Alicia de Larrocha performs “Andaluza” from “Danzas Españolas”
I was inspired to play a few of these pieces after listening to de Larrocha’s performances of them a few years ago. She passed away yesterday evening at the age of 86. According to a New York Times article, this great interpreter had a dramatic start to her piano playing endeavors:
Ms. de Larrocha began to demand piano lessons when she was 3, after visiting her aunt as she taught students. At the keyboard on her own, Ms. de Larrocha imitated what she had seen her aunt’s students do, and impressed her aunt sufficiently that she took Ms. de Larrocha to Marshall. He was less encouraging. He said it was too early to start lessons, and suggested that Ms. de Larrocha be kept away from the piano. Ms. de Larrocha said that once her aunt locked the instrument, she banged her head on the floor until Marshall relented and began to teach her.
Popular tunes
I’ve been reworking these at the piano a little bit:
- “What a Feeling” from Flashdance, performed by Irene Cara and written by Giorgio Miroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey and Irene Cara
- “Crazy” as performed by Gnarls Barkley, written by Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo.
- “Halo” as performed by Beyonce Knowles, written by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and Beyonce.
I like to add some color to the harmony and change some voicings. Maybe some day I’ll have the guts to share it…
Exit Music for a Film (Radiohead), covered by the Brad Mehldau Trio.
This video and others are at www.bradmehldau.com under “Media.”
Today is Brad Mehldau’s 39th birthday!
If you don’t know Brad’s music, you are really missing out.
“…[the cat is] really good. It sounds like Keith Jarrett or something.” -HB
Nora the Cat performs a four-minute “catcerto” with the Lithuanian Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra under the direction of conductor and composer Mindaugas Piecaitis. Nora is fully memorized and very tasteful in her performance. More info at: www.catcerto.com
In light of our upcoming performance, I will be posting some related doodles from a moleskine notebook that Tim bestowed upon me this week.
I tried to explain to Tim that if he stares at me like this, our audience will think that I didn’t cut off in time. He eventually conceded.
Tim and I will be performing the following program at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fulton, NY on Saturday, June 13:
Schubert “Sonata for Klavier and Arpeggione in A Minor, D. 821”
Chopin Waltzes TBA
Scelsi “Tre pezzi” for solo saxophone
Piazzolla “Tango-Études”
