I've been give the choice of piano for a concert

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 15 Oct 2008, 23:18

I'm playing a concert for this music club and it was originally going to be in the annex of this hall in whereverville (not wanting to give away too much at this stage).

Anyway I got a call from the chairperson of the committee, who explained that their Steinway B is from 1910 and while its very nice it requires reconditioning. Their tuner has offered to recondition it (although they really should send it to Mr Leverett rather than the local tech. . . . . )

This lady told me that the piano wont be ready on time for my concert and they could hold off the reconditioning if I wanted, or as an alternative, they could hold the concert in the main hall, which has a brand new Yamaha S6, and would I mind playing on a Yamaha rather than a Steinway?!

Naturally I picked the Yamaha guys! Now, if it was a NEW Steinway B over an S6 I may have had a different answer (well, maybe not

)

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 16 Oct 2008, 00:05

which has a brand new Yamaha S6, and would I mind playing on a Yamaha rather than a Steinway?!

You lucky lucky sod.

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 16 Oct 2008, 16:50

i've played some nice ones in my time - one recital i gave on a new Bosendorfer 7'4 model, the keyboard went down to an F. The piano almost played itself, it was amazing! The RSAMD Steinways are all beautiful to perform on, and the piano in Cheltenham Town Hall is one of my other faves! GORGEOUS model D.

The RSAMD sold most of their pianos and now rent from M.I.F.C.O and they sold the most beautiful CFIIIS Concert grand, only 5 years old, hardly played, for £15K. If only I had the space, I'd have found the money somehow! They still have a couple of really nice model Ds that will be sold in the next few years, Now, if I could just find a home big enough.....

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 16 Oct 2008, 19:02

they sold the most beautiful CFIIIS Concert grand, only 5 years old, hardly played, for £15K

Openwood is weeping whilst repeatedly banging his head on the table.

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 16 Oct 2008, 22:39

Yes, so was Joseph at the time. Although a 9 footer wouldn't even get through my front door, my 6 footers JUST made it!

Katmid · Post by **Katmid** » 17 Oct 2008, 13:05

Lordy, I wish I could home a real piano, upright or otherwise! But unless I tear my newly decorated house apart I would have to play in the hall but then I wouldn't be able to get out of the door and the tuner wouldn't be able to get in. Not ideal.

Stinky digital will have to do for the time being.

Mark Heller · Post by **Mark Heller** » 17 Oct 2008, 13:27

What will you be playing Joseph? (Or is that top-secret as well?

)

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 17 Oct 2008, 18:22

I'll be playing the Yamaha

oh you mean the programme? Its not secret but i can't remember off hand, i'll have to look it up for you! Its at the end of march.

Post by **vernon** » 17 Oct 2008, 21:00

look it up before the Concert!

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 17 Oct 2008, 21:38

Schumann, Abegg Variations
Beethoven Sonata In D major Op.28 'Pastorale'
INTERVAL
Bartok Suite Op.14
Grieg Sonata Op.7
Chopin Scherzo In B-flat minor

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 17 Oct 2008, 21:39

they'd asked for a particularly romantic programme, so I picked particularly romantic works

Mark Heller · Post by **Mark Heller** » 21 Oct 2008, 15:42

Yes, very romantic!

Haven't played any of the pieces myself, but it sounds like quite a lot of work to get them all up and concert-ready - good luck!

Mark

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 21 Oct 2008, 16:57

yes it is, but its work that i'm used to by now

Mark Heller · Post by **Mark Heller** » 24 Oct 2008, 13:41

Just interested Joseph - do you ever record yourself playing, and if so, do you find it useful?

Mark

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 24 Oct 2008, 21:01

yes, i'm just about to release my debut CD, and yes it has been a baptism of fire. The CD was done over 2 days in August, at the Caird Hall in Dundee. I have been recording for a couple of years though, with a professional engineer, to get into the process if you like.

I have found that it makes me strive to find the most beautiful sound I am capable of making. You know, when you play a concert, sometimes you can get a bit excited (which is good) but you can tense up a bit and make the piano jar a bit (which is bad). Thats OK in a live situation because the moment is over in a flash, but on a recording you have to be aware of everything.

This has transfered to my live performance in that I seem to listen to myself much more acutely, I'm far more aware of every sound I make. I thought I was pretty good at judging tone before I started recording, but really I was amateur in comparison to where I am now, and I STILL feel I have a long way to go.

Mind you, Ashkenazy always feels he has a long way to go, so did Rubenstein! (not that I'm comparing myself to these legendary men).

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 24 Oct 2008, 22:45

joseph wrote:yes, i'm just about to release my debut CD, and yes it has been a baptism of fire. The CD was done over 2 days in August, at the Caird Hall in Dundee. I have been recording for a couple of years though, with a professional engineer, to get into the process if you like.

Was it on a Bluthner

Barrie,

Katmid · Post by **Katmid** » 25 Oct 2008, 15:59

joseph wrote:yes, i'm just about to release my debut CD, and yes it has been a baptism of fire.

Hey Jospeh, that's really cool. Are you going to tell us when it's out and where we can get it from?

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 25 Oct 2008, 18:03

It wasn't a Bluthner, it was on a Steinway, the caird hall Steinway which is a 1984 model D. Its a nice piano but I think they should think about giving it some serious action work, and perhaps they'll need to re string parts of it.

The CD will hopefully be available mid november, although i've just had word that theres a problem with the artwork files......

Mark Heller · Post by **Mark Heller** » 27 Oct 2008, 19:26

Very interesting Joseph, look forward to hearing the finished CD!

I know what you mean about recording vs playing live - live is more about capturing the mood, and a few duff notes/sounds don't matter so much, as they're (hopefully!) quickly forgotten. When it's recorded though, you may end up listening to the same mistake 100's of times!

Anyway, I'm hoping that the process of preparing my pieces to the standard required to record them, and then listening back will really help me reach a new level...

Mark

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 27 Oct 2008, 19:31

Very interesting Joseph, look forward to hearing the finished CD!

Me too! Keep us posted.

joseph · Post by **joseph** » 27 Oct 2008, 19:58

Mark Heller wrote:Very interesting Joseph, look forward to hearing the finished CD!

Anyway, I'm hoping that the process of preparing my pieces to the standard required to record them, and then listening back will really help me reach a new level...

Mark

It will, good luck! Get someone else to listen to you as you record if its for a commercial venture.

Mark Heller · Post by **Mark Heller** » 27 Oct 2008, 21:26

Thanks, it's only for pleasure, but you never know, one day!