Nobody here yet?

I planned to submit this piece to the recital but changed my mind and submit another one. So here it is for the monthly bar. Cheer

Story Of A Young Girl

TB

TB - there's nothing like a good "Story", and this is one - yet another lovely piece in a growing list of such works from the pen of TB

Looking forward to hearing your Recital piece also.

JF

Really like your avatar.

Still trying to figure out what you're a true beginner at though.

TrueBeginner- Very nicely played. I love the melody. Very dreamlike. What is the piece?

Oh, I forgot to specify that it is self-composition.

Thanks JF and Peyton for your encouragement.

TB

Very nice TB; Beautiful background music for my morning coffee.

TB - I'm with Studio Joe on this one - perfect coffee drinking music. I had 2 cups and listened to it twice. Very nice.

Self comp!! Even better. A very pretty piece indeed!

My November Piano Bar submission is a cover of a song that has been done by lots of artists, most notably Peggy Lee and Elvis. I couldn't resist using the Jazz Scat voice in the piano break at around the 2 minute mark.

Fever

Great job Bill!! I always liked that song and you do such a fantastic version of it.

You just keep getting better and better.

Hi All,

I’ve enjoyed the submissions here so far!

I’m thinking I might be wearing out my welcome here with all the Rock-N-Roll, so here is something different. This is an improvision that I’ve been working on. Sometimes I just like to noodle around on the piano and imagine that I can really play it!

My Tokai grand piano sounded really good in this recording. I put the microphone over in piano and the amplification brought out the best in her!

I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cioP4J50IUY

Take care,

Rick

Sounds great Rickster! Really it sounds wonderful, both your improv and the piano. In many ways it's my favorite of yours so far.

I don't think you've worn out your welcome with Rock'n'roll -- everyone's got to mix up fast and slow styles, even for one's own benefit.

Hmmm, good noodles; Sounds good Rickster, enjoyed listening.

A little Jazz for the November bar...

Improvisation of "All the Things You Are". This is a two handed soloing style which is very difficult so I don't have quite mastered at this fast tempo...

http://www.box.net/shared/sctchthkch

TB, that's a nice composition you had there!

Rickster, pretty nice noodling I'd say

You two are chockful of submissions for sure

Bill - You're not quite as alluring as Peggy Lee but I really liked your take on "Fever" anyway Just in time for the Flu season too!

JF

Rick, that was quite different for you. I like it.

Jazzwee- what a fun piece! Did you work from sheet music at all?

Another inspiring piece! Somehow I don't think TrueBeginner suits you

Great performance--really like the Scat voice. Looks like you're really enjoying yourself!

Thanks Peyton! No that's completely improvised. It all came from my head except for the beginning partial melody. It will come out 100% different each time I do it.

That's why it comes out raw. There's a natural imperfection since I'm composing on the fly.

well, this is one of the few songs I have recorded since I just started my account a few days ago, I have only one song so far on here, I've played it 3 times since I got it so its not that good yet, but thought I'd put it up here to see what people think:)

http://www.box.net/shared/oi4o8jpbza

Dueling Violins from Lord of the Dance,

Thanks for the comments, All!

Great performance, TB!

Excellent, Bill! That kind of music keeps us young!

Nice, Jazz, Jazzwee! I like Jazz too!

Nice piece, Augustina. Maybe one of these days I’ll record my version of “Dueling Banjo’s”.

Keep’em coming Ya’ll!

Rick

Well, I've been away from the bar for a while, but it's nice to come back and listen every now and then.

@TrueBeginner - Impressive as ever and your touch is sounding better.
@b528nf7 - gotta say I love the song. What about Kylie Minogue?
@Rickster - nice improvisation
@Jazzwee - livey and fun. Sounds like a lot to keep straight in the head.
@Augustina - where's the piano? Only three times? Sounds better than that

Had some extra recording practice from the old recital madness. Here's one that wasn't really on the list of potential entrants, but a piece I love. It was featured on House the other week.

Schumann op. 15, no. 1

True Beginner - that was lovely

Cathy

homeinmyshoes i dont have a piano, just a keyboard with 61 keys. and yeah 3 times. however it helps when i have listened to the song a lot of times

I like that HIMS, I don't think I've heard that piece before but it is lovely and you played it very well.

