Pianist earn $500 USD here - Fugue

[georgey]

Hello Pianostreet members.  About 40 years ago, I wrote a 3 voice fugue in the style of Bach as one of many compositions written “in the style of” for my composition classes.  I never had a chance to hear this work performed.  It is in 3 voices and about the same difficulty as WTC book 1 fugue in c minor.

I am looking for someone to learn this student composition and post a recording here in Pianostreet.  For audition, I will ask that you post a recent recording of a Bach fugue that you made and I prefer that my fugue be played on the same instrument and recorded with same equipment as the Bach fugue posted. I am looking for a quality audition recording (solid college level playing ability).

If anyone is interested, let me know and I will post the music here.  I will send check for $200 USD after I select the pianist and the balance will be paid after completion.  My goal is to help an aspiring musician with this small monetary compensation.  Edit: Must be 18 years or older to participate.

If you wish to send me a personal message, let me know exact date and time (Pianostreet time) and I will log in to Pianostreet at that time.  Thank you.

[georgey]

Thinking this through a little more, I’m not sure if there is a way to make payment so both parties can remain anonymous.  I can understand someone not being interested in this project for this reason.  Sorry for making this goofy request. 

[klavieronin]

Thinking this through a little more, I’m not sure if there is a way to make payment so both parties can remain anonymous.

How about with bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency?

[georgey]

How about with bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin is extremely volatile.  If someone can give me detailed instruction on what to do.  First I need someone interested in doing the project. 

My teacher was a graduate of the Curtis institute of music and wrote that this fugue is "A magnificent piece of work for such an assignment - technically accurate, stylistically convincing, musical and idiomatic."  Unfortunately I was not able to attend a performance of the work 38 years ago or hear a rehearsal. 

This is just for fun and it is just a student fugue.  Any pianists interested that can tell me how to pay in bitcoin? 

[timothy42b]

Do you have a nice typeset edition, or is this going to be reading from scribbled manuscript?

I ask because now everybody uses a notation program, but those were not readily available 40 years ago.  I suspect you had to hand write it. 

I also ask because IF it has been notated, or if you could get it notated, probably for about $10 USD, then it would be easy to use a DAW to do a good playback with some realistic piano sounds.  And even without VST or similar, you can at least hear what it sounds like. 

[georgey]

Do you have a nice typeset edition, or is this going to be reading from scribbled manuscript?

I ask because now everybody uses a notation program, but those were not readily available 40 years ago.  I suspect you had to hand write it.  

I also ask because IF it has been notated, or if you could get it notated, probably for about $10 USD, then it would be easy to use a DAW to do a good playback with some realistic piano sounds.  And even without VST or similar, you can at least hear what it sounds like.  

Printing is done very neatly by hand.  I know what the piece sounds like through noodling around on piano.  Just seeing if anyone would be interested in earning small $ with a musical project.  No problem if no one is interested. With USD sinking, maybe I need to offer more $?  

I can pay the pianist by paypal if email address is given to me.  I can research bitcoin procedure to give instructions.  Looks like I may just need the destination address of the recipient’s wallet.  From what I read: Wallet addresses are safe to display anywhere you would like to accept tips, payments, or donations. It is not possible to steal digital currency with a public address alone. The only way someone could access your funds would be if they had access to your Coinbase account.

[themeandvariation]

Timothy, for transcription for 10 bucks?  You must be joking  (being that pdf files transferred
to notation software has much trouble recognizing… it must be done note by note).

Georgey, I'd be curious to look at the score if you wouldn't mind posting jpg images.

[georgey]

Hey guys.  Just an update and more specifics: 

I’m upping the amount to $500 USD ($250/$250).

I will award the pianist the job after 3 weeks have passed from the first posting by someone of a reasonable Bach fugue.  I will announce the closing date for auditions after I get this first passable post.

The final product does not need to be perfect to get the final $250. If you post a performance of my fugue, you will get paid the final $250.  Notwithstanding, if the performance sounds to me like you spent little or no time on it, I will leave it up to other members to vote on the final payment amount.  I ask that the final product be posted within 3 months of receiving the initial $250.

This offer will remain open if you are too busy to do this at this time.  Let me know if you have any concerns about anything. 

[timothy42b]

Timothy, for transcription for 10 bucks?  You must be joking  (being that pdf files transferred
to notation software has much trouble recognizing… it must be done note by note).

Georgey, I'd be curious to look at the score if you wouldn't mind posting jpg images.

Yeah, I was thinking an invention.  My bad. 

