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knotty, Very nice job on a great standard.

Knotty - very nice. Thanks!

Here are a couple from me - I am planning on recording these proper at the end of the year (let's call these 'early demo' versions):

http://www.box.net/shared/4he59ly0nb - 8MM
http://www.box.net/shared/rs8pagk454 - Derniere
(both pieces by Yann Tiersen)

A quick note on the sounds - with 8MM I used an old steinway soundfont on my computer. Not great! And with Derniere I tried the Pianoteq software and tried to get a soft tone, but I over-did it!

{where's a Bosendorfer Imperial when you need one? }

nice job!

Knotty,

Very well played and enjoyable to listen to. Nice touch.

thanks Manndrew, I appreciate the kind word. To be really honest, I don't like it

I can't get it too swing, I don't know if I'm trying too hard.
I practiced the whole thing with a metronome, then played it without, and it was way too stiff for my liking. I tried playing more freely, but it's still not really coming out as I want.
However, I enjoyed playing it freely a lot more than with the internal metronome.

thanks!

Knotty,

I find that I have to come back to a song many times in order to get the right tempo and style. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing up on accents or speeding up or slowing down phrasing. For me the most critical thought is to make sure I flow smoothly between phrases. A trick that an old teacher gave me once is to accent the last note in a measure and subdue the 1st note in the following measure. For some reason this links the measures together better than banging out the accent on the first beat of the measure. I hope I'm making myself clear. I guess it's sort of putting a hint of swing into the music. Changing up on where the downbeat goes.

Andy

Thanks, this makes sense.
I think the difficulty is in playing an arrangement with no audio reference, meaning there's nothing to compare to.
I guess it's a gift and a curse. But I agree with you that given time, it will get better. I'm gonna try and schedule some time with my Jazz teacher, who's a heck of a sight reader, hopefully he can provide some pointers.
Thanks!

What do I need to do to participate in the piano bar? I finally purchased a webcam...haven't put it up yet but will be ready to go if not by the end of the month, then in November. Thank you for your help!

Euan, those are both beautiful pieces. As usual you played them terrifically!

I'm really enjoying all the wonderful performances in the bar this month.

Here's my arrangement of:
Stranger in Paradise (Polovetsian Dances)
http://www.box.net/shared/krt0yy9k6d

Elssa - great rendition of one of the most beautiful pieces ever - very well played - lovely touch and control - a real joy to listen to - Thanks for sharing.

A request: would love to hear your excellent playing just by itself - would it be possible to record two versions of your selections: one with and one without the strings in the background, and present both here in your Piano Bar posts?

Regards, JF

Nice job Elssa. Personally, I like the padding. That's become your signature

Take care

Very beautiful Elssa. I thouroughly enjoyed that.

Andy

Euan,

I've never heard those pieces. They're terrific. Very nice touch and dynamics.

Andy

Nice job, Elssa. Very nice playing, but, ooh . . . those syn-strings. :p Of course, you are free to add whatever you like. Hmm . . . maybe I should record something in the gunshots voice of my digital?

Sorry about all the strings and stuff ...I played organ (with pedals) for many years since a kid, and guess I get a little carried away with the "bells and whistles" at times. :rolleyes: Thanks a lot for the nice comments though.. Sure, I'll try to re-record it with "just" piano.

piano4 - here's some links of interest:

How to record piano

Recording using Zoom H4

Regards, JF

Hope the above helps. JF

In 1847 Henry F. Lyte, vicar in the fishing village of Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England died in a hotel room in Nice on the French Riviera.

He was suffering from tuberculosis and had gone there hoping the change to a warmer, sunnier climate would restore his health. It didn't.

On the way there he finished work on his latest (and last) hymn, which was destined to become one of the most popular and frequently played of all the great, classic Christian hymns (perhaps second only in it's beloved status to "Amazing Grace").

This wonderful old masterpiece was first sung at his own funeral when his body was shipped back to his home church in England.

Here are two verses of Henry's Hymn (I use the closing phrase as an intro, and then repeat it at the very end):

Abide With Me

Regards, JF

1st verse lyrics:
-----------------
Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!