HomeinMyShoes - very nice playing on the Schumann piece - enjoyed that much. Listened twice. Thanks.

JF

HomeInMyShoews - that was an outstanding Schumann 15/1. I can hear the difference between this and the one from the Schumann study group just a few days ago. Great work!

Homeinmyshoes- Very nice playing. Nice job keeping that G out at the end. I still keep forgetting.

This is the first recording I've done on my Casio. I like the action of this keyboard but I think I like the sound of Yamaha better.

The Shadow of Your Smile

-

Very nice, Joe! I enjoyed it much! Soothing and comforting to listen to.

Rick

Bill, nice performance as always. Did you just change your camera? The video is crystal clear. However, I think your voice sounds a little echoed.

Rickster, i didn't know you have that type of music in you. I love it very much. Is it selfish to ask you to play more of those musics?

Jazzwee, you live up to your username, this is my favorite from you so far. I love the intro.

Augustina, the melody sounds epic and seems hard to play for me.

HomeInMyShoes, you always make those classical pieces sounds effortless, and I like that piece. Everytime I listen to it I imagine some ballet dancer doing some footwork

Studio Joe, I haven't heard that song in a while. That is a very nice rendition. I love your arpeggio(sp?).

TB

Joe - a beautiful song beautifully played. I actually like the tone of your piano - it has a faintly metallic tone, kind of like a dance hall piano you might hear in old westerns, but only more refined.

TB - My wife gave me a Flip Ultra HD camera for my birthday and I'm using it for both the video and the audio. I like the way it looks and sounds. Yes - I added a little echo.

Hey everyone, just wanted to post this new version of a song I learned long time ago. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.box.net/shared/qbv51qcnz8

Bill, I think "Fever" was written for you Great rendition.

Cathy

Beautiful! What's the name of the song?

Bill - Very nice! That was fun. I like how you were syncopating those chords. The Scat made it jazzy for sure

Augustina - I listened to your recording that night that you first posted it. Then you removed your post so I never got a chance to comment. Loved the dueling violins Sounded like the real deal.

HomeInMyShoes - lovely rendition of Schumann!

Joe - I liked that a lot and of course a lovely tune. You always do such professional sounding recordings.

Z32 - That was fantastic playing. Nice touch!

Thanks TB, I've tried not to post anything with real Jazz before in the bar. But I took the risk this time.

Her Most Beautiful Smile.

Glad you enjoyed it btw!

Jazzwee I don't remember removing anything I might have though since I posted them late at night and I was trying to do three different things at once^_^. Also I enjoyed listening to your song. I can't wait until I get my own piano!

TrueBeginner
From listening to you play I think you could play dueling violins it really isn't that hard:)
To everyone else I love all the songs on here:)

Good chops Jazzwee; I especially enjoyed the intro where you play the melody in the RH.

Thanks for the comments everyone. There has certainly been a lot of effort over the last couple of years on the pieces I work on. I would keep a log of the time spent on pieces, but it would probably scare me at how little I actually get through given the time spent.

@Studio Joe: nice stuff. Beautiful piece.
@z32: wow, that was really nice. As mentioned, nice touch. A pleasure to listen to.

Z32 - lovely piece and very delicate and fine playing - you sound like you're playing an acoustic in a large auditorium, but are you, in fact, playing a digital with "effects"?

JF

Rickster - well, yours was my coffee-drinking and paper-reading morning music. Very nice. I've only done that kind of improv once in awhile, and after listening to yours I think I should try it again. Thanks -

Cathy

I'm really enjoying everyone's submissions this month!

Bill, your rendition of "Fever" was very smoooth and I also loved the improv using the Jazz Scat! I have the same voice on mine (KR-7).

Hope y'all don't mind another "Misty":

MISTY

Elssa - Just lovely. Did you take the picture at the beginning of the video? Nice touch.

Yep sure am!

Thanks for the comments btw!

jazzwee - whoopee! I liked that it sounded jazzier and more confident the more you played, like you were really getting warmed up and into the sound. By the end it was definitely club stuff!

Cathy

jazzwee - Your "All the Things You Are" rendition is very nice. You have a clean, crisp touch that is perfect for this piece. Not being real familiar with this piece I was kind of surprised by the abrupt ending. Very cool.

