Another really weird piano story from dcstudio

[dcstudio]

So on Tuesdays I teach at this cultural center that was once a all-grade school.  It was built in 1937 and they tell me it's haunted.  Anyway, I was done teaching and calling my husband to come pick me up when the receptionist told me she was going that way and she would drop me off if I wanted to hang out and play the grand in the auditorium... I was like, sure!  I am playing a concert there in February and the piano there has lead weight action.

So I pushed the piano out on stage, which I have never done before (usually I stay backstage), and sat down and started warming up on this monster.  I had been playing for about 30 minutes going over the boogie-woogie and old-style blues I am planning on performing and all of the sudden I just broke into Linus and Lucy.  Not sure why, now that I think about it.   As I was playing, I was thinking that George Winston had played this very tune on this very piano in this very room just 3 years ago.  He is also a pianist who shares my LOVE of Vince Guaraldi (the composer of Linus and Lucy).   Incidentally, I have communicated with George online concerning Vince.. and George answered!  He is a relatively famous new age pianist.  George used to play the piano on Vince Guaraldi's breaks in the '70s...he knew Vince personally.

Anyhoo, I am playing Linus and Lucy instead of the Blues stuff I was supposed to be playing--and a woman walks in the front door of the center.  I could only see her because I was onstage and the auditorium door was standing open.  She wandered about for a few minutes and then stopped in front of the auditorium door.  The receptionist was no where in sight so after a couple of more minutes I stopped playing and got up to go and help her.

I approached her and immediately she says "was that you on the piano??... wow! you are great... you sound just like George Winston... you know, I organized the concert when he came and played here."

Needless to say my jaw hit the floor.  We talked for an hour.

She is now promoting the concert I am playing in February... she is also currently organizing George's next concert appearance in this area...  she knows him personally.  


weird, huh.  

[rubinsteinmad]

Wow, congratulations!
(I was expecting the ending to be dark and lugubrious hehe)

[dcstudio]

Wow, congratulations!
(I was expecting the ending to be dark and lugubrious hehe)

dark and lugubrious... preparing for the SAT are we? lol.

not dark... just really weird.   George is cool but not like a pianist I ever think about, really.  I can't call myself a fan of his... not that I think he's bad... he just not my kind of player.  I communicated with him about Vince because he had been given all of Vince's unfinished scores after he died.  I wanted to see one.   That's why it's so strange that I should suddenly break into Linus and Lucy and think of George Winston playing that concert... and even more strange that the organizer of said concert picked that exact moment to walk through the door.

cue Twilight Zone music... lol.

[rubinsteinmad]

dark and lugubrious... preparing for the SAT are we? lol.

not dark... just really weird.   George is cool but not like a pianist I ever think about, really.  I can't call myself a fan of his... not that I think he's bad... he just not my kind of player.  I communicated with him about Vince because he had been given all of Vince's unfinished scores after he died.  I wanted to see one.   That's why it's so strange that I should suddenly break into Linus and Lucy and think of George Winston playing that concert... and even more strange that the organizer of said concert picked that exact moment to walk through the door.

cue Twilight Zone music... lol.

Oh, well I've never heard Winston play yet. I should sometime, but right now I'm planning to do other things hehehehehe

I like his transcriptions though (but I wish he spent more time with "Give me Thy Hand")

[indianajo]

Music is a great way to connect with people you don't know.
I played my approximation of George Winston's The Holly and the Ivy last night at the free dinner downtown. Also a Tuesday.   They didn't applaud that one but the guy running the vacuum cleaner after closer Jingle Bells said that people were staying longer than usual; they were usually in a hurry to go home.  They did applaud opener Winter Wonderland and one of the more familiar carols, maybe Joy to the World.  A 12 year old boy came up and requested something by  Billy Joel, but I couldn't accommodate the request. I tried to sing Piano Man but couldn't remember any words.  Just the descending riff at the beginning.
I've seen George Winston at Kentucky Center in about 1985.  He played a couple of pieces inspired by  CBS TV specials by Geribaldi or whatever that guy was. He plays in socks!  I've scored 3 or 4 of  GW's CD's, which I play when I don't want to listen all that focussed.   Pity Kentucky Center doesn't have a Bosendorfer with all that ping!!!  There is a vile sounding Youtube video of GW playing TH&TI on a Bosendorfer somewhere - buy the December LP or CD,they sound much better.  
Since GW is alive, I won't be recording this , probably my hardest piece, on MP3.  They did a devotional and prayer at the free dinner, so performing it was legal there.  

