I've had such a nice day today listening to these heartfelt performances.I've listened to every recording twice and I can honestly say that every single one of them has touched me in some way.There are also some interesting ideas on interpretation which I shall blatantly steal and pass off as my own one day.
A big thankyou to everyone that put this recital together.You did a great job!

I can't connect to the music links, either, and would certainly love to listen!

Thanks for the mention LA! but I still have a bit to go with that Nocturne. At first I thought it was straightforward, but studying it more in detail these past few months has revealed so many missing nuances, unheard voices, and indelicate tempo changes in my playing. It's amazing how tough it is to get a Lento and Agitato at the same time. I have a bad habit of playing it too quickly. I've always heard from teachers it's hard to play fast and it's much harder to play slowly. I believe them even more these days.

And it's interesting you should mention timmyab. I found it to be one of the most delicate interpretations of the entire e-cital. Great work timmyab!

jazzyprof, what a majestic performance of 48/1! You achieved the wonderfully melancholic Lento tempo that I should have worked on for my 62/2.

Chardonnay, great job on 27/2! It is my favorite Nocturne, followed by 62/2. Your tempo was impeccable, and you made that difficult run sound so easy and clean.

gerg! Thanks for helping organize the e-cital and of course for that elegant performance of 37/2. Chopin is well known for pieces such as 37/2 and you have portrayed and maintained his composition in high standard.

And to everyone, amazing job on making this e-cital a success! I need to hang around more and get to know everyone more. There is so much talent in the ABF! When's our next east coast piano party? Perhaps I'll organize one in NC soon.

I wonder if the people who were having trouble listening were ever able to?

Elene

I greatly enjoyed listening to all these wonderful performances. Congratulations to all who played and those who helped put this together! Chopin would be very pleased.

A big thank you to all who've listened to our offerings and made nice comments. And special thanks to LisztAddict for not letting me back out when I wanted to quit after hearing his version of the op.48 no.1!

I finally had a chance to finish listening to all of the performances. And I am still in a dreamy daze. The funniest thing is that as I listened to each one, as it started, I said to myself...Oh, that's my very favorite." Then as I listened to the next...oh no, that one is really my all-time favorite, This went on and on until the end, Once again, I give each of you so much credit (and my amazement) for performing as beautifully as you all did. Bravo! and Brava!

Mati: A special note to you. I was so pleased that you played that nocturne (in C minor, posth) that has been underrated and devalued by almost everyone. Oh, that tedious left hand or it lacks any spark, etc. Just recently, I mentioned that I loved the piece because it was the most "Polish" of all his nocturnes. I believe he wrote it later in his life, perhaps at a very low period, for it seems to me that it just personified homesicknesses. I know when I play it I think of all my relatives, all deceased now...all those family gatherings, the food, the laughter, the story-telling. Often it is a time that I wish I could return to.

What is even stranger, Mati, is that you play it exactly as I do, tempo wise. But my runs are always "iiffy." I believe this might have something to do with our both being Polish. Congrats to you and thank you for bringing this piece out in the open where it belongs.

With much affection,
Kathleen

I finally had a chance to listen to all of the works... Wow.. every single piece is played with such heart and so well. Most moving for me were Mati's and timmyab's but I could listen to every last one over and over.

Oh Mati, your 21 in C Minor... No words... I don't care how did you learn or how much time... it's just wonderful. Hope you don't mind if I download it to my MP3...

Kathleen, you are so right about the Polish-ness of the No. 21, and also about Mati's playing of it. There is something very special about this Nocturne that sets it apart from the others, something Mati drew out with adeptness. Does it only speak to those of us fortunate enough to have some Polish blood?

Kathleen is right, Mati. You certainly deserve all this praise

Sorry for not responding... I'm blushing after each and every post and can't think of proper words to thank you! Montag, of course I don't mind - please do.

Just a little follow-up... I thought about it today and thought I will share my feelings.



You may be right, Kathleen. I somehow get very emotional with this piece. The girl I love is few thousand kilometers away and won't be coming back for another few months. I think my yearning is part of what I express with this nocturne and why it sounds like it sounds. Having an emotional story behind a piece can do wonders.

Having said that, I still don't think I played it that well to be praised

Cheers,
M.

Thank you, Mati, for sharing that deep emotional connection. I think it would be safe to say many of us have felt that deep yearning for the one we love, that precious one meant for us. These are emotions the like of which can only be conveyed through art.

I sincerely wish you a swift reunion with your love, that she may return, and that you will share those feelings of joy, too, with the world through music.

I finaaly got around to listening to some of the Chopin E Recital. Wow everyone gave wonderful performances. Some of my favoties were:

Peyton- Nocturne Opus 9, No.1 and Opus 27,No.1 beautifully done Peyton
Chardonay - Nocturne Opbus 27, No. 2 Db, just beautiful.

Matti - very interesting comment about your girl, and the emotion that went into you performance. Beautiful! On another note, I was in Warsaw in 2007, and attended Chopin concet given by Ewa Beata Ossowska. She is a well known pianst, just wondering if you have ever heard her play. If not, check her website, and you may be able to catch one of her concerts.
Dot

I heard of her, but never been able to hear her. After your recommendation I will definitely try to get some seats! Thanks, Dot!

M.

After a busy week, I've finally been able to finish listening to all of the nocturnes (and I'm sure I'll be back to listen again). -What beautiful, heartfelt performances from all of you! It was such a pleasure to listen, and so nice to be a part of this.

And sincere thanks to all who commented on my piece. It truly was a labor of love, for about a year and a half, most of that time working with my teacher who really helped me get it as far as I did. Naturally, I wish it could have been better- and I thought it would be, by this time- but we all do the best we can.

Congratulations to all the performers and thank you again to the organizers!

Just listened to some of these.
Sorry i could not submit a recording. I was in the hospital early in Oct., and am just getting back to stuff like practicing.

There are some very lovely recordings here.

Wonderful recital. All of the performances were a beautiful tribute and worthy. Where is the applause icon!