Your piano sounds great - did you add a little reverb to the recording or is that how it sounds in real life? Edit - I just looked at your profile and see you have both a Steinway as well as a couple of digitals. Which was this - again, a very nice sound.

Bill - Thanks! The piano is just a default sound of the Yamaha P155, which pales in comparison to the Hamburg as you would imagine. It's actually pretty hard to get nuances out of the digital. There's a little more reverb which I add to compensate for the my dissatisfaction vis-a-vis the Steinway. Now as far as abrupt ending, I was just improvising so I when I recorded something long enough, I just stopped so I don't upset the "Red Dot" gods. What I was doing is something new to me and very difficult. Two hands are improvising simultaneously. Completely unplanned.

Cathy - You are such a sweetheart! I'm always afraid to post anything with real Jazz lest it be labeled as "too many notes" (which I expect). So any positive commentary is really reassuring

Joe - Thanks! Chops are still under-construction but your comments are encouraging.

Thanks, Bill! No, that picture is one of the backgrounds that I just discovered are in my new movie editing program (Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus).

TrueBeginner, nice little composition. I enjoyed listening.

Bill, Fever is an old favorite. It seems like I say that about everything you play/sing, but it's true. Nice job. I really enjoyed your version. That scat voice is pretty cool. My little Casio only does "doos" and "ahhs" - nowhere near as cool as this.

Rickster, your Restoration is a sweet melody. I like this alot. Terrific! And, yeah, your piano does sound especially good in that recording.

jazzwee, that's terrific improv on All the Things You Are. It sounds really nice, and I love this song. Sweeeet!

Augustina, you played that on a 61 key keyboard? Impressive! It certainly doesn't sound like it would be easy to play.

HomeInMyShoes, that's my absolute favorite Schumann piece. Beautiful job on it.

Studio Joe, I like your version of Shadow of Your Smile. I wanted to sing along. I agree, the Yamaha does sound better although I think your Casio sounds better than mine. Maybe it's the player, though.

z32, I've never heard this one before. Very nice. You have the perfect touch for the piece.

Elssa, I never mind Misty. It may be over played, but I have always enjoyed the song. Your version is quite nice. As an aside, I know that Rickster keeps saying how great Tatiana's hands look. She's got nothing on you.

Thanks for the comments, Denis!! You are always kind and polite to boot!!

And, you are right; Elssa’s hands are as lovely as her playing! (Don’t tell Tatiana I said that… she’ll think I’m a two-timer!! )

Take care!

Rick

Home at last after a long trip, with minimal access to computers. So I'm behind on everything, but priorities are priorities, and first things must be put first, so I'm going to concentrate on getting up to speed on --- ta da - the ABF piano bar and recital!

Herewith some comments:

TB, nice composition. To me, it has a very nostalgic feeling to it.

Bill, boy, that scat voice sounds like fun! Great job, as usual with the arrangement and performance.

Rick, liked your improv, very mellow. It had a very nice feeling to it. A restorative, you might say!

Jazzwee, aw c'mon, admit that was a duet! No? Well, then, you have really made some kind of a breakthrough, improvising simultaneously with both hands. So hard to do, and quite fascinating!

Augustina, if you have only played that three times, you are a heck of a good reader and player! Note: I got a laugh out of the break for page change - there is a law that says if you have a perfect recording going, just before the ending your music will fall on the floor, or the cat will jump up on the keyboard. Never fails.

HIMS, there was something quite beautiful and quite refreshing about that. Yes, this would have been a top notch recital piece!

Joe, nice work on Shadow of Your Smile - great song, nifty LH arpeggios, beautiful ending.

z32 - that was superb. I wish I could play with such perfect expression, touch, control. Interesting that the beginning notes of the melody are roughly the same as Quando Quando - but what a different feeling! Great intro, btw.

Elssa, another polished and very professional performance. Your intro's, endings, and fills are so cool!

My piece is a song called Nardis, By Miles Davis. I am playing the piano, but all other instruments are computer generated.

http://www.box.net/shared/zbed4gjlps

Ed

P.S. Dennis - careful now; I don't want to have to call the vice squad about your hand fetish!

Ed - you know Nardis is one of my most favorite tunes so you get me excited here BTW - your piano touch is really good. Those chords sound so nicely balanced. You always do a serious production with these submissions. Amazing I like it a lot.