[timothy42b]

How hard is this thing?

I usually get $200 for a performance that I sightread.  On occasion I'll include a rehearsal if I know them. 

If I had to spend several hours preparing something it would be considerably more. 

[georgey]

Timothy, for transcription for 10 bucks?  You must be joking  (being that pdf files transferred
to notation software has much trouble recognizing… it must be done note by note).

Georgey, I'd be curious to look at the score if you wouldn't mind posting jpg images.

themeandvariation: Thank you for your interest.  I do not have a scanner.  I will see if I can have this jpg made at the UPS store.  I will try to post this tomorrow.

[themeandvariation]

Great!
I've written a good many fugues myself - and have played all of the Bach WTC fugues from books I and and II.
So - I'm very familiar with the language.

Looking forward to seeing it!

[georgey]

Here are 3 of 5 jpg files – 1 for each of first 3 pages of 5.  I also attached a PDF file with all 5 pages.  I will attach the other 2 JPG in the next post (only 4 attachments allowed for me here).

This piece is in cut time.  The tempo should be in the range of 72-80 BPM, maybe a little faster.  The piece has basically been sitting in a box for about 38 years.  

Before a final recording is made, if possible, I will be looking for a draft recording for my review.

[georgey]

Final 2 pages in JPG format are attached here.  See prior post for the first 3 pages.

Thanks.

[georgey]

Great!
I've written a good many fugues myself - and have played all of the Bach WTC fugues from books I and and II.
So - I'm very familiar with the language.

Looking forward to seeing it!

Wonderful!  I thank you for your interest and I look forward to your comments.  Please keep in mind, this is "in the style of" Bach.  I hope you decide to audition for $500.

[themeandvariation]

Hey Georgey, this is great!  It is quite bright and cheerful and bouncy..
It does remind me of Bach..
The writing is very well crafted.. (Just when I thought,'well, isn't he going to bring in a sequence?'
you bring one in..)  I would have  just a minor criticism with regard to bars 6,7,8 and 9  
being identical to bars 18,19, 20, and 21 (the middle and top voices having been transposed an octave) - of course the added bass is new there.. but i was wondering about the possibility of perhaps inverting the line (turning the shape of the line upside down) in the soprano in bars 19 and 20…
 Just a thought.. To the ear, I'm sure it works fine, though.. (But writing a fugue is also very much for the eye.)
I'll give it a whirl this evening…
Thanks for posting.  A really wonderful piece!

[chopinlover01]

Just going to pop in to shed some light for the transcription numbers that were floated earlier. (I do this kind of work professionally)

If you want a note for note transcription and well formatted score, you're looking at ~$75 if you don't have it already put into software notation. If you do have it saved somewhere, perhaps as a .xml file, probably ~$40. The beautiful scores you see from places like Henle, Barenreiter, etc. do not come inexpensively.

Cheers!

[georgey]

Hey Georgey, this is great!  It is quite bright and cheerful and bouncy..
It does remind me of Bach..
The writing is very well crafted.. (Just when I thought,'well, isn't he going to bring in a sequence?'
you bring one in..)  I would have  just a minor criticism with regard to bars 6,7,8 and 9  
being identical to bars 18,19, 20, and 21 (the middle and top voices having been transposed an octave) - of course the added bass is new there.. but i was wondering about the possibility of perhaps inverting the line (turning the shape of the line upside down) in the soprano in bars 19 and 20…
 Just a thought.. To the ear, I'm sure it works fine, though.. (But writing a fugue is also very much for the eye.)
I'll give it a whirl this evening…
Thanks for posting.  A really wonderful piece!

Themeandvariation,

Thank you for looking at this and your kind words.  It’s great to see a fugue enthusiast!  Have you posted any fugues that you wrote?  Having played all 48 in the WTC, I would view you as a fugue expert.

I have actually been out of the music business for the past 35 years (except as listener and a minor attempt at learning piano a few years ago that is now out due to hand osteoarthitis).  So I am a little rusty.  I see your point for measures 6-9 compared to 18-21.  I think I viewed the middle voice line in measures 6-9 as the counter subject after stating the subject in measures 1-5.  When the top voice reaches measure 18 (after stating the subject in measures 13-17), it goes into this counter subject the same as the middle voice did in measure 6-9. You may be correct that it might sound a little repetitive.  We can see how it sounds during performance.

You will notice the use of stretto and augmentation in this fugue.  This was a requirement for the project if I recall.  The trick was to try to do these in a musically meaningful way.  Not sure how successful I was at that.

