Chopin . . . . Wonderful Chopin

After my previous two posts you may be asking yourselves:

Does this fella, Eddie hear Offenbach or Bach often? LOL

Sorry, could not resist that one! Yes I hear Bach often but this week I have a change for us in the form of wonderful, wonderful Chopin and one of my all time favourite compositions which I have been meaning to post about for some time. Chopin's prodigiously difficult Sonata No 3 in B Minor.

I have the music and have tried in vain to play it - even at very slow speed. Utterly impossible!!! Mrs Bluelights has on several occasions protested that I am playing all the wrong note to which I reply, "No my dear they are all the right notes . . . . . but in the wrong order!" LOL.

Enough of the fun . . . let's hear the fantastic final movement, played by a chap who sadly died very young in 1950 from Hodgkin's Disease aged just 33. His name, Dinu Lipatti, born in Romania. He was a fantastic pianist and this recording was made in 1947.



I could have chosen several more modern pianists for comparison, including Emile Gillels, Katsaris, and other greats but instead I was attracted to this enthusiastic performance by a young lady called Colleen Lee, who is acclaimed as one of the leading piano talents of her generation.



Now I just cannot resist posting yet another rendition which 'knocked me down' . . . . . . and . . . . . wait for it . . . . . . I am going back in time to 1923 for a recording complete with warts and all plus tape hiss . . . . but who cares? What a fantastic technique and we can hear every note, not drowned by the loud pedal as in some later and contemporary recordings. Her name was Lucy Hickenlooper.



For those wanting to know more about her here is what I found:

Her name was Lucy Hickenlooper, and she was born in San Antonio, Texas, August 8, 1880. Later, not surprisingly, her manager Henry Wolfsohn thought that a name change was a necessary career move. She chose the professional name of Olga Samaroff from a remote Russian relative.
At the age of 12, she was taken by her grandmother to Europe where she remained until she was 21. Her talents were so impressive that she was given a scholarship in the piano class at the Paris Conservatoire thus becoming the first American woman to be granted that honor. There she studied with among others, Elie Delaborde (the illegitimate son of Charles-Valentin Alkan). Samaroff writes that when she was first introduced to Delaborde, he gruffly ordered her to play. While she played he restlessly beat time with his foot ..muttering to himself a sort of running commentary on Americans and their lack of musical talent. It was the first injustice that I had encountered in life. When Delaborde noticed that her name (Hickenlooper) had a Germanic origin, he suddenly found that her playing had vastly improved. After completing her studies at the Paris Conservatoire, she made a highly successful debut in Paris. Samaroff then married a Russian engineer, Boris Loutzky, and went to Berlin (1898) where she studied with Ernest Hutcheson, Otis B Boise and Ernest Jedliczka (pupil of Anton Rubinstein and Tchaikovsky). During her Berlin years, she met Richard Strauss, Felix Weingartner, Artur Nikisch, and Gustav Mahler among others. Later she performed the Grieg Piano Concerto several times under Mahlers direction in the United States. Her brief marriage to Loutzky was annulled.
Samaroffs American debut took place on January 8, 1905 at Carnegie Hall with the New York Symphony Orchestra. Her debut was a complete success.
About 1908, she met an obscure English organist and choir master who was a recent arrival in New York His name was Leopold Stokowski. Evidently, Samaroffs families (Hickenlooper-Grunewald) were also prominent members of the City of Cincinnati as they were able to secure for the unknown Stokowski the position of conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. (1909- 1912). Thus began the career of a legendary conductor. Samaroff and Stokowski were married in 1911. Their marriage ended in divorce twelve years later.
About 1920, Samaroff performed nearly all of Beethovens keyboard works in several cities. The concertos were, of course, conducted by her husband who by that time was conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. This project included all 32 of the piano sonatas. (There have been rumors for years that it was Stokowski who pushed Samaroff into giving these recitals. Whatever the truth is, they were enormously significant both musically and historically). Unfortunately, except for Samaroffs recording of the Beethoven-Rubinstein Ruins of Athens Turkish March there are no other compositions of Beethovens music in her discography. (She was asked by RCA Victor to record the Moonlight Sonata. There were four takes. She did not approve any of them).

