This idea is either going to be something "special," or it will fall smack on its face.

What I thought would be interesting would be writing sort of an "add-on" biography of Chopin. By that I mean one person would write a sentence (or part of a sentence) and then another would complete it and then start another sentence for which the next person could complete and so on, in whatever way that would make sense and also keep a continuum-type story-line going.

Feel free to make it as detailed as you would like. Also bring in some dates of when he wrote certain compositions and the situations surrounding it, or, naturally, your impressions or opinions, etc. Just let your imagination (along with some facts) take off.

Oh, of course you can "enter" as many times as you want. Just make sure another person has entered something after your last entry.

Well, here goes. I'll start... :rolleyes:

Almost 200 years ago, in a small village outside of Warsaw, Poland...

an emigree French tutor fell in love with Count Starbek's housekeeper.

They married in 1806 and moved to the Warsaw Lyceum boarding school shortly after the birth of their second child and only son, who....

little did they know, would become one of the world's most ........

Hi guys (and gals), how are you doing all?

Sorry for the absence (Clinical Rounds, may God help me!!)

Anyway, I almost finished my prelude for the recital.

But I have a question regarding the huge chord. How would you play it? I play the lowest note in the RH before the actual chord (sort of a grace note .. sort of). I would like to hear suggestions.

By the way, when is the recital (to be exact)??? Is there much time left?

Hi Bassio:

We all wish you well with your clinicals. How stressful this time must be for you.


We would love to help you with that chord, but which one is it? What measure?

That chord...in the 12th measure...??

My book shows two ways to play it.

1) RH, Play C#,E,C#,E LH, F#, C#, E
2) Rolled the chord:
starting with the LH, F#,C#,E,F#
RH, A#,C#, E, C#, E


Or are you referring to measure 15?
I believe you play the A as a grace note, then play the chord (including the A) then hold it through the last measure, as shown.

Now if I am wrong about this, perhaps Liszt Addict will correct me.

Please, please do refer to this link on the AB forum. Greg has listed the procedure for uploading our recordings and the due date.


[URL=(see http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/32/4983.html for submission procedure and checklist.) ]Chopin Recital Procedure[/URL]

In short, email to
gerg.hedgersoftware.com
with topic as Recital Submission


Also this is a rather long thread where we (performers) have been discussing problems, etc.

Offical On-Line Recital Page

In short, we have to upload to Greg at the link given BEFORE October 17th! And the sooner before the 17th, probably the easier for Greg to get everything organized.

Good luck,
Kathleen

little did they know, would become one of the world's most ........

well-loved and revered composers of all time.

The hugh chord I see in Prelude No 7 is in measure 12.

I use the thumb flat to hit both the A# and C# simultaneously.

The other option is to roll from the bottom note of LH to the top note of RH. I'd start with LH F# C# E F# and roll finger 2 over to play the A# as well.
RH is just C# E A# C#.

Then there is another option that non-purists would do is to play LH: F# A#[/b] C# E F# and RH: C# E A# C#. Then you can hit all the keys simultaneously.

was clouded by his father's poor head for dates. The date on his birth certificate is February 22nd, exactly one week earlier than his actual birthday, March 1st. He was later to describe himself as "born 1st March,1810 under the sign of Pisces."

Free new work of fiction, "The Chopin Manuscript," is available from audible.com.

I gather this is a collaborative work of fiction being offered as a sort of experiment from audible.

Having an account, myself, it was very easy to DL the first chapter. Those without an account will have to register first. It is still free to register.

Chopin Manuscript

Bryan Carney

Welcome Bryan:

Jeffrey Deaver is one of my favorite authors. I think I've read everything he's written.

But, horrors!, now I find out he has (sort of) stolen my idea for a story about Chopin. I have often thought of writing a story ( a novel...ha, I don't have the discipline for something that huge). But in my story, an undiscovered secret about Chopin would be discovered. This secret would turn the world of music upside down and it..... (sorry that's as far as I got).

Deaver's story sounds a bit like "The DaVinci Code" to me, but I will look for it at my library if it's in actual print.

Thank you for the very interesting post, indeed.

Kathleen

Well, duh....

Now I get it [she says as she whacks herself in the head]. Bryan must have noticed our continuing biographical project about Chopin and thought we might be interested in this actual novel, which is written by many of the top mystery writers, each taking one chapter.

Only thing is that it isn't about Chopin but is a thriller-espionage type novel, set in the present day. I am certain there are many references to him in the book. But I think I'll wait until it comes out in paperback.

Kathleen

Hey gang - bit of news on this end...

Our boy got a few nods in LA... (so did that other American fellow - but anyway...)

Here are a few links...

The Ovation Awards are LA's answer to the Tony awards. Out of 13 noms for The Geffen theatre, Gershwin and Chopin took twelve - and even more silly, is that I have been nominated against myself in every possible category, Best show, Best Actor in a Musical, Best director of a Musical, Best director of a show (Joel is nominated against himself...) all very amusing indeed..

Anyway - in Tuscon slaving away... exhauasted. Gershwin finished up next week, then our boy again... slowly but surely!

Looking forward to all your news! H


http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/11672

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111309.html

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972689.html?categoryId=1236&cs=1

Way to go, Hershey!!! congratulations and I'll be rooting for you to win.... but for which show?? Maybe you could be in a tie with yourself!

best wishes,

Sophia

Hersh, take care, you sound absolutely worn out.

Since you asked for our news (which certainly pales in comparison), we are preparing for the Chopin recital for October 17th. To get your head out of the clouds for just a moment, you may remember volunteering to play Op. 45. If you could record it BEFORE that date and upload the recording in MP3 or .WAV format to

gerg.hedgersoftware.com
with topic as "Recital Submission"

that would be great.

