if-it-isnt-cello

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@js-bach-official

Maestro Bach? Has God revealed Himself to me?

#chopin #frederic chopin #j s bach #mozart #composers #tumblr people

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Do you have your favourite interpretations of your works?

I, myself, love Krystian Zimerman's recordings of your concertos, made with the Polish Festival Orchestra; they are slightly slower and feel as if every note was thought of.

Bonsoir mon élève. I completely agree with you that Zimerman’s recordings of my concertos are the best. His attention to each note, never rushing, allows the emotional value of the piece to develop, particularly in the second movement. I also like his interpretations of my ballades alongside Richter’s.

Other works… My nocturnes I could probably split between Rubinstein, Cortot and Barenboim. I enjoy Pollini’s interpretations of my études for their technicality and power. Sokolov’s recording of my préludes is very graceful, perhaps more emotive than some. Waltzes… I think Lipatti’s interpretation is probably my favourite overall, for similar reasons.

#thank you for that list #rubinstein is great as always #arthur rubinstein #krystian zimerman #maurizio pollini #frédéric chopin #chopin #chopinski official

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Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11. II - Romanze - Larghetto (Fryderyk Chopin, 1830). Performed by Krystian Zimerman (piano) and the Krakow University Orchestra, conducted by Jan Krenz (1976).

The Adagio of the new concerto is in E major. It is not meant to be loud, it’s more of a romance, quiet, melancholy; it should give the impression of gazing tenderly at a place which brings to the mind a thousand dear memories. It is a sort of meditation in beautiful spring weather, but by moonlight.

(Fryderyk Chopin. Letter to Tytus Wojciechowski, May 15, 1830)

#he kinda looks like Frycek though #chopin #krystian zimerman #chopin piano concerto no. 1 #piano #classical music #quotes #chopin's letters

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never insist a piece is two four in front of its own author

bit more context

#oops #chopin #fanart #quote

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Happy nameday, then!

Happy (belated, I'm sorry) birthday, dear Maestro!

Have you celebrated since 22nd February? How do you feel about having two possible dates of birth?

I wish you many a great performance of your music this year! 🎶

Merci ma chère !

It doesn’t bother me too much, my family and I always celebrated it on the 1st. It wasn’t uncommon for people not to know the exact date of their birth when I was alive and besides, my name day — 5th of March — is more important to me anyway.

#frycek #fryderyk chopin #frederic chopin #chopinski-official

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Wszystkiego najlepszego✨️🎉

Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810.03.01)

#happybirthdaychopin #happy birthday #frycek #chopin #fryderyk chopin #frederic chopin

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Which is the least sexy brass instrument

bugle trumpet cornet flugelhorn trombone tuba french horn euphonium sousaphone mellophone cimbasso something else

#music instruments #brass #brass instruments #tumblr polls

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so tonight I've heard Blue Rhapsody for the first time live on stage and I'm just. it's sooo good.

Some of my thoughts

I've never thought about how many different instruments (brass, wind, and percussion) you need to play Gershwin

also, did you ever think how much of the piece is an actual piano solo? because I sure didn't

the 23 y.o. conductor has apparently just won an international conducting competition; imho he did good, paid a lot of attention to different soloists

the pianist was definitely chaotic evil. couldn't sit still for five seconds. I'm also convinced he's a drama queen and did most of his silent pa-pa-ra-pa mouthing just for the audience's sake. he possibly added half of the rubatos for fun

the concertmaster honestly looked like Martin Freeman in Sherlock BBC and I've only seen that today

On another note, I loved the Cuban Ouverture (the energy) and enjoyed listening to De Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat, Suites No. 1&2 for the first time (kudos to the conductor for doing it from memory)

#music #classsical music #george gershwin #manuel de falla #music performance #mine #blue rhapsody

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Ok am I crazy or is Glenn Gould literally singing/humming here?!

#love him tho #glenn gould #bach #j s bach #goldberg variations #piano #classical music #baroque music #audio #Spotify

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favorite movie and book?

I confess, films did not exist when I was alive so my knowledge of films is a little… limited.

My favourite book… Once I would have named any of George’s works, but that is well in the past. Books that I have enjoyed include Pan Tadeusz, Dziady, Balladyna, Maria and, when I was younger, Treny and Bajki i Przypowieści.

#great choices frycek #frédéric chopin #chopin

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"Paris is whatever you choose : you can amuse yourself, be bored, laugh, cry, do anything you like, and nobody looks at you; because thousands of others are doing the same as you, and everyone goes his own road...

