Classical Music

Classical Cello - Part 1

Classical

classique

Behold, Archie Chen's superhuman pianistic feats as he tackles Leopold Godowsky's gravity-defying reimaginings of the Chopin Etudes. Archie doesn't merely perform the Godowsky versions; he ups the ante by kicking off with the original Chopin version, leaving your jaw on the floor! The Studies unveil a pianist whose technical prowess is so mind-boggling that one could mistake Chopin's originals for child's play. Don't miss Archie's dazzling interpretation of Frederic Chopin's Etude in C major, Op. 10 No. 1, followed by Leopold Godowsky's Study No. 1 in C major.

Godowsky, a pianistic wizard of his time, shares his magical secrets with ingenious fingerings and enchantingly expressive pedaling. At first glance, some Studies, particularly those for the left hand, seem like Herculean tasks only fit for a Greek god. But fear not! Godowsky, the crafty problem-solver, has provided solutions that mere mortals can attempt. His metronome marks, often seemingly beyond human capabilities, taunt us with lofty aspirations of unattainable virtuosity, invoking the image of a pianist as a finely-tuned, unstoppable machine.

Picture this: you're a budding pianist encountering Carl Czerny's studies, which, let's be honest, are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Yet, they inspired some of the most extraordinary études of the 19th century, like those by Franz Liszt and our beloved Frederick Chopin. These works strike the perfect balance of technique, virtuosity, and refined expressiveness, much like a tightrope walker gracefully balancing between two skyscrapers.

The interwoven relationships between these composers are akin to a love triangle of musical dedications, with Liszt dedicating his 'Transcendental' Études to Czerny, Chopin dedicating his Opus 10 to Liszt, and Opus 25 to Comtesse Marie d'Agoult, Liszt's mistress. While Liszt's Études shattered records for virtuosity, his revisions often tamed the beasts, removing leaps and stretches that would make even an octopus sweat.

Chopin, in contrast, left his Études untouched after publication. Enter the annotated editions: a treasure trove of posthumous wisdom from Chopin's disciples and top interpreters. These editions offer a backstage pass to the artistry of the masters, from Ignaz Friedman to Alfred Cortot, whose notes could rival the length of a Tolstoy novel.

Take, for instance, Chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 1 in C major, nicknamed the "Waterfall" étude. This thrilling solo piece challenges the right hand to stretch its fingers like a superhero wielding superpowers. The enchanting cascade of notes conjures images of Piranesi's dizzying staircases. Even Vladimir Horowitz, the legendary pianist, wouldn't dare perform this étude in public, dubbing it the most challenging of all.

Godowsky's Studies on Chopin's Études, a staggering set of 53 arrangements, are the Mount Everest of piano challenges. As critic Harold C. Schonberg puts it, they're "the most impossibly difficult things ever written for the piano." With several studies featuring right-hand parts shifted to the left hand, and others solely for the left hand, these Herculean tasks are not for the faint-hearted.

Join Archie Chen on this extraordinary adventure as he conquers Godowsky's Everest, scaling the heights of pianistic technique and musical artistry. Witness the impossible become possible!

Live from the Hugh Lane Gallery on August 4th, 2013 as part of the concert series of the Dublin International Piano Festival & Summer Academy. Please comment and share.

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: Hamburg Steinway B
Piano Technician: Martin Walsh
Recording Engineer: Joey McDonald
Piano provided by Pianos Plus

Frederic Chopin Etude in C major, op. 10 no. 1 plus Leopold Godowsky Study no. 1 in C major

Brahms-Piano Concerto No.2 op.83
Arcadi Volodos-Piano  / Live 2012

Brahms-Piano Concerto No.2 Op.83-A.Volodos

October

The single best piece of classical music ever composed.

Bach - Cello Suite No1 in G Major (Prelude)

Warner Classics 2013

“The performances are wonderfully invigorating and touching (…) piercingly melodic, with a deeply affecting adagio and an allegretto moderato third movement marked by a brooding, declamatory figure that points straight to Sibelius. The disc is pure magic.”

Sunday Times, 24.03.2013

You can order the recordings on our website at the following page:

05 Souvenir De Florence, Op. 70 2

88 Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op. 33  Theme And Variations

Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor Op. 19 - III. Andante
Composer: S. Rachmaninoff
Transcription to piano solo: Arcadi Volodos
Sheet music notation: Christian Jensen
Sheet music reference: Donald Manildi
Performed by: Stacius Sakato
Recorded on: April 15, 2007

Notes: No copyright infringement is intended.  It is my understanding that a musical performance exists as a separate entity from the notation.  To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of copyright rules given that I hold exclusive rights to this recording.



Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor Op. 19 - III. Andante

Solist: Arcadi Volodos
Orchestra: Live With Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (Valery Gergiev)

Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini Op. 43

Amazing Grace - The Piano Guys.mp3

Johan Pachelbel - Canon in D
Uploaded by Athir Aldefaie

Pachelbel Canon in D - Solo Piano

Merry Christmas everyone - Maruja singing Gloria in Excelsis Deo, music by Dean McCarthy. Hear it on the Curacao Radio