BTW - the two-handed thing is a work in progress. Taking a queue from Brad Mehldau here. I've been just taking baby steps to teach the LH how to improvise. When you combine the two, it's really distracting so it affects my time. In a few months though this will be quite natural. I'm already feeling the difference.

Dennis - Thanks for the kudos. I think I will submit a similar two-handed approach for the Nov. Recital. We'll see if I've made any progress since I posted ATTYA.

I like that Ed. This is jazz with just the right amount of notes, and the right notes. Sounds professional.

Hi everyone, I like all you music, this is a great place and I am glad I found it.
I am a beginer at the piano and I am totaly self taught, I don't know how to read music and I don't know what chords I am playing, I started by learning to play Georg Winston pieces and then after learning some of his work I was able to start creating my own piano pieces so here is mine, this is called Ka'u Pilialoha - My Bond of Love.
I composed this about 3 years ago and I composed it for my wife.
I use a Yamaha P-80 going into my Soundblaster soundcard and then using the soundblaster software I burned it to CD,
I have some more piano pieces I will try to post later on,

The link I first tried did not work so I put it in the html of my website,
I put the link at the top of my website so click onto - Download Unknown Artist - Track 1
and you will see it at http://www.koawoodhawaii.com/
Comments are welcom, good or bad, take care and aloha.

Chris

Elssa, so smooth and seemingly effortless.
Riddler, I always enjoy the band. A great listen. It's been on repeat for at least fifteen minutes now.

Chris: A lovely composition and delightfully played.

Very nice kalai1.

Ed - your piano work on this one is first rate - you are playing with real confidence and your skill really shines on this uptempo piece. Nice strong finish. Well done.

What model Yamaha are you playing? It has a very nice sound.

Riddler, your Nardis is another very fine performance. Quite enjoyable, and as Joe said just the right amount of notes. While I love to listen to Oscar Peterson and the like, a simpler arrangement is more listenable for most of us casual jazz fans. A very nice and professional sounding recording.

Chris, I think it's wonderful that you wrote this for your wife. I wish I were that talented. Well, okay, once I wrote a song for my wife when we were dating, but it's sort of a country-comedy piece called Influenza about the fact that I caught the flu from her while we were dating. Maybe one day I will have the guts to record it and post it here.

Back to your piece, though. This is a sweet gentle melody that conveys your feelings for your wife beautifully. Beautifully played as well. I am listening to it for the second time now.

Augustina - your dueling violins made me smile A very creative use of your keyboard - don't lose that perspective!

Cathy

Thanks, guys, for your kind comments on my video - and my hands! It's amazing what a little dab of Pink Frost Polish will do to make the paws look spiffy. (I don't usually bother with it, but just thought I'd "dress up" for the video).

Just listened to "Nardis".. That was terrific, Ed! Such an exotic/jazzy sound, very polished and smoothly played.

Thanks to Jazzwee, Joe, HIMS, Bill, Dennis, and Elssa, for listening and for the kind comments.


Jazzwee, Re the "production": My ultimate goal is to play in jam sessions, so my BIAB arrangements simulate the arrangements that would be played at the local jazz club. That's why I always include comping for a soloist, and sometimes include trading fours with the drummer, tag endings, etc. Of course, in many cases, I can't play at the tempo they would play at, but someday - - as the song says - - my day will come!



Bill, it is a Yamaha P120. I don't think they make this exact model anymore, but there is a later model that is similar.






That's great, guys, 'cause I can't play any more!!

Ed

HomeInMyShoes - the Schumann was delightful!

Cathy

Here's a little recording of an old Russian folk song:

TWO GUITARS

Just jumping into here -- I've never participated in the piano bars because I've always felt overwhelmed by the talents here . Are there any rules? However even if a beginner like me posts up something, it's bound to be some lame piano piece

I've only listened to Riddler's Nardis so far, and I love it!! The piano is great, but the other computer-generated instruments (which I never even recognized as such) sound great too! Would you mind if I downloaded the file and put it in my mp3 player? What's this kind of music called, by the way? It sounds like something I'd hear at a bar XD

I'm looking forward to listening to the other participants' entries. You're all very inspiring!

marimorimo - only one rule: no rules! Except maybe the piece must be played by you (did this go without saying?) - all pieces by all players at all levels are very welcome - the only "lame" piece is the one not submitted...