[georgey]

Just going to pop in to shed some light for the transcription numbers that were floated earlier. (I do this kind of work professionally)

If you want a note for note transcription and well formatted score, you're looking at ~$75 if you don't have it already put into software notation. If you do have it saved somewhere, perhaps as a .xml file, probably ~$40. The beautiful scores you see from places like Henle, Barenreiter, etc. do not come inexpensively.

Cheers!

Hi Chopinlover.  I may take you up on your offer for a note for note transcription, although I might warn you that your product probably will end up being put in a box for the next 30 years.  If this work sounds good, I might have you do this for your fee just for fun.  Thanks.

[chopinlover01]

Hi Chopinlover.  I may take you up on your offer for a note for note transcription, although I might warn you that your product probably will end up being put in a box for the next 30 years.  If this work sounds good, I might have you do this for your fee just for fun.  Thanks.

I'd be happy to do it, if you're interested feel free to send me a PM!

[klavieronin]

The beautiful scores you see from places like Henle, Barenreiter, etc. do not come inexpensively.

Unless you get lucky and find someone bored and generous enough to do it for free.

[timothy42b]

Very nicely done, klavieronin, and far easier to read. 

[timothy42b]

Very nicely done, klavieronin, and far easier to read. 

Oh, and for georgey, nice job on a very Bach like fugue.

[themeandvariation]

Very Kind of you, Klavieronin.  A wonderful gesture.

[georgey]

Unless you get lucky and find someone bored and generous enough to do it for free.

OMG Thank you so much Klavieronin!  I can’t believe you did this.  Looks perfect.  You even fixed a missed tie or 2 that I missed.

[georgey]

Oh, and for georgey, nice job on a very Bach like fugue.

Thanks!  Still hoping that someone can record this for my fee.

[timothy42b]

If georgey and klavieronin agree (because after all the copyright does belong to georgey) perhaps klavieronin would be willing to save that file in MIDI format.  Most notation programs do that.  MIDI files are tiny in terms of memory space. 

If so, those of us not skilled enough to play it directly could hear it played back, and those who would like to interpret the tempos and dynamics a bit could use a conductor program. 

I might even be willing to do a youtube of the latter. 

[georgey]

If georgey and klavieronin agree (because after all the copyright does belong to georgey) perhaps klavieronin would be willing to save that file in MIDI format.  Most notation programs do that.  MIDI files are tiny in terms of memory space.  

If so, those of us not skilled enough to play it directly could hear it played back, and those who would like to interpret the tempos and dynamics a bit could use a conductor program.  

I might even be willing to do a youtube of the latter.  

This sounds great to me if no one see any drawbacks to doing this.  Thank you if you decide to do this!  I would like to be identified as the author using the name “anonymous”.  

I still would like a pianist to do this if possible.  Note to the pianist:  I’m not sure how playable this is at 72-80 BPM tempo.  For example, measure21 would seem to be tough. So I am fine with making some adjustments to make this more playable.  Other examples: pedal points in measures 42-45 and 49-51 can be done with sustenuto pedal?

Edit:  I will get a copyright for this.  I just googled how to do this and I should be able to do this for a fee.  I still want to be identified as "anonymous" should you decide to post on youtube. You have creative control but I do want to listen before giving final permission.  Thanks !

Edit: copyright completed. Cost $35 - I uploaded PDF of my original handwritten.  Thanks again to klavieronin!  And timothy42b should you decide to go further with this.

[klavieronin]

Here is the midi file plus an updated score with "Anonymous' attribution.

georgey, you shouldn't need to pay anyone to copyright your own work. In fact, you don't need to do anything. Copyright is automatic, or at least it would be if you had your name on the score. Since you want to stay anonymous, I'm not sure copyright is even relevant. If you're expecting to have to dispute the authorship of the work make sure you keep the original hand written document and save an archive of this thread. Personally, I can't imagine that would ever be necessary though.

Edit. georgey, who did you pay? Can you post a link? It sounds very suspicious to me.

[georgey]

Here is the midi file plus an updated score with "Anonymous' attribution.

georgey, you shouldn't need to pay anyone to copyright your own work. In fact, you don't need to do anything. Copyright is automatic, or at least it would be if you had your name on the score. Since you want to stay anonymous, I'm not sure copyright is even relevant. If you're expecting to have to dispute the authorship of the work make sure you keep the original hand written document and save an archive of this thread. Personally, I can't imagine that would ever be necessary though.

