Hi everyone--this is my first post. This looks like a neat site! I am a concert artist, teacher at Brooklyn College, choral composer with material available through Hal Leonard , arranger and editor. There seems to be so many topics of discussion at this site.

There are actually two new editions coming out this month which I did for Hal Leonard--for their Schirmer Performance Edition Series--which include a new Sonatina Album and Schumann's Scenes from Childhood. They were actually very challenging to do, since the company asked for editions based on the truest original sources. With several versions of Clementi's sonatinas, that was the most difficult hurdle, though the Kuhlau, Dussek and Beethoven were easier to deal with.

I hope to make new friends here, and hope my posts will be helpful along the way.

Best regards, Jeffrey Biegel

Welcome JBiegel!!

Interesting discussions here all the time. Enjoy your stay.

Hi Jeff,
Welcome to the Piano Forum!It's a wonderful opportunity to learn new material and discuss many interesting topics. New myself, I have made several e-mail buddies, musicians and piano enthusiasts whom I find very interesting. As far as the UK and Canada! I am a restarter, have been away from the piano for several years. I find the topics very informative and sometimes funny. The on- line recital organized by a chap named Bob is just wonderful. I just posted a new topic and question regarding the age of my "New" piano. I see you are a teacher at Brooklyn College.I'm on Long Island and majored in Music at SUNY StonyBrook. Moved over to EL.Ed. but that's a long story.
Hope to hear from you and enjoy the site. It's wonderful!!! Great discussions about composers, theory, everything music!

Thanks! I look forward to the same.

Welcome I wish you a pleasant stay.

Welcome - hopefully you'll participate in the composer's lounge - always nice to meet another composer...

Welcome Jeff - This is an awesome and addicting forum to belong to.

I've played the piano since I was about 7, and studied music and piano since I was 8 years old.

I considered a music career, but got cold feet and becamea geek instead.

John

Hi John,
A geek? That's what you do? Hey you have to see Jeff's web page. The guy is a Pro 100 per cent. I am now a groupie!!! Listen to his work also, it's amazing. I am giving you a standing ovation Jeff!!! How have you been John? Mail Me!
Nick

Hi Nick,

I've been okay... Probably just way too busy to even think straight with work and everything else. I found your email you sent me. I haven't had a chance to check until now!

John

Thanks for the plugs, guys. After many inquiries around the world recently, I have just posted the links to two new editions I've been asked about at the teacher forum. I am also posting them here since many members probably play these pieces. Once you copy and paste the links, you can go to 'Closer Look' for samples--and if there are any questions or thoughts, I'd welcome them and will be as helpful as possible in answering any questions after you have the edition(s). Here they are:

Schumann-Scenes from Childhood:

http://halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?it...er=13&filter=2w

The Sonatina Album:

http://halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?it...er=16&filter=2w

John:
I considered a music career, but got cold feet and became a geek instead.





PS. Welcome to PW, Jeff!

-Michael B.

Welcome Jeffrey!

Of course I had to look up your websites...

http://www.cyberecital.com/

Guys, check out the Rach concertos which you can download.

Amazing.

http://www.concertartist.info/bio/BIE002.html

LL

WOW! Jeff your playing is awesome!

Thank you LL for the links.

John

With all that is happening right now Michael, I am better off not being in music. I'd be broke and out on the street with a tin cup looking for donations.

John

"Hats off" !
We have a world class member now.

Regards,

Jeff --

Welcome aboard!! I've been hanging out here for a couple of years and have learned much that's interesting and valuable. We met some 20 years ago -- first at the U. Maryland competition the year you won, and later when my teacher Willis Bennett asked you to play on the Alexandria Recital Series. I still remember that as one of the best live performances I've ever seen, and I imagine you're only getting better as you get older.

For the rest of the Forum gang, this gentleman is the real deal. I saw him play the Prokofieff 2nd at the Kennedy Center in his winning finals performance at the Maryland International (now William Kapell) Piano Competition in 1985, and it was magnificent -- the audience was on its feet before the last music sounds had stopped reverberating in the hall. He was first on the progam, and the other two finalists might as well have called a cab. In the later solo recital, his Chopin nocturnes were limpid and sweet, his Liszt thunderous, and his Schulz-Evler Blue Danube paraphrase was breathtaking. He shared top prize at the Marguerite Long Competition with Brian Ganz, another artist I hold in very high regard.

Some of us have an occasional tendency to snarl and growl at newcomers or others we disagree with. I hope we can resist that temptation in this case -- Jeff is a rare resource we should all want to stay in touch with.

Once again, Jeff, glad to have you with us.

And IMO that Tchaikovsky Concerto is a must download.
One of the best I have heard.

Regards,

Welcome aboard!

Wow--that's a Presidential welcome aboard! Thanks much. Emanuel--I am touched that you remembered the U of M concert as though it were yesterday--and I do remember the Alexandrian series--is Willis still running the series? You know, I keep the standards going, but recently, I've added so many new things, partly because I find them of interest and presenters are acceting newer works on the series--whereas 20 years ago, works by Keith Emerson and Leroy Anderson were snarled at. I've been mostly busy playing Lowell Liebermann's Third Concerto, which for me, is one of the newest treasures in the repertoire. I'm just now waiting to hear if any dates are being secured to play Keith Emerson's Concerto--it's a wonderful piece written by the pop icon of Emerson, Lake and palmer. keith and I have discussed touring together--I'll play the concerto, and he's got a new piece to share with his fans for piano and orchestra--I'll keep the forum updated as it develops.

