This is the first of a few one-take quick studies I will be uploading. This was done in one-take and has no editing. So it's got bum notes, timing errors and is generally pretty rough.
I found the whole idea of putting a warts-and-all recording out there was pretty daunting, but also pretty freeing. Please don't judge it too harshly!

Ludovico Einaudi - Nuvole Bianche

I figured that it was high time I uploaded some Chopin, and I thought I'd start with one of my favourites!
This prelude is in A Major and was composed in 1834. It wasn't, however, discovered until after Chopin's death and was published posthumously in 1918. 
I played this a little slower than I would have liked, but nonetheless, I think I did a pretty decent job.

Enjoy!

Chopin - Prelude No. 26

Here is my recording of the first movement of Winter from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
I came across the transcription on youtube, from a wonderful pianist called Erik Osterberg. When I heard it, I knew that I must learn to play it.
I couldn't do it justice on my little Medeli, so a huge thank you to my wonderful friend, Joseph for allowing me to monopolise his Steinway for several hours.
I'm working on recording transcriptions of the entire Four Seasons, but that may take some time!
Enjoy :)


Vivaldi - Winter 1. Allegro Non Molto

Vivaldi Spring 1. Allegro

Stay With Me - Sam Smith (Piano Cover)

This is a piece of music I fell in love with and learned to play when I was in high school. 10 years later and I still love to play it! Valse Triste, which means 'Sad Waltz' was originally written by Sibelius to accompany his brother's play 'Death'. The music matches the plot of the play so well, that I can see it unfold in my mind every time I play this. This is the original synopsis:

"It is night. The son, who has been watching beside the bedside of his sick mother, has fallen asleep from sheer weariness, Gradually a ruddy light is diffused through the room: there is a sound of distant music: the glow and the music steal nearer until the strains of a valse melody float distantly to our ears. The sleeping mother awakens, rises from her bed and, in her long white garment, which takes the semblance of a ball dress, begins to move silently and slowly to and fro. She waves her hands and beckons in time to the music, as though she were summoning a crowd of invisible guests. And now they appear, these strange visionary couples, turning and gliding to an unearthly valse rhythm. The dying woman mingles with the dancers; she strives to make them look into her eyes, but the shadowy guests one and all avoid her glance. Then she seems to sink exhausted on her bed and the music breaks off. Presently she gathers all her strength and invokes the dance once more, with more energetic gestures than before. Back come the shadowy dancers, gyrating in a wild, mad rhythm. The weird gaiety reaches a climax; there is a knock at the door, which flies wide open; the mother utters a despairing cry; the spectral guests vanish; the music dies away. Death stands on the threshold." 

The last line has always resonated with me and I can imagine it so clearly. Hope you all enjoy!

Played on a Yamaha GC2 Baby Grand
Recorded and edited using GarageBand

Sibelius - Valse Triste

This is for those, like me, who are a little further away from home than they would like this Christmas. 

Merry Christmas everyone xx

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