...I finally decided to migrate to this other world. Through Paër, who is court conductor here, I have met Rossini, Cherubini, Baillot, etc. — also Kalkbrenner. You would not believe how curious I was about Herz, Liszt, Hiller, etc. —"

#chopin #liszt #fanart

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is it me or are the contrapunctuses (almost) the same

#also. the order of this album baffles me #j s bach #kunst der fuge #hesperion xx #jordi savall #classical music #baroque music #historical performance #audio #Spotify

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October 8th

Morning session (Stage I)

Arisa Onoda (Japan) finished Juillard, now studies with Dang Thai Son

Bach [Pleyel, 1842] Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major (DWK I)

Mozart [Pleyel, 1842] Rondo in A minor [they say she made a huge memory mistake, but was able to recover nicely]

Chopin [Graf, 1835] Polonaise in G sharp minor (WN 4): very polonaise-y, but also... dreamy? lyrical. maybe that's the word. but also strong (how can you achieve both things???)

Maria Szymanowska [Graf, 1835] Polonaise in F minor

Chopin [Pleyel, 1842] Barcarolle in F sharp major: it's a too long piece for me to know it well, but everything flowed and drew me along

Recomendation: Chopin's Polonaise

Madoka Okada (Japan, France) (can I just say: bold clothing decision?! chose a blouse with some white pannels/kinda window frames with things pattern) plays piano and violin, like Arisa Onoda

Bach [Pleyel, 1842] Prelude and Fugue in D minor (DWK II): I feel like I missed the fugue?... idk

Mozart [Pleyel, 1842] Fantasia in D minor: having in mind what was said about this piece yesterday, it definitely felt like a fantasia [radio speaker: this piano is a bit too late for a Mozart piece, kinda confused why this choice]

Chopin [Pleyel, 1830 (copy from 2017)] Barcarolle in F sharp major: (very nice)

Chopin [Graf, 1835] Polonaise in B flat minor (WN 10) [radio speaker: the trio part is opera-based, I didn't know that]

Michał Kleofas Ogiński [Graf, 1835] Polonaise in A minor ‘Farewell to the Homeland’: a bit too fast? but nevertheless, sounded good even in that tempo

Rec:

Piotr Pawlak (Poland)

Chopin [Pleyel, 1842] Barcarolle in F sharp major

Mozart [Buchholtz, 1825 (copy from 2017)] Fantasia in D minor

Chopin [Pleyel, 1830 (copy from 2023)] Polonaise in B flat major (WN 17)

Bach [Buchholtz, 1825 (copy from 2017)] Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor (DWK I)

Michał Kleofas Ogiński [Pleyel, 1830 (copy from 2023)] Polonaise in A minor ‘Farewell to the Homeland’

Rec: Chopin's Barcarolle and Ogiński's Polonaise

Intermission with PR 2: this morning was a triple-Barcarolle, each one different and placed in a different position

Arisa Onoda (in 2015 and 2021 took part of Chopin competitions). Great musical sensitivity. Unfortunately, made a huge mistake in Mozart's Rondo, but was able to recover towards the end; her Barcarolle was really good, made an impression on radio speakers. During the short interview after her recital, Onoda called this piece an "unfulfilled dream of going to Venice".

Madoka Okada studied in Paris, is now studying period playing. A bit controversial choice of the instruments (Mozart on Pleyel---maybe for easy playing, maybe a French tradition, maybe to get closer to how Bach and Mozart were played in Chopin's times?). An interesting choice to put Barcarolle in the middle of her recital [also Okada said that for this piece she chose a piano that lacks one note that is needed for this piece?! hey say though it also resonates bass notes nicely which can help in Barcarolle---also she used the dolce sfumato pedal that made the piece stand out].

Piotr Pawlak winner of 2017 Darmstadt Chopin competition, a bit of mathematician. A bold choice to begin with the Barcarolle---a real challenge. Bach was intriguing; played on a Viennese piano, una corda used in fugue, one of the most interesting during this competition.

Takahiko Sakamaki (Japan) MA thesis (Köln) on the methods of tuning of period pianos. [radio speaker: sat on a typical orchestral chair, seemed very relaxed]

Chopin [Buchholtz, 1825 (copy from 2017)] Polonaise in D minor (WN 11): lovely

Mozart [Graf, 1835] Fantasia in D minor [a short improvisation and modulation to go into Kurpiński's polonaise]

Karol Kurpiński [Graf, 1835] Polonaise in G minor

Bach [Broadwood, 1846] Prelude and Fugue in G minor (DWK II): very lively fugue, with this constant motoric motion

Chopin [Broadwood, 1846] Ballade in F minor: he got me at subito piano near the end. but then his chords, one after another, seemed too fast. a nice, if maybe a bit strong, ending. [seems there was some memory mistake?]

Rec: Bach and improv

Kamila Sacharzewska (Poland) studies with Janusz Olejniczak in Warsaw (lovely classic dress)

Bach [Buchholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor (DWK II): loved the prelude. very motoric fugue.