In 1926, Samaroff suffered an injury to her left arm. She subsequently devoted herself to teaching at Julliard and the Philadelphia Conservatory. She held both positions until her death after a brief illness. She died in her New York apartment on May 17, 1948.

Among her many students were, William Kapell, Claudette Sorel, Rosalyn Turek, Eugene List, Sigi Weissenberg, Raymond Lewenthal, Augustin Anievas and Bruce Hungerford.
Her pupil Claudette Sorell writes, Life with Madam was a continuous series of surprises, adventures and brainstorms. Nobody but Madam would call at 7 a.m. or 12.30 p.m. as she suddenly had decided a certain pupil should demonstrate the Romantic Period at her famous Laymans Music Courses at Town Hall, the following day. She would say, I do not care if you have to stay up all night long, but get it ready. And, invariably, the piece was prepared and the pupil was ready to collapse after the performance.

How about that!

Jacques Loussier plays J. S. Bach: Sicilienne in G Minor

Anyone remember the Jacques Loussier trio?

Going back a little to the '60's and '70's he was very popular. The trio was formed in 1959 and disbanded in 1978. Personally I did not like every number they recorded, but this one really 'grabbed' me, an adaptation of J S Bach's beautiful Sicilienne, originally played on the flute.




Hope you enjoyed it.

I have found another version by Juliette Hurel on the wooden flute illustrating J S Bach's original version but perhaps it is played a little too quickly for my taste.

Bach Piano Concerto in A Major BWV 1055

J S Bach has always been one of my absolute favourite composers. I love all his piano concertos, all his violin concertos, all his keyboard works, all his choral works, in fact all his work. His style is always lively, melodic and uplifting. In most cases the music reminds me of a ball bouncing along in time to the beat. I am sure when he died he did not start decomposing - in fact I truly believe he is up there right now, with the other greats, still composing new masterpieces for all to enjoy. What a treat we shall have when we get there, and I really wonder exactly what they have in store for us.

Some eminent musicians say Bach was the greatest jazz musician of all time, which I find amusing and I can see some truth in it.

I came across this YouTube gem of David Fray conducting and playing the first movement of Bach's piano concerto in A major. They are rehearsing for the launch of him recording the audio CDs of  four concertos for Virgin Records. Bach actually wrote six keyboard concertos so I hope the remaining two will be recorded in due course.




Notice this brilliant Frenchman's technique,  his dexterity and delightful phrasing plus his rather cheeky interpretation, which may annoy some 'stuffy' purists who should really know better because if they are that inflexible they should not be listening to a piano version anyway because J S Bach wrote all his keyboard pieces for the harpsichord.  Back to Mr Fray.  Did you notice the way he almost rides the piano, how low he holds his head and the way he plays with such enthusiasm. Did you see him turn the music page when really he never needs to look at any of it throughout the entire movement. He plays the piece with perfect ease and looks as though he has plenty left in the tank for whatever further technical demands which may be made of him, no matter what. This piece is taken from a rehearsal and for those interested there follows a longer version which includes him asking the orchestra to play according to his wishes, which sometimes elicits a few turned up noses - it makes a fascinating study. This guy is a true craftsman and I am currently considering buying him playing all four Bach Piano Concerto on the one CD - a bargain from Amazon.

Well time for cheese and biscuits again with some vino and sit back and enjoy.



And after all this, I have just found a glowing review of Mr Fray's rendition of his recordings.  I am so pleased that someone who knows what they are talking about likes them as much as me.  If you have time after commenting here, please have a look:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/br54

Oh and no doubt Mrs Bluelights would probably say he should get his hair cut and how on earth can he play without getting in his eyes every few seconds LOL.

Music To Reach Your Soul - Wieniawski Violin Concerto No 1

Last time I posted some dancing with a definite "Wow" factor.

Today I am posting some music which is not very well known but which I think reaches our souls in terms of sheer beauty and lyricism.

I am playing Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No 1.

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) was considered a genius and was a great virtuoso violinist and composer, born in Poland. His writing is noted for great technical difficulty as well as highly melodic phrasing.  I just love it and in my humble opinion his works rank with the great composers we all know and love.

