a splendid rendition of this beautiful piece....

Chopin

Prelude, Op. 28: No. 4 in E Minor, Largo

The famous Prelude Op.28, No.4 In E Minor by Chopin

Nocturne, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major, Lento sostenuto

Nocturne Op.27, No.2 In D Flat Major by Chopin

Nocturne, Op. 32: No. 1 in B Major, Andante sostenuto

Chopin Nocturne Op.32, No.1 in B Major

https://music.apple.com/us/album/beethoven-schumann-brahms/1647841887

Beethoven Schumann Brahms

Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: Presto

Beethoven Sonata Op.10, No.3 in E Major, Presto

French Suites 1, 2 & 3

French Suite No. 3 in B minor, BWV 814: II. Courante

I didn’t plan to play this. It came out while I thought on a group of close friends I’ve known since I was little and who knew each other long before I was born. What started some time in the ‘90s as a three day NYE trip to the Scottish borders has become a central thread in a collective story, binding us together in ways that are profoundly difficult to express in words.

I have stared out of the car window as a boy, adolescent, and adult, and the sense while driving south of waking from a shared dream is as painful as I approach 30 as it was at 15, and the mystery is both clearer and more obscure. I don’t know if this makes sense, but I hope the piece goes someway there. This piece is about friendship and about time.

If you like it, you can find the track Spotify and other platforms: ‘Innerleithen, or a song for a certain time’ - as well as a video recording of this live performance on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DTFHPevLfAU?feature=shared

Innerleithen, or a song for a certain time

Something rather different here: my composing method is usually focussed on melody and harmony, with what I hear as colours coming from the chromatic palette of chord choices I make; here, however, the focus was more on sonority. Much of the piece has an ostinato-like rippling in the right hand, with the left hand indulging in sonorous chords and exploring contrasting registers (with much hand-crossing). The result is a tranquil, gentle mood that has a touch of wistfulness at times.

Prelude 23 in D major

The anonymous twentieth-century melody A New Commandment was written for the well-known passage from St John’s Gospel (chapter 13, verses 34-35), beginning: 'A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you'. This fantasia builds on the theme with colour and drama, using two complete statements and several interludes based on fragments of the melody.
Alan Bullard's Piano Prayer and Praise series contains solo piano pieces, mainly based on well-known hymns or worship songs, suitable for use in church services – either played complete or using sections as shorter interludes.
www.colneedition.co.uk
www.alanbullard.co.uk

Alan Bullard: A New Commandment - fantasia for solo piano

From 5 Fugue from "Wohltemperierte Klavier"

Bach-Mozart: Fugue K 405 E Dur - Melos Quartett

Life’s journey is never a straight arrow but a set of continuous circles. Just as we are full of anticipation before embarking on a new journey, we soon find ourselves looking forward to coming back home with more gratitude, appreciation and a deeper understanding of what was already there. 

While my debut album was centered around core clarinet repertoire, in the three albums that followed, I ventured out into mainstream classical music, transcribing and arranging some of my favorite classical works that were originally written for other instruments. 

Through this experiment, I trained myself to sing through my clarinet like an opera singer, phrase long melodies like a concert pianist and play like a virtuosic violinist. It also created opportunities to reach out to modern day composers of different styles, accumulating many new clarinet pieces and a few of them are included here. 

Taking on different paths allowed me to stretch my imagination and collect wonderful musical ideas. Coming back full circle, I am delighted to present to you some of my favorite clarinet classics from a fresh perspective. Cheers!

Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 73: II. Lebhaft, Leicht

Zorro's Theme from "The Mask of Zorro" by James Horner | Violin & Piano

Violin: Lelie Cristea
Piano Instrumental Accompaniment: Tamilla Guliyeva
Sound Recording by Arthur Jogerst

James Horner | Zorro's Theme - Violin & Piano

"We have art so that we shall not die of reality."
                Nietzsche

Chopin Nocturne Op.32, No.1 in B Major

Classical Soul Pianist

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