(Sorry if you already know about this via the e-mail I sent you last week.)

You are being given dual billing with Chopin, with us, the Adult Beginners coming in (not last, mind you) but third. So many of us have really put our hearts and souls (and countless hours of practice) into this and many a tear of frustration has been shed.

BUT I know it will be a major "event" not only here on the forum, but on the whole Internet, as well. And we are so proud to have you participate (now that you are a "real" big shot! ) It will certainly lend a bit of class to "our" production. Of course, Chopin does that...all by himself.

Wish we could all be in the audience in November when you accept your awards.

Oh...this is the review I wrote for the forum after seeing you in Gershwin at Ravinia.

Heshey As Gershwin at Ravinia

Fondly,
Kathleen

Pretty quiet here, for the last day. How is everyone? Busy slaving away at his/her prelude/s? How about a change of pace, and tap into Mr. S.H.'s invitation to improv...Chopsticks!?

I finally got a recording in, but it's certainly not going to win any grammy awards.

Now, less we forget, our hero was so great at this. Don't you think we should at least give it a try? If only to experience the experience. And those of you who have been playing for years will easily find it quite liberating.

Plus...Mr. S.H. has offered to learn a classical piece (he doesn't read music too well, or so he says). We can be very easy on him and give him the 7th prelude.

I think we need a little fun going on here. It's been much too stressful the last few months.

What say you? :p Check out his and my new topic threads and jump in...the water's fine.

Kathleen

Kathleen,

I've created a short improv of Chopsticks, with a distinctively Chopinesque emphasis. Trouble is I cannot play it well enough to record. I usually play the music in my head and then "learn" it at the keyboard.

Dear Greg:

As Mr. SH would tell you...you are missing the point. (I did the same thing. I actually started writing down some music. A real No-No!)

Supposedly, while it may be in your head, you have to get it on the keyboard as best you can. You can have some "ideas" on what you would like to do, but that's it. No crib notes allowed.

Even if there are some hesitations (I had several while my mind tried to figure out what might sound good, next.) And even those sour notes are allowed. I am so glad of this.

So get thee to the keyboard when you have a chance and go for it. Put the red dot on and just keep playing until coming "close" comes out. Remember this is an experiment, and what experiment ever turned out perfectly the first time around?

And thank you so much for keeping me company in my misery. Although I am certain your Chopsticks will sound good enough for the concert stage compared to mine.

My best,
Kathleen

Good Morning All:

Have any one of you noticed the number of threads now going on in the ABF about Chopin?? Wow! I can't remember ever seeing so many at a glance. A few study groups and some questions about chords and mazurkas, etc.

It brings a smile to my soul to see it all. I think we're getting out there to so many. And I hope that you will help in encouraging these people by answering their questions or posting a comment, whatever. If they see that they are getting some response from us, maybe even more people will start posting.

There is a question about a mazurka that I need to respond to now.

Hope you all are well. I had a sick day yesterday...eating my own cooking. Now I have to postpone recording my prelude for a few more days.

My best,
Kathleen

Yikes! Not fun- would you care to share with us what happened, so we won't make the same mistake?

Speaking of cooking, does anyone know what Chopin's favorite dish was?

Favorite dish? I suppose his mother would've known and maybe George Sand. In his letters he fondly mentions black Polish bread, gingerbread,
chocolate, coffee, Rhine and tokaj wines. He was known to like milk and ice cream and carried caramels in his pockets as a boy.

Kathleen,

I don't work like that with compositions. If I have to "fake it" on the fly, it means something has gone spectacularly badly wrong. So I suppose I am disqualified from Mr. S-H's challenge because my brain works differently.

The # of Chopin-related threads - quite encouraging isn't it? A piano music renaissance perhaps?

Woohoo to Hersh!!

Hey gerg, I was going to mention the same thing. Kathleen (and all others sharing on this thread) .. made more people interested in music and Chopin in particular. And we can all notice the eagerness for practice in the ABF with the huge number of threads.

Notice how passion can affect people.

Kudos to Kathleen and the rest of the gang!

Hi Chardonnay: Actually, I ate some left-over fried rice that we ordered out...from last Saturday. I said it was my cooking because I actually had to warm it up in the microwave. That's my idea of cooking. Wow! It is so good to feel good. And I will NEVER eat rice again.

Frycek: I do have so much in common with Chopin (ha!). His love for chocolate and sweets just makes him more endearing to me. And dark Polish bread. There is an old Polish saying: "The whiter the bread, the sooner you're dead." I guess that didn't quite hold true for our hero.

Greg: I "practiced" about 5 days before I could do that "improv." Kind of funny, :p for it certainly wasn't off the top of my head.

Bassio: You have been all over the place today, and I am so glad you landed on the DtC thread. I know I say this many times, but we certainly miss our regulars, like you and Sotto Voce, and Ragnhild, and Hershey (oh my gosh, my memory is giving out :rolleyes: ...well, you know who are.)

It's it something how Chopin has made so many appearances lately. Couldn't happen to a nicer or more deserving guy.

Best to all,
Kathleen

You can download lots of free music here.

Free Music (lots of Chopin, too)

I downloaded all of Chopin's 17 Polish Songs. Hard to find. And they don't look that difficult.

The link is from another thread.

Kathleen

I was just reading a book called "The Scottish Autumn of Frederic Chopin" by Iwo Zaluski and Pamela Zaluski. It's interesting but a bit sad. It says he appreciated the Scottish salmon and game - but I don't know what they base that information on.