Hi, Jeff, "welcome aboard"!

I definitely look forward to your posts *giggles with excitement at the prospect of an authentic concert pianist contribution*. We'll have to start putting up topics relating to the living composers so you can share your 1 on 1 experience.

P.S. -- I'm seriously thinking you need to talk Mr.'s Liebermann and Emerson into joining the forum.

Enough of my abusing you... Once again, welcome to Piano World!

Welcome Jeff,

Ok, that did it.
Anyone who plays at your level AND likes Keith Emerson most definitely gets my vote.

As I've stated in other posts, Keith Emerson is a major part of the reason Piano World (and these forums) exists. I'm an old rock musician, mostly late 60's early 70's.

Keith was (and is) my hero.

I tried to contact Keith through his web site, but never heard back.

Any friend of his is a friend of mine

If you two do end up playing together, please let me know ... I'm there!
And if you could get him to join us .... yikes

OK, I'm off to visit your web site and listen to your performances.

Best,

Frank Baxter
Founder/Owner
Piano World

Jeffrey,

Welcome to the gang. I hope you'll join in the discussions and in the friendly critiques of our playing.

Best,

David

Thanks, Frank. I was turned on to Keith Emerson's Piano Concerto a few years ago. After I transcribed Balakirev's 'Islamey' for piano and orchestra (which is what Nalakirev had wanted to do at some point but never got to it), it was added to the Theodore Presser rental library. Then I learned the Leroy Anderson Concerto, and was asked to edit and add a few 'piano 2' parts left unfinished by Mr. Anderson in the two-piano reduction. That too, is for sale through Presser and the Piano Concerto is rented through Presser. Shortly thereafter, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich composed the 'Millennium Fantasy' for piano and orchestra for me--which was a 25 orchestra commissioning project I assembled--that too, rented through Presser. At that point, Daniel Dorff, Director of Publications for Presser (and one heck of a composer--I am premiering his new Piano Concerto with the Etowah Youth Orchestra in Gadsden, AL this May--and a couple of mvts from it in Carnegie Hall on June 9 for a youth orchestra festival)told me about the Emerson Concerto of 1977. Keith wanted a company to house it for rentals--and Danny created the two-piano version. He thought I should have a look--and I did. I was mightily impressed--in the style of Ginastera, Copland, Elgar, Baroque second mvt with a Chopinesque piano entry a la Nocturne in f minor--cool stuff. I realized just recently that the concerto is 30 years old, so I called Keith and asked if he'd consider touring together to promote him and the concerto. He agreed, and we're having our agents explore dates--and I'm chomping at the bit to do my part to get the concerto out there. I'd further like to record it--say, with Gershwin, Ellington (New World A-Comin'), and perhaps Zwilich's 'Millennium Fantasy'--though Ellen would like an all-Zwilich disc along with the 'Peanuts Gallery' she wrote in tribute to Charles M. Schulz--and her 'Images for Two Pianos and Orchestra'--she may be right. So--there's the reason of the Emerson/Biegel connection. I will let the forum know when dates for the Emerson come up.

I read your Bio (on your web site), very impressive.

I particularly liked the fact you aren't afraid to tackle pieces and projects outside the typical standard repertoire.

I think it's wonderful when someone with your talent and skills is willing to experiment and think outside the box.

Anything from traditional concert piano performances to mobile phone ringtones and possibly a tour with Keith Emerson?

Amazing (and refreshing).

I'm glad you decided to join our forums, I hope more of our members "discover" you.

Best,

Frank B.

Thanks, Frank. When I have a few moments here and there, I am enjoying the site and the various queries posted--it will certainly take quite some time to see which ones I might be able to be helpful to.

Hi Jeffrey - I, too, am a new member on this forum. I'm a piano teacher and a classical composer. If there are many members out there with your amazing qualifications I have truly found a gem of a website. I look forward to getting to know everyone out there, amatuer as well as professional.

Dear Jeff,

Warmest welcome, and very impressive repertoire! Loved your rendition of 25/6 on your site!!!

I echo the sentiments of the owner: it is indeed quite a treat to have you here!

Greg

Thanks for your kindness. I am enjoying the site when I have time to address all the various topics.

Hi Jeffrey -- I had the extreme pleasure of hearing your performance of Leroy Anderson's Piano Concerto a few years ago. It was awesome! My son was a violinist in the Rogue Valley Symphony, so I attended the rehearsals and the performance. It's a wonderful piece - and you were born to play it! Not only do you have incredible technique, but such an understanding and affinity for the music, and a great sense of humor to boot! Welcome to our Pianoworld family!

Thanks! I adore the Anderson Concerto--and the Rogue Valley orchestra played it so well--with the Ellington 'New World A-Comin' if my memory serves me correct. Hope your son is doing well!