[dcstudio]

Music is a great way to connect with people you don't know.
I played my approximation of George Winston's The Holly and the Ivy last night at the free dinner downtown. Also a Tuesday.   They didn't applaud that one but the guy running the vacuum cleaner after closer Jingle Bells said that people were staying longer than usual; they were usually in a hurry to go home.  They did applaud opener Winter Wonderland and one of the more familiar carols, maybe Joy to the World.  A 12 year old boy came up and requested something by  Billy Joel, but I couldn't accommodate the request. I tried to sing Piano Man but couldn't remember any words.  Just the descending riff at the beginning.
I've seen George Winston at Kentucky Center in about 1985.  He played a couple of pieces inspired by  CBS TV specials by Geribaldi or whatever that guy was. He plays in socks!  I've scored 3 or 4 of  GW's CD's, which I play when I don't want to listen all that focussed.   Pity Kentucky Center doesn't have a Bosendorfer with all that ping!!!  There is a vile sounding Youtube video of GW playing TH&TI on a Bosendorfer somewhere - buy the December LP or CD,they sound much better.  
Since GW is alive, I won't be recording this , probably my hardest piece, on MP3.  They did a devotional and prayer at the free dinner, so performing it was legal there.  

prayer makes it legal... Thank God.. actually live performance is usually not a problem, it's the recording and selling that gets ASCAP all in a fuss.


wow... this George Winston thing happened last night for me, too Indianajo--so you and I were likely playing at exactly the same time (about 6-7pm CST)...  and you were playing George Winston? wow... freakin cool.  What are the odds??? lol.  I don't know ya Jo but I am sure feeling connected right now...lol Maybe we could tell George about this... my new friend has assured me she will be introducing me to him personally at some point in the future.. (I confess, I am excited. )

yeah I first heard of George back in the '80s when he was with condum--I mean-- Wyndham Hill Records.. hee hee hee


well you are a pro Indianjo...you have faked Piano Man... I don't believe there is a performing pianist (in the casual genres) who hasn't been asked to play that one...geez    I play it... it's not my favorite thing to sing but people are just so damn impressed by it.  If people ask you to play Billy Joel... they think you are good... really good.   It is the common perception by the public that he is basically  a "Van Cliburn"--so whoever asked you to play that thought you were awesome... or they wouldn't have asked.

there was a string recently on "how do you know you can play" or something to that affect--anyway...  when they come up and start asking you to play Billy Joel and Elton John... you are getting there for sure...at least your listeners think so.  Later the smarta$$es will start requesting Beethoven... (Fur Elise or Moonlight Sonata mvmt 1 almost always) then  they will stand by the piano and look at you with this smug challenging face like they have just requested that you play the entire Rach 2...  


I was kinda thinking this was a stupid post... or why did I write that?  well now I know why.

[indianajo]

Oh, yeah, we were playing stereo George Winston with about 1000 miles separation between "speakers", I was winding up my recital about 1830 Eastern time, so TH&TI was about 1720 your time. 
You're letting the secrets of paying gigs out now.  Billy Joel and Elton John ? two of my favorites.  My retired muscles are too stiff to play those thirty-second repeated chords Mr. Joel plays in the intro to "New York State of Mind" (maybe, I watched it last night but the DVD remote won't back up anymore)  but Piano Man is a memory trick alone, no fancy playing required.  I already do the Warner Bros simplified Blue Canoe and Tiny Dancer from EJ/BT at home, but if I'm going to try to entertain I better learn Bennie and the Jets and Crocodile Rock since those are what get the airplay.  Pity, I could really get into learning Funeral for a Friend/Candle in the Wind, I've got the synthesizer entrance migrated to Hammond H100 organ in my head already. 
I've played all three movements of Moonlight Sonata at the charity dinner two years ago and nobody noticed.  Wrong crowd I suppose.  I'm just happy that kid smiled at me last night, all excited about something. 
Now I need to learn to play this pop repretoire on the street corner in front of the bank at noon instead of at a charity dinner.  Derby festival is only four months away, book now for best dates.  HAH!, me ever get paid for playing, what a fantasy.
I played the GW December LP this AM, wept during Carol of the Bells and TH&TI again.  GW really pulls my chain this time of year.  Ever see the ice on the trees and power lines after a sleet storm?   I was in Kansas thirty months or so; marvelous winters they have out there. 
Enjoying my dreams, IJ. 

[dcstudio]

Stereo George Winston 1000 miles apart.. too cool... really just too cool.  Some days it is just so awesome to be a musician... I wonder if the rest of the world ever experiences anything close.  I feel sorry for them..

OH--Bennie and the Jets is the one... that one will have them cheering in the aisles and kissing your feet.  They scream from the opening Gmaj7 chord... you will get that whistle too-- that's at the end during the synth solo... somebody ALWAYS does it. lol.

Crocodile Rock runs a close second... along with Tiny Dancer, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Rocket Man and Daniel.  Those are sure fire winners in almost ANY crowd.  My personal favorite Sir Elton tune to play is Take Me to the Pilot.   Love that Gospel sound.  

Jelly Bowl...I mean Billy Joel..  outside of the obligatory Piano Man--Only the Good Die Young, Just the Way You Are, Honesty (if you can stand it!) and Movin Out should satisfy the crowd and not overburden your fingers.