JF

From Alfred 3 here's the study piece I just wrapped up - I recorded this using the Bright Piano "voice" on my DP, which sounds just a little honky tonky, although that's actually another of the 8 piano voices available. Some rascals might claim that it sounds like a Yamaha Grand Piano, but I think that might be a gross exaggeration

The piece is in 3 short sections, the 1st of which repeats at the end somewhat uptempo. It's often played as an accompaniment to "hornpipes".

From Wikipedia:

The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels. Movements were those familiar to sailors of that time: "looking out to sea" with the right hand to the forehead, then the left, lurching as in heavy weather, and giving the occasional rhythmic tug to their breeches both fore and aft.

I think versions of this piece are, and have been, long time staples of many Celtic music soloists and bands, often performed on the "fiddle". You are welcome to dance along - rhythmic tugs on your breeches are optional

Soldier's Joy

Enjoy, JF

P.S. Why a piece danced to by sailors is called "Soldiers Joy" is anyone's guess ... except maybe soldiers watching sailors try to dance found it hilarious...

I've always felt the same. I'd thought about it because the threads were supposed to be less formal than the recitals, but every time I listened to anything posted I felt very intimidated.

Delightful little piece John, and sounds like a fun dance. I wish I could see a video of the dance being performed.

Your piano sounds good.

John Frank - Very nicely played. I am not familiar with this piece but enjoyed it and your performance very much.

Studio Joe - what a great rendition of Shadow of Your Smile! Very well done.

I think I'm thru the first page of the piano bar now. . .

Cathy

Thanks Cathy, I appreciate your time spent in listening and posting your compliments.

John Frank, very nice and peppy! Good playing! BTW you were late this month. Tsk. Tsk. Aren't you always first usually or nearly so

Thanks much - As Yogi used to say: "I would have been here sooner, but I just got here..."

JF

I was working on this piece for some time now and I still can't get it right. Nevertheless, I decided to record it anyway and post it here. Hope you'll like it.

It's Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude in E minor (BWV 941):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oai_zujcIgQ

Kalai1 (Chris),

Your composition is quite excellent, and played with a very nice touch and good feeling.

Welcome to the piano bar, and I hope you continue to contribute.

Ed

Kalai1, I missed your post. Nice composition. Pretty tune and well played. Great that you can join us here.

Thanks, Marimorimo, I'd be flattered to think my music was on your MP3 player!

As to the type of music - - this is an amateur's attempt at playing jazz. The song was written by Miles Davis, one of the all-time great jazz musicians. It is often played by jazz groups but is not well known outside of that community. I am trying to learn to play with a jazz group, so I use my computer and Band-In-A-Box software to emulate the other players.

I hope you decide to participate. I think you will find these folks to be very supportive and helpful.

Ed

Elssa, Russian folk songs are always entertaining (especially when accompanied by those crazy Russian dancers). Nice job!

JohnFrank, Soldier's Joy is a fun little piece. Great job with it. Now, about that voice . . . it most certainly does NOT sound like a Yamaha grand. Perhaps you could have said "a worn out old spinet."

David Ruzicka, nice job on the Bach prelude. You are too hard on yourself. Good job.

Thanks, Tx-Dennis! I had fun with it. (I used the 12-String Guitar setting instead of just the usual strings this time).

YouTube: TWO GUITARS

I enjoyed your playing of "Shadow..", Studio Joe. Is that your own arrangement? Very nice!

He everyone, for those who commented on my submision, thanks very much, I will be submitting more of my music as time goes by, I only know some George Winston pieces and my own pieces, I want to hear a lot of critique on my songs god or bad I want to hear it, since I am self taught I play by ear and I don't know what chords I play I need all the help I can get, aloha.

Chris

David, love the Bach prelude. You play it very well

Thanks Dennis - you're, of course, correct about the voice - the rap (by some) on the Yamaha grand is that it is too "brilliant" - taking that as the lead I just thought I would "pull the chain" a little of those who make this claim (rightly or not), who I referred to affectionately as "rascals".

