Classical

Johannes Brahms Intermezzo A major Op. 118 No. 2

Get ready for Chopin's 3rd Ballade, Op. 47, a sunny and optimistic tale with a side of dance and mischief. It's like a feel-good movie compared to the darker, stormier siblings in the Ballade family.

Featuring two main themes that play "opposites attract," our first melody soars sky-high, before echoing left-hand responses. Then, a burst of celebratory arpeggios adds some fireworks. The second theme? A flirty dance number, dipping into minor keys but never fully embracing tragedy.

Watch as the dancelike theme gets all dressed up, while the first remains elegantly unchanging. And let's not forget the flamboyant, keyboard-spanning joyride in between.

Written in 1841, the 3rd Ballade proves that Chopin's final decade was nothing short of musical genius. We might never know the exact story behind this lyrical piece, but its narrative roots and natural flow make it the most romantic of the set.

So, sit back and enjoy this delightful Chopin adventure, where epic narration meets warm-hearted charm, and let your imagination fill in the blanks! 🎹📖💃🌞

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

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My SoundCloud Channel: https://soundcloud.com/archie-chen
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Piano: Hamburg Steinway D
Piano Technician: Paul Wade
Recording Engineer: Darby Carroll

Frédéric Chopin Ballade no. 3 In A Flat Major, op. 47

This is a studio recording from 2012 for the BBC film 'Loving Miss Hatto'. A biopic penned by the British comedian Victoria Wood about pianist Joyce Hatto.

The character piece is like the art song's fun-loving cousin who always shows up to the party with a bottle of emotional perfume. It's perfect for those intimate gatherings or solo rendezvous with your piano. Thanks to the piano's rise to fame in the 1800s, character pieces were popping up everywhere, and composers were flaunting their creations at the hottest recital events of the time. Basically, character pieces were the 19th century's version of a hot new single. If you thought Franz Liszt's music was boring, think again! This guy was all about giving his character pieces creative and whimsical titles, like "Sposalizio" and "Vallée d'Obermann". But don't worry, he didn't forget about those of us who like our music titles to be a little more straightforward - he also composed plenty of works with no-nonsense names like "Album Leaves" and "Klavierstücke". With his "Consolations" (a.k.a. "Six Poetic Thoughts"), Liszt took a page out of Chopin's book and delved into the world of nocturnes. And let me tell you, the third Consolation in D-flat major is pure Chopin - even the key is pianist-friendly, unlike those pesky "easy" keys like C major. Looks like Liszt knew a thing or two about pleasing his audience! If you're a Chopin fan, you're gonna love Liszt's "Consolation No. 3"! I mean, talk about a tribute - this piece is basically a carbon copy of Chopin's Opus 27, no. 1. And while it might not have the same flashy piano solos that Liszt is known for, it more than makes up for it with its dreamy, slow-moving melodies. Plus, it's in the same key as Chopin's original, so you know it's gotta be good.

Despite the unusual title, the Consolations were inspired by both poetry and religious contemplation, just like Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses. Some say the title comes from an 1830 poetry collection by Sainte-Beuve, while others think it's based on a poem by Lamartine called A Tear (or Consolation). Either way, it seems like Liszt was in a pretty contemplative mood when he wrote these pieces. But don't worry, Liszt didn't completely forget his roots - he snuck in a little Hungarian folk song as the primary theme, which he later used in his "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1". So even though this piece might not match the wild, hair-flailing image we have of Liszt, it's still got a little bit of that old-school flavor. Liszt's "Consolation No. 3" wasn't just a musical masterpiece - it was also a major turning point in the composer's life. And let me tell you, Liszt's early life was a doozy - it was basically one big, crazy party. But don't take my word for it, just ask his first mistress (and mother of his three children) Marie d'Agoult, who wrote all about it under the pen name Daniel Stern. And if you're feeling really adventurous, you can even watch the 1975 film "Lisztomania" for all the juicy details. Talk about living the dream! Liszt's life was like something out of a Hollywood movie - seriously, this guy was breaking class barriers and performing like a superstar. But as he got older, he decided to trade in the limelight for a little bit of privacy. He started conducting orchestras and composing more, and even started teaching aspiring pianists from around the world. I guess you could say he was the original piano man!

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

Piano: Yamaha C7
Piano Technician: Martin Walsh
Recorded at Cauldron Studios, Dublin
Recording Engineers: Ciarán Byrne & Michael Manning
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An NFT of this track will be available from the artist soon!

