What a perfect tempo and played with such musical sensitivity and warmth.  I was emotionally moved by your rendition.

I love your performance Andrys, congratulation,

Great interpretation, this piece is one of my favorites

My song, Close to Me, has both a musical and personal meaning.  The musical meaning is my love and use of cluster chords and the "close" harmonies, often dissonant, to create melodic and bass line interest with elements of surprise and emotion. Inverting a simple 7th chord ( 1 3 5 7;  7 1 3 5;  3 5 7 1;  5 7 1 3) are examples to try. Then go crazy and add a 9th or 11th tone in the bass or melodic lead. If anything, you will be inspired!
The other meaning is my personal closeness to music as a form of expression and the happiness it brings to my life everyday!

Close To Me

Mendelssohn Four Pieces For String Quartet Op. 81

Artea String Quartet
Thomas Gould, violin I
Rhys Watkins, violin II
Benjamin Roskams, viola
Ashok Klouda, cello

Champs Hill Records, 2014

02 Four Pieces For String Quartet Op. 81  II. Scherzo In A Minor, MVW. R 35

For his 1871 opera celebrating the world of ancient Egypt, Giuseppe Verdi invented a strange musical world full of pungent harmonies and curling arabesques to give an otherworldly character to the prayers to the god Ptah. Marcy Stonikas sings the Priestess in Seattle Opera’s “Aida." John Fiore conducts the chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Philip Newton.

To learn more about operatic orientalism, go to http://www.seattleoperablog.com/2015/10/western-fantasies-of-east-orientalism.html

Verdi's "Ancient Egyptian" Music

This romantic etude contains expressive left-hand melodies that are quite poignant, heard against the right-hand's melodic material. Alexander Scriabin uses rich clusters with many falling phrases and lots of juicy suspensions.  He was only about 14 years old when he wrote this.

This was recorded on a Yamaha P80 digital piano in 2004.

Etude Op2 No1 (1887)

Scriabin Etude Op2 No1 (1887)

Chopin may have first dabbled in the world of Impromptus in 1834, but it wasn't until six years after his death that his "Fantaisie Impromptu" hit the streets (and eventually inspired the Tin Pan Alley classic "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"). His earliest published Impromptu was in A-flat Major, written in 1837, the same year he met the one and only George Sand. Dedicated to Countess de Lobau, one of his fancy-pants pupils, it was published in December.

Fast forward to the summer of 1838, and Chopin's health was in serious decline. In a move that would make anyone question his judgement, he decided to spend the damp Parisian winter on the sunny, fresh-aired island of Majorca (which his friends, who had never been there, assured him was delightful). Spoiler alert: it was not delightful. Terrible weather, shabby accommodations, and a distinct lack of a piano meant that by the time he was diagnosed with TB, things were looking pretty grim. But a piano finally arrived from Paris, and by the end of December, Chopin was well enough to start composing again.

The Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, which was sketched during his unfortunate stay with George on Majorca and completed at her country house in Nohant, has the chill vibes of a nocturne. The opening section has two contrasting melodies, and the central episode is all about a more assertive theme with a dotted-rhythm ostinato in the bass. The big surprise comes at the end, when the opening phrase returns in the unexpected key of F Major, delaying the reappearance of the second theme with some sweeping figurations in the right hand.

Live from the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland, 11th October, 2010. Please comment and share!

Piano: Hamburg Steinway D
Piano Technician: Paul Wade
Recording Engineer: Darby Carroll

My SoundCloud Channel: https://soundcloud.com/archie-chen
Official Website: http://www.archiechen.com
Youtube DIPF https://www.youtube.com/c/PianofestivalIe
Youtube Archie https://www.youtube.com/c/ArchieChenPianist
Festival Website: http://www.pianofestival.ie
Teaching Website: http://www.pianoacademy.ie

Frederic Chopin Impromptu no. 2 in F sharp major, op. 36

002. Johann Sebastian Bach - Matthäus Passion (BWV 244) - Erbarme Dich(1)

A. VIVALDI  Concerto For Violin, Strings And B.C. In B Minor RV 390, Europa Galante

In its inaugural concert, ROCO welcomed guest conductor Scott Yoo, and featured its own principal flutist, Christina Jennings. The program included Rossini's Overture from L’italiana in Algeri, Elgar's Introduction and Allegro for String Quartet and String Orchestra, Griffes' Poem for Solo Flute and Orchestra, Schubert's Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, and Elgar's Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15. Performed at The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston, TX, November 5, 2005.

Schubert, Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D 485, II. Andante con moto

Movement 3 from Bach's Triple Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 in C major, BWV 1064. Recorded November 21, 2010 at Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell, Georgia.

Bach Triple Harpsichord part 3

Chopin Valse a moll Opus 34 Nr 2

Brahms - Strings Sextets Opp. 18 & 36

Sextet N.2 Op.36: Scherzo, Allegro non troppo, Trio. Presto Giocoso

These are mp3 or wav files of favorite + also less-known classical  piano pieces, played on various acoustic pianos and, sometimes, a Yamaha P80.  Soundcloud's track-controls are at the  BOTTOM of the screen.  For more information on any track, click on the Title of the actual track listing (this doesn't work on Playlists at the top).

Especially enjoy playing chamber music (SF bay area).


Scriabin Etude Op2 No1 (1887)

Classical Piano Favorites (Andrys)

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