JF

Bill I like that song, also you sing good^_^

Rickster, I liked your song too, Your piano sounded really nice also can I have it? lol just kidding some day I'll get my own^_^

Jazzwee, I enjoyed listening to your song,sounded fun,Good job*_*

True beginner, your song was also good, and I enjoyed listening to it^_^

HomeInMyShoes, Your song Schumann op. 15, no. 1 was very well played,
Studo Joe, Very nice, and pretty, I liked the sound of your piano
Z32 Another pretty song, I enjoyed listening to it:P
Elssa I enjoyed listening to Misty very much, I had to look up the song on the computer, I didn't know where it was that well known:0 .. Sounded good to me also:P
Also your Two guitars was another well played song and enjoyable to listen to,I like watching your hands:) and the winter picture in it was nice, Though made me think of snow which is probably coming in a few weeks:(


TX-Dennis
"Augustina, you played that on a 61 key keyboard? Impressive! It certainly doesn't sound like it would be easy to play"
Yes I played that with a 61 key keyboard, I'll record it again when I go to visit my mom over Thanksgiving and can use her piano:)
Riddler

Augustina, if you have only played that three times, you are a heck of a good reader and player! Note: I got a laugh out of the break for page change - there is a law that says if you have a perfect recording going, just before the ending your music will fall on the floor, or the cat will jump up on the keyboard. Never fails."
Well, I've played it more times now, Trying to get the speed right, but yeah Sight reading is not to hard for me, all those years of band and being forced to sight read:), also As you will find out I can not turn pages fast no matter what song I'm playing. So every song you will listen to now, just listen to that " break" for page turning^_^ because I guarantee it will be in almost every song:)

Also I enjoyed what you did with your song, it was very well played:)

Chris for being self taught and not able to read music, Your song was great:)

John Frank, I love all Irish, Celtic, music thanks for soldiers joy. you played it good:)


David, You played Prelude in E Minor very well, I always enjoy listening to anything by Johann Sebastian Bach ^_^
Oh what can I say I enjoyed listening to everyone's music:P

On side note, this is probably the wrong place to ask The last lesson book I completed years ago was Alfred book 6, how much higher do the levels in piano go? and can I put more then one song on here?:)

Woo hoo! A cake! You can't get them by me!

Happy birthday Studio Joe. Here's a my very first "by ear" recording that I did for Seaside_Lee in these circumstances a couple of years ago -

Happy Birthday




Cathy

Augustina - In addition to your November Piano bar submission I also watched all of your videos on Youtube. I was struck by 2 things:

1. You get a very nice sound from your keyboard, and;
2. You play very well and never seem to make a mistake.

I hope you get your piano soon as you are very talented and the 61 note keyboard may start to hold you back.

Thanks Cathy, how delightful!

I had another surprise this morning that was comical. A friend of mine wrote on my Facebook wall and said "Happy birthday amigo, I hope you live to be a hundred and then have another year left to repent".

TB, this is very nice music. I remember listening to it when you posted it previously. It's very evocative.

Mr. Rickster, you are just full of surprises. Just when I had you pegged as a southern gentleman old time rock 'n' roller, you come up with this. Very nice work. The piano does sound good too. I've experimented a lot with mic placement, and it sure can make a difference. Are you using just one mic?

Bill, nice job on Fever. Your voice fits well with the song and with your playing style.

JazzWee "All the Things You Are" was nice. I'm good at improvising too, but I don't think I could do it in the style you do. It's a nice tune, and listening to it makes me want to do my own version.

Ed-Riddler - another one of your patented great jazz pieces. I love the tempo on this one, and you were grooving.

Cathy

Thanks for the complements, Larry.

Yes, I did use only one mic, positioned about middle ways of the sound board on a boom stand about 10 inches above the strings. It’s the one I use to sing. Actually, I use a Shure mic (don’t remember the model#) with a Roland keyboard amp that I use to amplify my digital piano on occasion. The Roland amp has a low impendence plug for the mic.

I’ve noticed that a lot big churches with real grand pianos use the mic’s and amplification.

Take care,

Rick

Still catching up with all the great stuff here this month...

Jazzwee and Rickstser: I really enjoyed your playing/noodling/improv (whatever you call it)! Very creative and interesting! I think improvising is the most challenging thing to do.

Home In My Shoes - I'm not a big classical music fan but I really enjoyed your performance. This was delightful.

