The Devil's Instrument

Fur Elise

The poignant 'Agnus Dei' from Bach's Mass in B Minor, with the alto part performed here on virtual trumpet ("The Trumpet" from Samplemodeling). Other instruments include 4 violins (solo violin playing duet with trumpet + 3 other violins playing in unison during trumpet tacits), cello, contrabass, and Baroque organ.

Bach:  Mass In B Minor, BWV 232 - Agnus Dei - Trumpet (updated 2016.06.03)

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!

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Official Website: http://www.archiechen.com
Youtube DIPF https://www.youtube.com/c/PianofestivalIe
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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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Franz Liszt Consolation no. 3 in D flat Major, S. 172

A recording of J.S. Bach's 'Preludie in C' played by Neil Balfour.

When J.S. Bach began working on his epic Well-Tempered Clavier in 1722, chances are he wasn't thinking that it would become one of the defining musical texts in keyboard history. But, somehow, it has - and the Prelude No. 1 in C Major is where it all starts.

The Well-Tempered Clavier (there are two volumes of it, each containing a prelude and a fugue in each musical key) kicks off in C Major, the most 'natural' musical key, so he obviously made sure that the first entry is a good one. Few pieces of keyboard music sound so delicate and fragile, but there's a very Bach-ian stability to it as well. 

It's a strikingly simple piece to begin with, gently phasing through different chords and registers, but it's one of those pieces that demands to be tinkered with. Consequently, you'll hear plenty of different interpretations of this much-loved work.

Prelude No. 1 In C Major | Bach

CHOPIN - Ballad No. 1 in G minor - H. Alexander Engel

This seldom heard work by Claude Debussy is from my new CD album:
 'Debussy-Nature Myth Legend'

YouTube link:
http://youtu.be/fX1fqb3bJLA


Debussy-Nature Myth Legend

Nocturne, L. 82

'Nocturne' by Claude Debussy

Stürmisch bewegt - dalla Sinfonia n.1 "Titano" di Gustav Mahler diretta da Zubin Mehta con l'Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino al Teatro Comunale di Firenze il 4 febbraio 2000

Stürmisch bewegt - dalla Sinfonia n.1 "Titano" di Gustav Mahler - Zubin Mehta

Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmonker play Pavane, Op 50 by Gabriel Faure

"Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes."
-Ludwig van Beethoven



Ludwig Van Beethoven - Sonata No. 17 In D Minor For Piano, Op. 31 - 2 (The Tempest)- III. Allegretto

Grieg - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato

My first complete interpretation of one of the closest classical works to my heart, inspired by Lucas Debargue's great performance in the XV Tchaikovsky Competition in 2015.

Video: https://youtu.be/xkM3vKtR1vg 

Source score: http://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ReverseLookup/57351

Valse Sentimentale, Tchaikovsky (Op.51, No. 6)

Mozart's Requeim - Lacrimosa done with FluffyAudio Dominus Choir demo.

Mozart's Requiem - Lacrimosa (Dominus Choir Demo)

Gabriel Fauré - Après un rêve
Claudius Popp - Cello

Buy here

Gabriel Fauré - Après un rêve

David Loebel conducts the New England Conservatory Symphony in a performance of Schubert's  Symphony no 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished". Recorded live February 1, 2012 in NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston.
For more info: http://necmusic.edu

Schubert: Symphony no 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished"-  Allegro moderato

Claude Debussy - Clair De Lune [ violin ]

Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol - Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor - Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E Major

Symphony No.3 in A minor, Op. 56 - "Scottish": IV. Allegro vivacissimo - allegro maestoso assai

New England Conservatory educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, drawing on the talent and deep reservoir of experience of our distinguished faculty. We are dedicated to inculcating the highest standards of excellence and nurturing individual artistic sensibility and creative growth. Understanding that music is one of the transcendent expressions of human civilization, NEC aspires to ensure it a central place in contemporary society. Additionally, we present over 1,000 free concerts a year in our world class performance spaces which include historic Jordan Hall.

Schubert: Symphony no 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished"- Allegro moderato

necmusic

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