Mozart [Buchholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Fantasia in D minor

Chopin [Pleyel 1830 (copy from 2023)] Polonaise in A flat major (WN 3): full of grace

Michał Kleofas Ogiński [Buchholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Polonaise in A minor ‘Farewell to the Homeland’: nice, very decisive. she had quite a bit of mistakes with grace notes, maybe because of the change of instrument (I had listened to a reminder that al these pianos have different key width last night)

Chopin [Pleyel, 1842] Ballade in G minor: aaah, ballade in g <3 quite a bit of mystery, but also playfullness where it was needed (those semiquavers)

Rec: polonaises (and ballade, honestly)

Viacheslav Shelepov (Russia) studies in Hannover with Zvi Meniker

Chopin [Pleyel, 1842] Polonaise in F minor (WN 12)

Bach [Buchholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Prelude and Fugue in E minor (DWK I)

Mozart [Buhcholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Fantasia in D minor

Karol Kurpiński [Buchholtz 1825 (copy from 2017)] Polonaise in D minor

Chopin [Pleyel, 1842] Ballade in G minor ["you can't unhear it"?! wow]

Rec:

PR2 recs: Bach on late pianos sounds very good, which you can't say about Mozart on same pianos... Imagination and individuality as the main characteristics of the winners, but together with some order, with thought

Piotr Pawlak about Buchholtz: in Bach, every voice sounds different, which is great for him. He chose the piano (Pleyel) by playing first bars from the Barcarolle. Radio speakers: he was able to find the affect in that piece, which is difficult (also, he began his recital with it!) Spontaneous improvs/ornaments in Ogiński's Polonaise that sounded very natural and beautiful (in Darmstadt, he got a prize for improvisation). Nice Fantasy, contrasting recitativs (going back to CPE Bach). Treated Buchholtz, a Viennese-type piano, as an "emanation of a harpsichord".

Takahiko Sakamaki: Bach played on Broadwood, which also worked. Intriguing, all played on una corda, which made it sound completely different. This Broadwood is identical to the one used by Chopin in England. Great Ballade, fascinating. Chopin's Polonaise: a bit too nonchalant; Mozart a bit like in "Amadeus" (but with a style). Sakamaki about Broadwood: very romantic. He chose a standard chair bc the piano one was too high while he wanted to sit really low, alnd he prefers to have a backrest as it helps him relax and concentrate.

Kamila Sacharzewska: sure, calm and composed. Bach, which was difficult, played very surely. Chopin's Polonaise very nice, non banal, with good articulation. Ogiński: finally a polonaise played like a polonaise, like a dance, a bit melancholic. Used the una corda pedal wisely. Ballade: one of the most interesting, unfortunately the sound was a bit too forced, too much for the Pleyel.

Viacheslav Shelepov: a bit tiring recital, lots of mannerism, emphasy in the phrasing, too much of agogic changes. A bit histeric ballade O.o nice prelude. Probably will not get into stage two.

#chopin #chopin competition on period instruments #mine #the competition presenter is nice and all but when she switches to English she still pronounces the composers' names in Polish manner #okay I had no idea that Buchholtz was a Polish piano #made in Warsaw by Fryderyk Buchholtz #you probably noticed but sometimes in radio recs they broadcast those short interviews made shortly after the participant finishes playing

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Oct 7th (Stage I)

Morning Session

Yukino Hayashi (Japan)

Bach, Preluge and Fugue in B flat major (DWK I):

Chopin, Polonaise in B flat major:

Mozart, Fantasia in D minor:

Karol Kurpiński, Polonaise in D minor:

Chopin, Barcarolle in F sharp major:

Rec:

Satoshi Iijima (Japan)

Kurpiński, Polonaise in D minor

Chopin, Polonaise in B flat major

Mozart, Rondo in A minor

Bach, Prelude and Fugue in B minor (DWK II)

Chopin, Ballade in F minor

Rec:

Oscar Jiang (Australia)

Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D sharp minor (DWK II): did I tell you I love Bach's short piano pieces? Anyway. Prelude was lively and sharp, while the fugue surprisingly dolce, almost melancholic.

Mozart, Fantasia in D minor: this one was less dreamy than yesterday's interpretations (I've heard one or two in the radio in passing). More... sharp, with this light quality that I attribute to Mozart.

Michał Kleofas Ogiński, Polonaise in D minor: okay I didn't know this one! In case of polonaises, I always try to listen to the internal rhythm; I know they aren't really made for a dance, but polonaise is a dance, and imo it's important to acknowledge that. Here, I could hear this internal strength, along with a strong sense of what a polonaise is.

Chopin, Polonaise in B flat minor:

Chopin, Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60: a stron (too strong?) beginning---they said in the radio that Pleyel has a strong lower notes voice and you could hear it perfectly here. Overall, a lovely piece, just making you drift on the waves of music.