Elssa - I'm glad you put this up on Youtube - the boxnet download of a movie file takes forever on my low-rent DSL connection. Very well played!! I like the tempo changes and the energy of this piece.

David Ruzicka - very nice playing of Bach. Pretty good for just a year and a half!

Elssa - You always such an nice touch on the piano

Great job!

bill thank you for the compliment. Though I did make mistakes in all of those 4 songs at least once;-)

kalai1/Chris - I enjoyed your piece very much.

Cathy

Hi Cathy, thanks for the compliment, I will be posting more in the next piano bar, aloha.

Chris

I would like to thank all of you who commented on my Bach video.

I've just listen all contributions in this thread and I enjoyed that very much. Thanks for sharing them.

David

Here's your monthly dose of recorder and harpsichord.



It's a version of the aria Bist du bei mir by G.H. Stolzel from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. I used the G. Henle Verlag Urtext edition and transposed it to G to better suit the recorder. Laurie's cat Squeaky makes a guest appearance in the beginning.

The words to the aria in English (from Wikipedia):

Be Thou With Me

If you are with me, then I will gladly go
to [my] death and to my rest.
Ah, how pleasant would my end be,
if your dear, fair hands shut
my faithful eyes!

Hope you enjoy it,
Sam

Beautiful job, Sam and Laurie. I'm starting to like the sound of the recorder. I'd never really considered it a serious instrument before. You have proven that preconception to be wrong.

John Frank - Soldiers Joy - That was one of the first tunes we put into a contra dance set, and ~ 10 years later we still play it. We flank it with Fireside Reel and Over the Waterfall.

I don't know why a hornpipe is called Soldiers Joy, but one of the alternate names for this tune is Payday in the Army - which makes sense. It's one of those tunes that went back and forth across the North Atlantic, and there's a Norwegian set dance to the same tune.

When we were looking for a band name we considered tune names to use, and I suggested we call ourselves Red-haired Boys and Soldiers Joys, but alas, we didn't. We're Roaring Jelly, whose folk etymology says RJ refers to a mining explosive - gelignite. The alternate name for that tune is Smash the Windows .

So I think it's fun that you played this tune - nice version, too.

Cathy

John Frank - Soldiers Joy - That was one of the first tunes we put into a contra dance set, and ~ 10 years later we still play it. We flank it with Fireside Reel and Over the Waterfall.

I don't know why a hornpipe is called Soldiers Joy, but one of the alternate names for this tune is Payday in the Army - which makes sense. It's one of those tunes that went back and forth across the North Atlantic, and there's a Norwegian set dance to the same tune.

When we were looking for a band name we considered tune names to use, and I suggested we call ourselves Red-haired Boys and Soldiers Joys, but alas, we didn't. We're Roaring Jelly, whose folk etymology says RJ refers to a mining explosive - gelignite. The alternate name for that tune is Smash the Windows .

So I think it's fun that you played this tune - nice version, too.

EDIT: Oh, I lied. We flank it with Red-haired Boy ( ) and Whiskey Before Breakfast. Liberty is the tune we put between Fireside and Waterfall. How could I forget?

Cathy

Catching up again.

@Elssa: Two Guitars. Now I know the name of the song. Nicely played
@John Frank: I didn't notice until about half-way through that my foot had started tapping
@David Ruzicka: Beautiful. I wish my Bach playing had that much composure and smoothness
@jotur: always good to have Happy Birthday in your back pocket.
@Sam Smith: very cool. Nice recording

Hello all,
my name is Martin and i'm a 44 year old male from England.
I've been playing for 3 years and am studying for LCM grade 5 piano.
Here is my first video, go easy on me

Hi Martin,
Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Bill

Welcome to the forum PianoU1 (Martin). Quite nice. I haven't heard many rags with slower tempos and it really brings out some nice contrasts.

Thankyou for the generous comments.

David Ruzika - I like Bach, and that was a very charming piece, and nicely played.

Cathy

Thanks, Bill! Yes, I'm going to use youtube from now on.. I'm finally used to how to do it.

Here's another one, on youtube.. Hope you enjoy:

MOON RIVER

Elssa - What a great morning coffee tune. I really like your improv intro and ending. Very well done.

Elssa - I like folk music, and that was a nice piece.

Sam and Laurie - of course I loved it There's an English county dance musicians workshop coming up in Albuquerque in January and I'm looking forward to the mix of instruments.