I, too have played all 3 mvmts of Moonlight Sonata to a crowd that didn't bat an eye...  right after that I played the James Bond theme and Skyfall and they went ballistic.  It's so sad but so true...  you have to very carefully choose the moment to play a masterpiece... the crowd must be ready.  

and why do you think you could never get paid to play?  lol... what... you don't think that in order to be paid that you are required to be a certain level of "good" do you?  I assure you that is NOT the case... all it takes is a little hutzbah as my Jewish friends say.  Those street corner gigs... are far more lucrative than one could possibly imagine.   Add the sympathy factor to good playing... that is a winning combo every time..  tips can be shockingly good...

George gets to you huh?  December is pretty awesome..   I am looking forward to meeting him very much...  my new friend suggested... although I hold out little hope for it... a duet.  Can you imagine? lol. If he just hangs out and jams with me I will be thrilled


the Gulf coast region is not known for it's winters...  it's about 75F right now. lol.   I did grow up in Toledo OH though...  and I know exactly what you are referring to.  It is Christmas, after all.

[siveron]

what in the hell is going on in here 

[dcstudio]

In a nutshell: Indianajo and I just realized that we were both out performing the same music at exactly the same time last night 1000 miles apart. 


for the rest you must read the string

[emill]

hi dc,

As I was reading your post I thought ... ahh ..ouhh ... this is gonna be be a haunted story ...
how wrong I was!

The beginning was similar .... a few years back we were in this empty theater with my son practicing for a recital the following day when out of nowhere there where the silhouettes of 3 women in the darker side of the theater, as only the stage was lit. I began to wonder how they got there when all the entrances where locked except one which was beside the stage. I more or less intently observed them for 10-15 minutes when as suddenly they were longer there. During a break in the practice, all of 5 of us who were in the theater developed goose bumps wondering, who they were, how they got there and how they just vanished, except the theater janitor who had been seeing them every now and then for almost 3 decades!

CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !
and thanks for expanding my music horizon .... this introduced me to George Winston.



 

[dcstudio]

actually I totally believe that and I get it...    those old theaters always give me a funny feeling...especially if I am performing.  So many performers were there before me..  so many audiences, too.   spooky.   I lived in a haunted house as a kid... part of the "underground railroad" during slavery days.   We had a free-roaming vapor in our house that would stomp across the floor upstairs..  I have plenty of stories that are just plain weird.

you're welcome for George Winston...    thanks.

[emill]

hi again dc,

Perhaps you would like to start another thread regarding your haunted house experience ...  
I am sure many will have a story  to share.
Happy New Year!!

[dcstudio]

perhaps I will...   I am always going on here about how I want to write book...  I imagine my haunted house stories would make far more interesting material then the cheap vampire romance I was considering... The house itself had such a history, it was used to harbor runaway slaves from the south in the 19th century.   It was one of the last stops before they made it to freedom in Canada.   The house originally belonged to a doctor and it doubled as his office.  There was a tiny door in the wall of my bedroom that led to a secret room where the slaves were hidden.  When we bought the house my parents had some work done on it...I was told later that was probably why we experienced so many "disturbances."  We only lived there 2 years and we were supposed to keep that house forever.  I had nightmares about it for years after we left... well into adulthood.

It's very interesting to me that you had this experience while your son was practicing in that theater... I have always had a theory that this kind of sensitivity is somehow linked to the part of me that plays the piano...  or that playing the piano somehow attracts it.   I have had so many encounters that centered around the piano--both in the haunted house I lived in and elsewhere.

and people here already think I am a bit eccentric  ---lol. my ghost stories would probably move me into the "crazy" category for sure...

[emill]

perhaps I will...  I am always going on here about how I want to write book...  I imagine my haunted house stories would make far more interesting material then the cheap vampire romance I was considering...  

 

Cheap Vampire romance? - a good number of flicks from the  "adult" movie industry deals in it!     hahaha!!

Nightmares!!  ... that is going to be one long interesting story for a book. Perhaps in the your prospective future thread here, you can give us a sneak preview.  I must admit that I am a believer of the paranormal having experienced a poltergeist phenomena for over a year when I was about 11-12.  It was not a pleasant one .... and it still makes me, once in a while, scared of the dark or gives me the shivers when flashes of memory of those times occur. But I am getting ahead .... want to hear your sneak preview first.  

If you think your ghost stories will push guys here to think you are "crazy", then that wil make 2 of us!  So let's see.

[rubinsteinmad]

hi dc,

As I was reading your post I thought ... ahh ..ouhh ... this is gonna be be a haunted story ...
how wrong I was!

The beginning was similar .... a few years back we were in this empty theater with my son practicing for a recital the following day when out of nowhere there where the silhouettes of 3 women in the darker side of the theater, as only the stage was lit. I began to wonder how they got there when all the entrances where locked except one which was beside the stage. I more or less intently observed them for 10-15 minutes when as suddenly they were longer there. During a break in the practice, all of 5 of us who were in the theater developed goose bumps wondering, who they were, how they got there and how they just vanished, except the theater janitor who had been seeing them every now and then for almost 3 decades!

CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !
and thanks for expanding my music horizon .... this introduced me to George Winston.



 

That is spooky! I sometimes get the creeps too, even when I try to reason with myself.