Piano Street Competition - Round 1

[ajspiano]

ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED - we have reached the 15 entrants limit.

Hello Piano Street –

Welcome to our first (is it? I don’t know) forum competition.

If you want the back story, please consider reading this lengthy thread. If not, please just read below.

This will be a publically judged (voted on) piano competition. Entry is FREE, despite the discussions in the earlier thread – However it is limited to 15 entrants. First in best dressed, or for those that have a different culture to me.. Whoever puts their name up first gets to be involved.  I will edit this post at a later date to confirm the line up. Please reply to this post to confirm your desire to be involved.

For this round at least there is no restrictions on entry by level of experience or background. Anyone of any standard is welcome... This is just for fun, no being over serious. If this runs again, and grouping by level is required - such as we have enough people at any level to do a "level x" category - we will do so then.

CONFIRMED ENTRANTS
unholeee
Chapplin
rachmaninoff_forever
chopin2015
m1469
littletune
j_menz
johnmar78
fleetfingers
Costanza (costicina)
keypeg
cpessimist
starstruck5
andreslr6
black_keys

........................................................

Basic Rules.

Contestants must submit a recording (preferably video on youtube) to me by January 1st 2013 of their performance of the fixed piece. Please do not post it publically at any old time, send it to me – the performances will all be made available simultaneously at the commencement of voting.

Contestants may also (if they wish) submit a performance of a work of their own choice (conditions apply). Same rules go as for the fixed piece.. Jan 1 submission, preferably youtube video etc.

Entry closes once there are 15 forum members in.. or 12:00 midnight, Jan 1st, 2013. 

Repertoire

Fixed work –
The fixed piece for this round is Tchaikovsky Op. 39 No. 21 (ABRSM Grade 5)

You can listen here - YOUtooob
You can get a score here - IMSLP direct link
There is a thread to discuss learning the work - click here to see the thread

Own choice work –
Any work listed on the pianostreet list graded 3-7 - (go here)

Voting –

Voting on the performances will be open to the entire forum for two weeks at the beginning of next year. The exact details of how to do this will be made know at that time.
There will be separate voting for the fixed work and the own choice work, I will name a winner for each separately as well as the overall.

Judging

While the "winners" will be decided by voting, everyone is encouraged to make actual constructive comments about each others playing (this is a learning experience) - ..and, in the name of learning I'm hoping to have the event properly judged by someone who is pretty switched on. This will either be one of our willing and senior members or whoever I can contact outside that is happy to help.


Prizes

So far, a small piece of my own personal history. Because I'm that interesting. (sarcasm - I'm not that arrogant)

You can see how this prize came to be by reading this thread from here..
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=48660.msg529931#msg529931




...................

The content of this post will remain subject to minor changes.. However the bulk of it should stay pretty much as is...  Assuming you piafanatics actually get into it.

[unholeee]

sounds good - confirming

[perfect_pitch]

You know what... I'd like to be part of this if possible. I don't know if it's unfair to ask due to some of the repertoire I've handled in the past - but I'd like to try and take a piece of music I've never played before and master it. I was interested recently on trying to really perform the more well known pieces (Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata etc...)

Let me know if I'm allowed to enter... If not, I'd be happy to be a judge...   

[ajspiano]

buy cheap quality high china good! we hard work to you!

I though your account had been hacked for a second there..

[ajspiano]

You know what... I'd like to be part of this if possible. I don't know if it's unfair to ask due to some of the repertoire I've handled in the past

I don't want this to act as a deterrent to anyone less experienced, but I know that quite a few of the people that have expressed an interest have dipped into (or jumped head first) dipABRSM and/or LRSM material. I've added you to the list.

Its not like its a big deal with a big prize and people have anything at stake..  other than their credibility in performance board technique threads.

[49410enrique]

[

I though your account had been hacked for a second there..

nah, sure sign of that would be productive, relevant, well written (with use of capital letters), posts....

but to stay somewhat relevant, and at least get one out of three, here's a pretty decent standard pdf of jury/competition judging sheets. might be really helpful for entrants to know what is judged and judges to have a standard form to use when assessing. maybe don't have to use this one per say (but it is pretty good out of what else is floating out and about). you can also use this as a template for a legit pianostreet judging form.

the piano solo one is page 8 / 12 I belive.

sorry for the 'extra' categories I could not split it this morning.

i'll stop clogging up the actual competiton thread now but I responded with this here since it seemd pretty relevant.   


*flies away...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I'm in.

[chopin2015]

confirmed

[m1469]

I'm in!

[littletune]

I'm in too!!!   this is sooo cool!! I have never been in a piano competition and I never really thought I would ever be!   
Also Aj thanks for putting me in the list of people with first preference, I got worried first I might be too late cause I didn't have any time today till now. 