Cathy

Nice little rag, Martin. Very enjoyable.

Nice Moon River, Elssa. I haven't played this song in years. Maybe it's time to dig it out again. I certainly enjoyed your version.

My favorite vocal version is Patti Page

Thanks, Dennis. I think it's just about my all-time favorite song, and that video you posted is lovely.. Never heard that version before, but it's really nice!


Thanks, Ed! BTW, I demonstrate all of these runs, fills, intros, endings, turn-arounds, etc in detail with the songs "Misty" and "Moon River" in my new instructional video (www.learnpianowithelssa.com).

I had a fairly good practice tonite and ended up with a little extra me time so i decide to stop in the bar for a few (to my misfortune I really haven't hung here that much).

WOW!!

Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed all the pieces!!
There really is a nice range of talent and I love the diversity.

Round of drinks on me!!

Elssa - love your song selections and your tasteful and highly listenable performances - so very enjoyable!

As I've said before, someday when I grow up I want to be able to play songs like that, like that!

I guess I'm just going to have to get into your instructional video, the link to which you smoothly and deftly make available in replies to compliments you get here - I like how you do that, in the best tradition of free enterprise marketing - I'd do the same if I had an instructional video...

JF

Hello my dear friends,

I am finally back from my India trip - and I was amazed to see so many wonderful pieces played at the piano bar this month! Elssa, the Two guitars is awesome, it was a very popular gypsy dance melody in Russia in the 70s-80s, only there it is played faster and more cheerful - thank you for bringing some very nice childhood memories . I wish I had score for this melody, as I really would love to learn this piece one day.

David, I loved your Bach prelude also, very refined playing. I'd love to hear more from your baroque repertoire.

I see Rickster falling in love with Elssa hands... while I way away for two weeks Although seeing Elssa playing I totally understand why

I also so happy to see the new faces here and listen to your music. Welcome folks!

I still have a lot to catch up, but here is my November contribution that I recorded yesterday night - not polished enough (you'd notice an awkward pause after section A), but I fell in love with this little miniature and I will continue working on it.. I hope I got a decent interpretation (I never hear anybody playing it before).

Ruth Watson Henderson - Toccatina



Being in India and having quite a few oil massages and lots of Yoga there I found my fingers more flexible and sensitive, and my feel for the keyboard improved. But I missed my piano practice while I was away... Anyway, I am glad to be back

Why Martin/PianoU1 - it's easy to go easy on you! That was wonderful - I love pensive pieces, and I love ragtime, and you did this quite well

Cathy

Yes, very enterprising and absolutely OK by me, as long as I continue to get my 15% for the compliments.

Actually, I was going to suggest that Elssa paint a few ads on her hands, which certainly get some attention at times, but I was concerned that might be considered a bit ... uh....heavyhanded.

Another great performance, Elssa. You have really mastered this style of playing.

Ed

I hardly ever learn extra pieces besides what I work on for the recitals but I was testing out the pianoteq 3.5 demo and noticed that I could make a recording of a short piece with it.

The piece is in the Best Of Ludovico Einaudi book and is titled Le Onde Conzone Popolare (Francia, 1500ca.)

This was likely Ludovico's inspiration for Le Onde. I only spent a few minutes working on it before pushing the red dot so I hope you don't mind the timing issues.

http://www.box.net/shared/s907m7qu8v

I went to visit my sister today; So we decided to play some Duets. We don't get to play them very much since I see her about once a month. Anyways this is one of the only songs we can play decent at the moment, so here is My Heart Will go on from Titanic:) I still can't turn pages but enjoy.

http://www.box.net/shared/3y69c9g099

tatiana - what an interesting piece - well done.

Anthony - what a nice warm-up before I go to the recital this really had a nice singing feel to it.

Augustina - I remember sitting down and playing through a book of duets with a friend of mine, it's great fun. What a treat to share the red dot with your sister.

Cathy

Tatiana, lovely Toccatina! You play it very well.

Anthony B, Short and sweet, nicely done.

Augstina, Sounds like fun. enjoyed it.

Here is a bonus from me, since I've already submitted one this month.

I had forgot about doing this and just discovered I had it on Soundclick.

It is a multi track production of Blue Velvet played with tine piano, strings, bass, and drums.