it's own magic, for sure!
I also saw your other pictures in the picture thread
 
I am happy that you liked the concert! Now it seems already so long ago...a footstep on the path. I think I'll play the program again live in a public concert next March. Still a lot to work on

[krystellle]

For some reason I can't get any volume.  I turned it up to maximum and I can barely hear tinkling!  I heard some excerpts that weren't from the live streaming, though.  I like your music very very much.

[pianowolfi]

Hi Krystellle, thank you!
I'd recommend to use headphones or stereo speakers, not the speakers from the laptop, those don't work with me either. The output of the inbuilt speakers is often way too weak. 

[littletune]

Yes that's true I have to use headphones too otherwise I wouldn't hear anything! I can't listen to almost anything on my laptop without headphones! But with headphones is cool! 

[m1469]

I think I'll play the program again live in a public concert next March.

I'm looking forward to it already!  Oh, I just realized that it probably doesn't mean live stream ...  

[pianowolfi]

If possible, I'll do a live stream too, then. But I'm sure I'll do another one before that.

[m1469]

If possible, I'll do a live stream too, then. But I'm sure I'll do another one before that.

Goody .  Please keep us/me posted on these matters!

[pianowolfi]

Goody .  Please keep us/me posted on these matters!

Yes I'll keep you posted
Since a few days my program "centuries" keeps audibly knocking on my door and asks for a severe re-configuration....  
 

[furtwaengler]

I'm FINALLY able to sit at the computer and listen to this. I'm so sorry I missed the live stream. Of all the things I've gained in joining this community, it can hardly be overstated how great is the influence of this one mind, Pianowolfi - in some ways Rachmaninov reincarnate and beyond. Who has done this? It's inspiring. I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the journey. 

[pianowolfi]

Hi Furtwängler, I think you won't really miss anything as long as I'm alive because the next live stream will come for sure, and because I'm always unsatisfied and always reworking things. I hope you will not be disappointed as you listen now because, well, I had to do some changes, to get the overall structure more clear... It was badly necessary. And now, as I'm practicing on, and memorizing, I still think I could go deeper and deeper into it

[pianoplayjl]

Sorry for bringing this up again but really, I like this piano suite! I enjoyed it very much and provided me something to hear since I've been listening to Rach 3 2-3X every day. I hope this piece sets the standard for composition in pianostreet!

[pianowolfi]

I don't think that digging up audition room recordings is bad at all, it's different from digging up year old threads with years old questions where the thread starter has left years ago!
I am actually grateful and at some point I'd myself revived this thread, for instance if I had a new recording from the program I am not content with the "Styx" and "Sunrise" mp3 recordings in here, I'll replace them at some point. "Sunrise" is way too fast.

I have noticed frequently that this music appeals to young people and I am happy about it

I don't intend to set standards though, I think Styx is something very individual and I'd encourage other composers to be highly individual too

[pianowolfi]

Live performance for m1469, July 24th 2012 in Italy.

The piano is quite out of tune and the sound in the practice room isn't that great either, plus I didn't have really enough time to prepare it up to the ideal standard, but nevertheless, I actually like the interpretation and I feel like this was a very important step in the still ongoing development of this program.

And it was super duper fun to play it live for the dedicatee

[m1469]

Live performance for m1469, July 24th 2012 in Italy.

The piano is quite out of tune and the sound in the practice room isn't that great either, plus I didn't have really enough time to prepare it up to the ideal standard, but nevertheless, I actually like the interpretation and I feel like this was a very important step in the still ongoing development of this program.

And it was super duper fun to play it live for the dedicatee

I appreciate that you played this program for me while I was there, and that you are willing to share your work with others.  I enjoy recordings, but there is something very different about live performances, and it was a whole different experience for me to be listening and watching you play, in person.  I, often actually, have Da nobis pacem streaming in my mind; it's beautiful . 

[pianowolfi]

Thank you so much! To me it was different from the recordings and the live stream, too! I felt mainly fully concentrated and present at this very moment, not even having any time to get nervous (but before that, walking to the festival hall, I was actually quite nervous! ).