For those who wish to learn more about him please press HERE.

I became aware of this great man when my Polish mother-in-law brought an LP back from her holiday in Poland in 1976 and I loved this music ever since.  There are two Violin Concertos but today I shall deal with Concerto No 1, although both are equally great.  These works have become more popular in the UK in recent years. 

I found a wonderful Youtube video of SoYoung Yoon playing an excerpt from the third movement, so you can get the flavour of it.  Isn't she lovely and a joy to watch her play -  and her expression at the end bears testimony to the difficulty of the concerto. 


For anyone who wants to hear more I then have set up the entire concerto for you to enjoy. Unfortunately it is in three parts but this does not mar the enjoyment too much. So, get some cheese and crackers and a glass of vino and 'drink in' this wonderful music.  Both concertos are readily available on CD and I for one think they should be in everyone's collection.

And now the full version if you wish.

C'est Magnifique, n'est ce pas?

Strictly Come Dancing Professional Jive

Now for something definitely with the Wow Factor.

For those who don't know it we have a TV programme in the UK called Strictly Come Dancing. For non dancers like myself, who definitely have two left feet, I for one am always amazed and wowed watching these wonderful dancers.  I have great admiration for those who can dance really well like these folk but for me this would be Mission Impossible.

Anyone for a Jive?  Isn't this fantastic? Does anyone know the song?
And thank you Monica at "Creative Beast" - she identifies the song as "Land of a Thousand Dances".



And this is even better!! Quite amazing!!



And the music?  "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol.  . . . . . very catchy and lively.

Just how these ladies dance like that in high heels without tripping up beats me!

Hang on a minute!! I know someone who may be able to dance this!! Marguerite at Cajun Delights perhaps - are you dancing today, cher? LOL. Perhaps you might be the lady with the long brunette hair! . . .  and the redhead might be one of your dancing pals perhaps.

I wish I could do it - boy, it looks great fun.  But I expect all these dancers worked extraordinary hard to reach this standard and as the saying goes, "Yer get out of this life what yer put into it - nothing comes for free!"

I wonder if I take up Jive dancing whether I will appear as young , fit, energetic, handsome, happy, rich, gorgeous chap LOL . . . . like these highly professional dancers! - aren't they fantastic?  Oh well, perhaps in the next life.

Dave Allen Talks About Holidays

Hi folks!

It's about time we looked again at one of my all time favourite comedians - non other than Dave Allen, sadly now departed.

This time he presents a no holds barred account of the physiology of holidaying with all the advertising 'guff' and sales promotion which more often than not leads to a total flop of a holiday, making us wonder why the 'ell we didn't stay at home.

Well here it is - hope you enjoy it - if there is anyone out there LOL

Royal Wedding Spoof and guess who stole the show!

Hi Folks!

We have had a little wedding here in the UK, just in case it had escaped your attention.
First and foremost, I was surprised my invitation seemed to have been mislaid somewhere. I see the Beckhams and Sir Elton John received theirs - wonder where mine went?  I thought Harry was inviting me as the court jester. Never mind . . . I had to watch it on the 'telly'.

Seriously, for a minute, the wedding was very popular here and UK was almost at a standstill with 25 million people watching on TV. . . . . and an astonishing 2 billion worldwide. You know, I feel very good about this wedding . . . I mean with so many failed Royal marriages, I just feel this one is different and for the long haul.  William and Kate thought long and hard about this and made a commitment to each other four years ago.  May God bless them. Now the serious stuff is over, take a 'gander' at this.

Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, certainly generated excitement amongst the male community with an incredible 67 tweets per second on Twitter with the full range of remarks from flattering to downright obscene. In fact Pippa so excited the boys she almost caused the entire Twitter system to crash. And to cap it all we read today that she has come as a complete rank outsider from nowhere to be favourite for the UK's prestigious title of "Rear Of The Year". LOL How about that then - hope she wins - she certainly has my vote.

And . . . . I found a highly amusing wedding spoof which you I am delighted to share with you, starring 15 Royal look alikes. Prince Harry loves it and has it on his facebook. Enjoy!