Franz Liszt Consolation no. 3 in D flat Major, S. 172

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) - Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 2 (1892)
Joanna Wicherek, piano

Recorded in 2010

Johannes Brahms - Intermezzo Op. 117 No 2

While Bach was the end-all-be-all of the Baroque period, Chopin was the golden boy of the Romantic era. Just like the early Romantics rejected the cool objectivity of their predecessors, Chopin's music was all about expressing the self in all its various forms. In exploring new harmonic realms and tonal relationships, he had to come up with new forms to contain his highly individual creative messages. This resulted in his "character pieces" or piano miniatures - the shortest of which weighs in at just 16 measly measures. His Nocturnes, 19 in all, are particularly soulful and expressive, making them some of Chopin's most intimate pieces. Interestingly, Chopin has been wrongly credited with creating the genre of the romantic night piece. In fact, that honor goes to John Field, who composed 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared when Chopin was just four years old. But don't let that take away from Chopin's supreme talent in the Nocturne genre. In short, Chopin was a true master of the Nocturne and his contributions to the genre will never be forgotten. Or at least until the next guy comes along and claims he invented it.

The Dublin-born Field was a pianist of wide acclaim throughout Europe. He was a student of Muzio Clementi and even worked in his piano shop. Field composed a ton of music, including eight piano concertos and 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared in 1814 - when Chopin was just four years old. Most authors of books on Chopin try to downplay the influence of the Irish composer on the Polish master. Field may have invented the genre, but it was Chopin who really took it to the next level. You could say that Chopin took the essentials of the Nocturne and intensified them a thousandfold - like adding extra hot sauce to your already spicy burrito.

Even if you believe that Field invented the genre of the Nocturne, there's no denying that Chopin was a supreme practitioner in the field (pun intended). His piano style fully exploited the singing quality of the instrument and created a whole world of sonorities. He also used the sustaining pedal to amplify the piece's distinctive sonority, and his use of rubato contributed to the poetic ambiance. On a musical level, Chopin introduced the element of chromaticism into his harmonic structure, which influenced virtually all composers who came after him. Chopin's 19 Nocturnes are a real mixed bag - some are dreamy, some are tear-jerkers, and some are just plain stoic. The E-major Nocturne on this program is the 18th and final one that Chopin published in his lifetime (he did leave us with one more, but that was published posthumously). It's a real crowd-pleaser - it's got a nice, flowing melody and some fancy filigree, all held together by some sturdy chordal accompaniment. But don't worry, things don't stay calm for long - the left hand starts moving like crazy, and we get a new melody to go along with it. Then things get really interesting - we've got some syncopated, agitated music that really raises the tension. But don't worry, the main theme comes back to calm things down. And just when you think it's over, Chopin pulls out a little two-measure epilogue that some people might find a little unnecessary. But hey, who are we to question the master?

This is a live recording from Auer Hall at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music of one of Frederic Chopin's last works, the Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2. 
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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

Piano: New York Steinway & Sons Model D

Frédéric Chopin Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2

Welcome to Archie Chen's magical nocturnal voyage with Grieg's "Notturno," Op. 54, No. 4 – a gem from the Lyric Pieces that'll whisk you away to a mystical realm of serenity and enchantment! 🌙✨

Inspired by Grieg's rejuvenating trip to the Jotunheimen Mountains and his encounter with the lovely Gjendine Slålien, this "Notturno" showcases the composer's finest expressive and fresh elements. In fact, Grieg himself couldn't resist playing it in multiple concerts! 🎹🏔️

Get ready to be immersed in a twilight dreamscape, painted with shimmering extended chords and captivating harmonic shifts. Feel the gentle chill of autumn and the warmth of tender memories as Archie Chen's performance brings this piece to life. 🍂🔥

A precursor to the likes of Debussy and Ravel, Grieg's "Notturno" whispers a blend of post-Romantic and nationalist tones that resonate through time – so much so that you might even recognize it from popular TV shows and commercials! 📺🎶

So, sit back, relax, and let Archie Chen guide you through this enchanting musical world where the wonders of the past and present intertwine. It's an experience you'll cherish forever – or, as Grieg might have said, "en opplevelse for livet!" 🌌💫

This is a studio recording made for RTE's Arena broadcast on July 20th 2017.

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

Piano: Steinway B
Recorded at RTE Radio Centre, Dublin

Edvard Grieg Notturno op. 54, no. 4

Johannes Brahms
Intermezzo Op.117 N°2
Fabrice Pierre, Harpe
(Récital Teatro San Carlo, Napoli, 16/01/2005)

Classical

Maria David