[ajspiano]

So thats 6 in! great, that was kind of my minimum..  I will open a thread to discuss the tchaikovsky very soon.

Entry of course remains open..

If you intend to present an own choice, can you please name it as soon as possible..  you can obviously take some time to decide if you like, however maybe we can know whats going to happen by the start of december? ..at least for those that have already confirmed.


Enrique, thanks for posting the judges form. This is really great. I think even if we don't actually use it (publicizing marks and all) this should be a great template to help people with what to look for and how to rank a whole series of performances with some level of reason rather than just I'm voting for this one because its my favorite, especially in regard to how to rank the own choice section where we will be comparing different works.

[littletune]

I think i will play one more piece. And I'm sure I'll know till the beginning of December... I am deciding between Beethoven Sonatina no.5 (G Major) and Chopin: Waltz - opus posth. (a minor). I just have to see how good I'll be at learning them. 

[j_menz]

Sign me up. Not a fan of Tschaikovsky on piano, but I did ask for it.

[ajspiano]

Not a fan of Tschaikovsky on piano, but I did ask for it.

we can do a fugue another time, but we'll have to give rach_forever a head start..

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I haven't played Tchaikovsky before, but I like his music.

So this should be fun. 

As for the second piece...  I'll just play something from my romp of repertoire.

[j_menz]

we can do a fugue another time, but we'll have to give rach_forever a head start..

I've checked the list for the "choice" piece:

Bach 3 fugues (and 2 fughettas); Handel 4 fugues; Mendelsohn 4 fugues; Pachelbel 1 canon; Scarlatti 1 fugue; Schumann (Bobby) 1 fugue (and 2 canons and 6 fughettas); Schumann (Clara) 3 fugues.

There seems to be a bit to start with.... 

[j_menz]

my romp of repertoire.

 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

we can do a fugue another time, but we'll have to give rach_forever a head start..

Hey fugues aren't the problem, BACH is the problem!   


Sorry for the late response J Menz, but the other fugue I've played was the one by Lady Gaga.

Not a Bach fugue, but it's still a fugue!   

[j_menz]

Not a Bach fugue, but it's still a fugue!   

Indeed it is, but I'll bet you you have never played it.  Maybe we should both do it as our "chosen" piece. Will need dispensation from AJ as not on the official list.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Indeed it is, but I'll bet you you have never played it.  

What the heck?!  Why not?  You believe everything else I say.

And I'm not gonna do it as my chosen piece because you would probably play it better than me.  I mean...  Come on, you're a professional pianist.

I'm either gonna do a Shubert moment musical, a piece called Elfentanz by some composer, or a Chopin Nocturne,

[j_menz]

What the heck?!  Why not?  You believe everything else I say.

Of course I do. 

Actually, I was planning on doing Robert Schumann's Op 68 No 21, just because it's the same number in the set that inspired the Tschaikovsky set. Seems a bit short, though. Maybe I'll just play it reallllllllly slooooooowly. 

I now have the music for the Lady GagGa fugue, though, if ever you change your mind. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Of course I do. 

I keep telling you, it's Bach that's difficult.  Not the fugue. 

I also wonder if playing something like Petrouchka REALLY slowly would count as a grade 4-7 piece.

[j_menz]

I keep telling you, it's Bach that's difficult.  Not the fugue.  

Until you have played one by someone else, that is pure speculation on your part. I have, and believe you to be wrong.

I also wonder if playing something like Petrouchka REALLY slowly would count as a grade 4-7 piece.

There are 1254 pieces on the list; Petrouchka is not among them, however slowly you play it.

I'm either gonna do a Shubert moment musical, a piece called Elfentanz by some composer, or a Chopin Nocturne,

Don't do the Schubert until you can spell his name. And, unless you have a cellist lined up, I believe the "some composer" is Edvard Grieg.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Until you have played one by someone else, that is pure speculation on your part. I have, and believe you to be wrong.

*cough* lady gaga *cough*.  

I've played two preludes and one fugue by Bach and I thought the Lady Gaga was easier than all three of them.

[j_menz]

*cough* lady gaga *cough*.  

I've played two preludes and one fugue by Bach and I thought the Lady Gaga was easier than all three of them.

For you:



For me:

[ajspiano]

*cough* lady gaga *cough*.   

OK, she certainly didn't fugue-o-late the subject, and as a co-writer of the song she may not have even written the subject...   and she wears meat.

Its possibly a wrongly credited arrangement of a shock artist song, it doesn't count.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

OK, she certainly didn't fugue-o-late the subject, and as a co-writer of the song she may not have even written the subject...   and she wears meat.

Its possibly a wrongly credited arrangement of a shock artist song, it doesn't count.

