Just for fun,

FPMSL

Looks like everyone's busy practising!

(except Wayne! )

You’re right Richard. Now this thread seems a library full of diligent students .

Some music by Telemann before going to bed.




Night!

Pleasant dreams Recaredo! It's rush hour on this side of the Atlantic, however. I still have time to get home and practice.

Indeed! I am dilligently studying my Satie piece. I also am swamped at the office with too many things!

I have been listening to music by other French composers as a result of my work on the Satie piece. Here is pianist Sviatoslav Richter performing "Pavane pour une infante défunte" by Maurice Ravel. Enjoy!

I'm curious to know if anyone will be trying to use the sostenuto pedal in their Satie piece? I don't think he ever calls for it but it does seem that it can be used. In the Gnossienne #1 I'm experimenting with depressing the pedal right from the start and letting that low F sustain through most of the piece.

Wayne: Absolutely no sostenuto pedal on his piano. ( but he may make one out of some bits and bobs that he put in a cupboard just in case they should ever come in usefull. Now that you have mentioned it!)


Rupak, no sostenuto pedal.

Recaredo, I am not sure but dont think he has one either.

AimeeO, unlikely to have one.

BeccaBb, "whats that then?"

Dipsey, "I feel happy not to own a sostenuto pedal as I have enough to think about"

Griffin, ( purely speculative) I may have access to a sostenuto pedal if I record mine on that grand piano like last time, but may be too busy to incorporate its use.

Wayne, ( again) "I just found a sostenuto pedal in a skip and have asked for advice on the piano techs forum on how to retro fit it to my old upright, but then my nans ghost came back and warned me off doing so."

...? Sorry, I don't get it.

Peyton, I think Rossy is pulling your leg a bit. . However, Rossy's speculation about me is quite correct. My practice piano does not have the sostenuto pedal. I am not sure if I'll have access to the grand piano this time. However, if I am able to perform on the grand, I am way too busy to incorporate its sostenuto. I might like to work on that later next year. There is a lot of room to expand my study of these pieces.

BTW, I did not notice any reference to use of this pedal in the sheet music for Gymnopedie that I'm working from.

Speaking of busy...Off to work I go. Have a great day everyone!

I didn't mean to get too serious about it but the way Satie wrote his music it really seems to me the possibilities are there to play around a bit with the pedals. If I were taking lessons this would be a definite question for my teacher. For instance in Gnossienne #2 there are places where I would like to sustain the single bass note but come up off my sustain for the treble. (I would say what measures but... there are no measures ) It seems that the sostenuto pedal would work there.

I'd go for it Peyton

Peyton, you must be reading my mind. I just scheduled an extra session with my piano teacher for this weekend to specifically go over the Satie piece so that I get off to a good start. I will be asking about the sostenuto pedal. Thanks!

Peyton I have wondered the same thing actually. If you try it let us know how it works out!

I have not been practicing as I have "nu-moan-ya." I might try to hit the keys tonight.. cough cough hack hack....

Griffin, let me know what your teacher says. I am trying it for the 1st and second Gnossienne and it seems to me that it works. It certainly makes playing the second more complicated though. The first is easy as I just depress it for the low F and keep it there for the whole piece. Makes for a nice "drone".

Peyton, where can I locate the sheet music you are working from? Is it public domain, or did you purchase it? I don't have Gnosseinne. I only have music I purchased for the 3 Gymnopedies.

I'm sorry you're not feeling well Becca. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

I'm using a book called "Eric Satie, Gymnopedies, Gnossienes and other works for Piano" by Dover. But here are some for free... http://www.8notes.com/satie.asp

She'd turn in her grave! (if she had room!)

Rossy is correct! My middle pedal is in fact a practice pedal, much to the delight of Billy O.

RB Greaves died. I've always liked this song, so in memory of him, here's Take a Letter Maria.

Hi Peyton - what an interesting idea - sustaining the f in the bass throughout! For what its worth my thoughts on this are:
Though it might create a 'bagpipes effect (if overdone!) it seems to fit the harmony throughout with the exception of when the bass moves briefly to c.

I suppose your idea would give the piece more gravitas which will 'anchor' the music, and detract from the haunting shiftiness/limbo feeling. Ultimately its down to your personal taste I guess.

Do keep this in mind folks, its not a bluff after all. lol.

You may ask about the new signature if you wish.....

Hello folks, I'm slowly getting there with Gnossienne 7, how's everyone else doin'?

Go on then Rossy, new siggy?
Oh watched your M4 again, really love it, I think I might tackle that next after the Eric Satie, although It's gonna be really hard for me,

Laters peeps, Xfactor tonight, Yippeeee

I’ve memorized the music score of my Gnossiene, but my playing is still clumsy and very little musical. I try to play the piece slowly, but my hands tend to speed up.

I’ve had to put this warning sign on the piano.

Hang on Recaredo, I recognise that sign, Did you get it from wayne?

I am sure he used it for met2 arps..

couldnt resist, I am a bad man. lol.

Hi everyone! I just had a session with my piano teacher who showed me some great techniques for my Gymnopedie piece. I'm not sure if I have enough time to memorize it. However, I'm confident that I'll be able to do justice to performing this beautiful piece.

Peyton, we didn't have enough time to discuss the Gnoissienne and the use of the sostenuto pedal. However, I agree with Dipsy. It makes sense to pursue using the middle pedal, and play around with it. You may also try posting a question on the piano teachers forum. Becca and I lucked out yesterday when someone else asked a technical question about the Gymnopedie. There were two replies with very helpful advice. Give it a try!

Right now, I'm only able to do mini practice sessions because of this busy period at work. I'll be able to put lots more time into practicing after next week.

Recaredo, that sign on your piano is an excellent reminder of the best and most effective practice techniques.

I see everyone is away practising, and slowly! I shall soon have to kick away the tumbleweeds to start Sundays methinks.

I'm sure the kindred spirit is growing strong during these joint efforts but I'm wondering if there should be more time between them. The ABF recitals are every quarter.
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We open today with Rossini's overture to his opera Semiramide, a wonderful piece, and much more popular than the opera itself which marked the end of his Italian years. He had recently turned to Opera Serie after meeting the singer Isabella Colbran. He married her shortly before Semiramide and moved to Paris shortly after, turning his back on Italy and, apart from one late work, Italian opera.

Gabriel Pierné was probably better known as a conductor, he premiered Stravinsky's Firebird, but his March of the Little Lead Soldiers was a popular encore piece. It has huge appeal to anyone with a childlike imagination.

My first introduction to piano music begain by rifling through the music in the bench. A Charlie Kunz collection included a version of Offenbach's Barcarolle from the Tales from Hoffman. His was the first of four transcriptions I learned of this piece.