Rec: Ogiński, Polonaise in D minor.

Intermission with Polish Radio Programme 2: Chopin's demanding pieces are generally too demanding for the participants (bar one, Eric Guo), which the radio speaker finds interesting since after the preliminaries they admitted five more participants. There's more interest in period instruments amongst pianists (you can see in the bios they are interested in playing on p.i.), but sadly the stereotype that period piano is for those who can't achieve much in modern piano is probably still there? + there's technique, but you also need to be able to show the interpretation. A lot of gushing on Eric Guo :) (who played yesterday) i.e., Kurpiński's polonaise that was great, filled with references to C.P.E. Bach and so on. The speakers agree that he was the brightest until now, though, and as for now, the only one very good. Bach's interpretations are called school-etudes, as for how the majority of competitors played his DWK.

Satoshi Iijima: Kurpiński's Polonaise---unfortunately with mistakes, but nevertheless played with ease. Mozart lacked the fantasy, the protoromanticism. Used the four pedals in Bucholtz, tried to use the nuances---very nice.

Oscar Jiang (taught by Dang Thai-Son!): felt at ease with period instruments, but lacked interpretation. Tried to create his repertoire with awareness, but still needs to learn playing in a conscious manner (?).

Saya Kamada (Japan)

Hyunji Kim (South Korea)

Song-Ha Kim (South Korea)

PR2:

#I have no idea how to listen to everything there's too much going on in my file rn #also reminder that radio opinions are radio opinions #I'm translating them on the spot #the speakers are professional but their opinions are theirs not mine #chopin #chopin competition on period instruments #mine

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2nd Chopin Competition on Period Instruments: Stage I

Repertoire

Bach: Prelude and Fugue from WTK I or II

Mozart: Fantasia in D minor K.397 or the Rondo in A minor K.511

Chopin: one of the early polonaises; one of the ballades or barcarolle

One of the polonaises by Polish romanticism composers: Karol Kurpiński, Józef Elsner, Michał Kleofas Ogiński, or Maria Szymanowska

The participants "will have to perform the programme of the first stage on at least two different instruments that belong to at least two different types (e.g., an Erard, Pleyel or Broadwood piano from before 1856, and on a Viennese-type piano, or on an appropriate replica)".

Competitors

My posts

Oct 6th, Morning

Oct 6th, Evening

Oct 7th, Morning

Oct 7th, Evening

Oct 8th, Morning

Oct 8th, Evening

Results

#chopin #chopin competition on period instruments #mine

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Chopin Competition on Period Instruments: How, Where and Why

The official competition website

Where to listen/watch

Chopin Institute's YouTube channel and Facebook profile

WEIBO (honestly I have no idea what's that)

Polish Radio Programme 2 [commentaries in PL only]:

on-line radio streaming (yes, they broadcast everything to do with the competition): live streaming on PR2 and then, from 12 AM CEST, re-broadcast on Radio Chopin

competition's tag on the website (radio schedule can be found here)

The schedule (CEST time always)

3 October, 3:00 p.m. Draw of the order of participants' performances in the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments

5 October, 7:00 p.m. Inauguration of the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments STAGE I: 6-8 October,  10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:00-9:30 p.m. STAGE II: 10-11 October,  10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:00-9:30 p.m. FINAL: 13-14 October, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

15 October, 6:00 p.m. Prizewinners' concert of the 2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments

17 October, 8:30 p.m. (Basilica of St. Cross in Warsaw) Concert on the occasion of the 174th death anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin

(for those of you in Warsaw atm, here's the detailed schedule with walks and all kinds of events)

Rules

The difference between Chopin Piano Competition and its younger brother, period instruments competition, is that the latter is not monographic. Thus, during the first stage the competitors will be playing a more broadened repertoire, I presume to show their skills/background in terms of period music: from Bach to Mozart.

(more will follow, as well as detailed description, but tomorrow, stay tuned!)

#chopin #chopin competition on period instruments #mine #also I literally stumbled on some other radio ppl talking for 2 hrs about the whole second day of stage one #the whole cultural part of the radio lives and breathes Chopin atm #polskie radio dwójka #polskie radio chopin #polish radio

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2nd International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments, Warsaw, October 2023—masterpost

Aaaaand another Chopintober! (is that a thing? it should definitely be a thing! what's the official name though?) This year, we're going back to the past to listen to beautiful period instruments, which adds another interesting layer to Chopin's music.

As two years before, I'll be trying to listen to as much as possible (well, there's life and then there's uni), along with radio commentaries that are super helpful in understanding everything that's going on.

ALL POSTS

intro (me being excited)

the real intro: where to listen, calendar, rules

Stage I: programme & all posts

#chopin #chopin competition on period instruments #mine