Edit. georgey, who did you pay? Can you post a link? It sounds very suspicious to me.

I know I didn't need to do this but it was only $35.  I gave the $ to the US government!

https://www.copyright.gov/about/

The United States Copyright Office, and the position of Register of Copyrights, were created by Congress in 1897.

Thanks for files!

[klavieronin]

Hmm, that's interesting. My mistake. I guess copyright laws are different in the US.

[timothy42b]

Whether he copyrights it formally or not is immaterial to me.  It is his intellectual property and I feel obligated to respect that.

[georgey]

Guys,  I might owe you an apology.  I pulled this piece out of a box a few days ago, the first time in about 38 years.  I sat down for the first time just now and tried to play through this thing starting at measure 57 (stretto section).  I don’t play the piano but I’m not sure how playable this piece is.  My teacher was a fine pianist and graduated from the Curtis institute of music Eastman School of Music as a piano performance major.  (Sorry about that, Dr. James Staples from IUP was my teacher, its been 38 years). I heard him perform the complete Chopin preludes in concert and he sounded great.  So I trust his opinion.  He gave me an A+ on this and wrote the words I quoted before.  But trying to play this thing, I wonder if this thing is even playable?  Also, I’m not sure how good this thing is going to sound.  It sounded pretty good to me in my mind until I started to play it.  Maybe this piece is best suited for midi and we should wait to hear what it sounds like before spending any time on it.    

It does look nice on paper though, thanks to klavieronin.

[georgey]

Klavieronin - if you can figure a way for me to pay you $50, I will be very happy to do this.

Timothy42b - if you end up doing something with this that I can hear without spending too much time, I will be happy to send you up to $200 for your work.  You can pull out now if you want.

Pianists:  I don't think this piece is playable.  I don't think its worth the time to fix.

Again, I apologize.

[klavieronin]

Don't worry about the money. I don't need it. If you really want you can send it to Against Malaria Foundation or GiveDirectly, or some other charity.

Also, it only takes a couple of minutes to produce an MP3 from a midi file so I've included one here. The problem of course is that you get a very mechanical performance. To get anything like a real performance does take a bit more time but that might be a job for timothy42b or anyone else who might be interested.

[timothy42b]

I've played the mp3.  It sounds like you've channeled Bach himself.  It's very listenable. 

I'm not a skilled player, more of a church hymn melody and chord level, so I don't know about playability at tempo.  To my ears most of WTC is unplayable. 

I will see how hard it is to do a conductor program performance.  It may sound easy but you have to know the music really thoroughly to pull this off, and I have a busy weekend with performances on brass, so it may take a while.

Very nice job georgey, and awesome work by klavieronin producing these files. 

[georgey]

Don't worry about the money. I don't need it. If you really want you can send it to Against Malaria Foundation or GiveDirectly, or some other charity.

Also, it only takes a couple of minutes to produce an MP3 from a midi file so I've included one here. The problem of course is that you get a very mechanical performance. To get anything like a real performance does take a bit more time but that might be a job for timothy42b or anyone else who might be interested.

Not bad!  This is very close to what I had in mind.  Perfect tempo.  Nice work.  There are just a couple wrong notes in a couple places.  I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote this.  You would need hands the size of Cesar Franck to play this.  Thank you!  

[georgey]

I've played the mp3.  It sounds like you've channeled Bach himself.  It's very listenable.  

I'm not a skilled player, more of a church hymn melody and chord level, so I don't know about playability at tempo.  To my ears most of WTC is unplayable.  

I will see how hard it is to do a conductor program performance.  It may sound easy but you have to know the music really thoroughly to pull this off, and I have a busy weekend with performances on brass, so it may take a while.

Very nice job georgey, and awesome work by klavieronin producing these files.  

I'll be very happy to pay.  You guys deserve compensation for your work.  Absolutely no rush if you decide to do this.  Thank you!

[klavieronin]

Let me know where the wrong notes are and I'll correct them.

[georgey]

Let me know where the wrong notes are and I'll correct them.

Hi Klavieronin,

I hope you don’t mind that I posted your recording.  I felt it was great quality to demonstrate this piece.  Thank you if you are able to make corrections to 2 notes: 1) measure 23: the C# that is tied from the prior measure turns into C natural on the first beat of measure 23. Should be a tied C#. 2) measure 60: has a similar problem.  the B-flat that is tied from the prior measure turns into B natural on the first beat of measure 60. Should be a tied B-flat.  The only other item that caught my ear was the last 2 measures.  Is it possible to slow down the beat where it is marked rallent. (rallentando)?  This may not be possible to do.  Thank you if you are able to make any of these corrections.  If the tied note problem is mentioned above is hard to fix, you can put an eight note rest at the beginning of the measure.