Hey man, a fugue is still a fugue.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

For you:

They taste sooooooo bad!!!  Blegh!

[j_menz]

OK, she certainly didn't fugue-o-late the subject, and as a co-writer of the song she may not have even written the subject...   and she wears meat.

Its possibly a wrongly credited arrangement of a shock artist song, it doesn't count.

It's actually by a chap called Giovanni Dettori who uses pop songs to demonstrate counterpoint; he's a serious composer and the work is published by Hal Leonard.

You might find his website informative/interesting:

https://www.giovannidettori.com/composer.html

[ajspiano]

It's actually by a chap called Giovanni Dettori who uses pop songs to demonstrate counterpoint; he's a serious composer and the work is published by Hal Leonard.

You might find his website informative/interesting:

https://www.giovannidettori.com/composer.html

awesome. certainly looks interesting.

I wasnt actually against the composition so much as just wanting to cause rach some grief, because I'm such a nice person.

[j_menz]

awesome. certainly looks interesting.

I wasnt actually against the composition so much as just wanting to cause rach some grief, because I'm such a nice person.

Hahah.    I'd just like him to actually play it.

I actually think what he does is quite an interesting idea; I think the theory is that of you start with a familiar theme the various contrapuntal techniques are easier for people to see. Quite a bit of baroque work used this idea as well, it's just that over time the then common themes have become forgotten and so don't serve their original purpose.

[johnmar78]

very good Aj, let me try Tachsky music something for a change .

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Hahah.    I'd just like him to actually play it.

I feel like you want me to have difficulty playing fugues.  

When it's not the fugue, it's just Bach!!!

The Lady Gaga was easier than the Bach preludes I've done from WTC.  And they're not even fugues!!!

[j_menz]

I feel like you want me to have difficulty playing fugues. 

When it's not the fugue, it's just Bach!!!

No, I want you to find it easy to play them. And fun.

But, until you realise that it's not Bach but contrapuntal thinking that is the problem, you won't.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

But, until you realise that it's not Bach but contrapuntal thinking that is the problem, you won't.

Which is PRECISELY the reason why I'm sticking to Rachmaninoff!

[fleetfingers]

Count me in! I practiced the piece today, and it's really nice. Don't recall playing Tchaikovsky in the past, so this is going to be fun . . . excellent choice. Looking forward to hearing everyone play and seeing your cute selves (cause that's what I'm basing my vote on  )!

j/k In my case, you will only be seeing my hands.  

[j_menz]

Which is PRECISELY the reason why I'm sticking to Rachmaninoff!

Who, of course, never had a polyphonic thought in his life.  

[j_menz]

and seeing your cute selves (cause that's what I'm basing my vote on  )!

** wonders whether I should start looking for a hot page turner

[ajspiano]

** wonders whether I should start looking for a hot page turner

Given that the set work on has 2 pages this may come off as a deliberate attempt to gain votes through means other than performance..  i may have to disqualify you..   

..unless said page turner is exceptionally attractive.

 

[ajspiano]

Who, of course, never had a polyphonic thought in his life.  

didnt you know its more practical to learn that kind of thing while also spanning 12ths..?

[j_menz]

Given that the set work on has 2 pages this may come off as a deliberate attempt to gain votes through means other than performance..  i may have to disqualify you..   

..unless said page turner is exceptionally attractive.

 

Hey, It just happens to be on both sides of a single sheet. My printer is duplex mad!  

Not sure how I'm gonna justify two page turners though, given the likely difference in your and littletune's taste in such matters.  

[j_menz]

didnt you know its more practical to learn that kind of thing while also spanning 12ths..?

I'm sure your students appreciate such wisdom. 

[ajspiano]

I'm sure your students appreciate such wisdom. 

They don't need my sarcasm, my students study bach before rachmaninoff.. by their own choice.

..I don't influence them at all..

*whistles in a nondescript fashion.

[outin]

I wonder how certain people/person manage to turn every thread into a Bach/Fugue conversation 

[ajspiano]

I wonder how certain people/person manage to turn every thread into a Bach/Fugue conversation 

If I ultimately name j_menz the winner is someone going to have to audit the voting? :/

[outin]

If I ultimately name j_menz the winner is someone going to have to audit the voting? :/

Quite a scam you have created 

[costicina]

Costanza is in ...At last she agreed to partecipate, and I'm very very happy. We need some more time to decide about the second piece, probably a Chopin's Waltz or Schostakovic the Mechanical doll....

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I wonder how certain people/person manage to turn every thread into a Bach/Fugue conversation 

Hey, Ajs started it!

[outin]

Hey, Ajs started it!

Exactly 

[lloyd_cdb]

I'll sit this one out and wait for the next one.  Might do the piece anyway, though.