Also, I just donated 20 mosquito nets ($40 USD) at the Against Malaria Foundation in the name of Klavieronin from Pianostreet, USA (I was not sure your country).  I can make more.  Let me know how many nets.

Thank you!

Edit: 1 last item if possible; can you make measure 99 be the same as measure 14?  I will donate 10 more nets in your name.  Thanks.

[klavieronin]

Okay, here is the updated PDF and mp3. I quickly went through and and highlighted some of the entries of the main theme in the mp3 as well as adding the rallent. at the end so it's a slightly more interesting performance.

[georgey]

Okay, here is the updated PDF and mp3. I quickly went through and and highlighted some of the entries of the main theme in the mp3 as well as adding the rallent. at the end so it's a slightly more interesting performance.

You did good.  20 more nets donated in your name ($40.00 USD).  This time I put as Klavieronin from Pianostreet, England.  Not sure what country you are from.  Thanks!

[klavieronin]

You did good.  20 more nets donated in your name ($40.00 USD).  This time I put as Klavieronin from Pianostreet, England.  Not sure what country you are from.  Thanks!

Thanks for making those donations. Much appreciated. By the way, I'm from Australia.

[georgey]

Thanks for making those donations. Much appreciated. By the way, I'm from Australia.

Hello Klavieronin,

I’m hoping this will be the last that I ask.  I will be very happy to mail you a check for your work or at minimum I will make another donation in your name, this time crediting the great country of Australia.  

Attached is a PDF of the couple small changes that I made to make this more playable for someone with small hands.  Please ignore the change to measure 18 in the PDF.  Also, please tie the last D in the middle voice at the end of measure 62 to the down beat of measure 63 as shown in the PDF.  Also, please change name from "Anonymous" to "GEY".  Lastly, if you are able to re-record this, please do so at 80 BPM, rather than the 72 BPM currently used.

I fully understand if you want to bail out.  Thanks if you are able to help!  

EDIT:  You can skip the sound recording if this is any work.  Thanks!

[georgey]

Hello Klavieronin,

I’m hoping this will be the last that I ask.  I will be very happy to mail you a check for your work or at minimum I will make another donation in your name, this time crediting the great country of Australia.  

Attached is a PDF of the couple small changes that I made to make this more playable for someone with small hands.  Please ignore the change to measure 18 in the PDF.  Also, please tie the last D in the middle voice at the end of measure 62 to the down beat of measure 63 as shown in the PDF.  Also, please change name from "Anonymous" to "GEY".  Lastly, if you are able to re-record this, please do so at 80 BPM, rather than the 72 BPM currently used.

I fully understand if you want to bail out.  Thanks if you are able to help!  

EDIT:  You can skip the sound recording if this is any work.  Thanks!

Klavieronin,

Never mind.  I have asked too much from you already.  I will see if I can get someone else to do this.  

Thanks again for all your help!!  

[klavieronin]

Klavieronin,

Never mind.  I have asked too much from you already.  I will see if I can get someone else to do this. 

Thanks again for all your help!!   

I can do it, just give me a couple of days.

[georgey]

I can do it, just give me a couple of days.

Thank you so much if you are able to do this! 

[klavieronin]

Here you go. Hopefully I got everything.

[georgey]

Here you go. Hopefully I got everything.

Klavieronin,

Thank you!  Here are my thoughts:

Music PDF:
I like your change to measure 42.  You changed this measure from what I had.  What you did makes a lot more sense compositionally than what I did.  Measure 42 now matches what I had to do in measure 49 because my pianist said she can’t hold the original low G pedal point.

I just need 1 change – MY FAULT:  measures 100 and 101 should be changed to match measures 15 & 16.

Sound MP3:
Thanks for creating this!   My quicker tempo may not sound as nice as the original tempo that you chose.  But it gives me a good idea that it could be played at this faster tempo on the piano if the pianist is able to do so musically. I may also post this in my audition room thread.

Please let me know if you can make this small fix to the PDF within say a week so I can give a copy to the pianist.  If not, I can have Chopinlover01 do this.  I told Chopilover01 that I have a piano piece that I wrote in the style of Debussy that he can do.  So don’t worry about him not doing this fugue.  

[klavieronin]

New Fixes.