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Post by pavane on Mar 6, 2023 19:40:31 GMT
Twinkle Twinkle is on my music stand! It's for the lyre. It's quite challenging because you play little chords with the left hand from behind the lyre and the melody line in front with right hand. However, I'm having to modify it a little because my thumb is too big to be able to pluck the lowest string from behind as the frame gets in the way. I haven't done anything for the last couple of days because March means: boat maintenance time I have finally got around to starting something new on recorder, something I have been meaning to do for ages - I'm doing a couple of movements of a Handel sonata. Always good for scales and arpeggios, a bit of Handel! I'm doing a Finzi piece and the Schumann I mentioned here recently on clarinet, both from my Grade 5 books. And not quite on the music stand yet, but my Jazzy Christmas for clarinet has arrived. I have the same book for recorder. I don't feel it's urgent to get started, but by the same token I won't do what I usually do and leave it till mid-December. I think summer...
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Post by Zi on Mar 6, 2023 21:33:26 GMT
I love Twinkle Twinkle and especially the variations. I bet it will sound lovely on the lyre.
I'd not heard of Finzi so I looked him up. Apparently he saved some rare apple breeds from extinction!
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Post by pavane on Mar 7, 2023 7:44:05 GMT
To be honest, I had never heard of Finzi before I came across him in the context of clarinet music and his Five Bagatelles, and I've never come across any other of his music that I'm aware of. But I very much like the idea of saving rare apple breeds (Mrs P and I planted some rare cider apple trees some years ago; hopefully they are still thriving). So, that's another person I've warmed to this morning (see also Fun Things To Play) - quite a warming morning overall.
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Post by keff on Mar 7, 2023 9:20:58 GMT
Believe that Gerald Finzi was a relative of Esta Rantzen, cousin maybe half cousin. Please find attached one of his most popular works.
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Post by Zi on Mar 7, 2023 12:36:24 GMT
He had one of those lives that get filled with difficult things to deal with and he died way too soon. It's very unfair. Thanks for posting the vid, keff. Judging by people's reactions he has touched some people's lives greatly.
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Post by pavane on Mar 17, 2023 11:20:02 GMT
A bit of Turlough O'Carolan for recorder of course - Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!
I'll have to hurry through the recorder stuff though, I have an appointment with several pints of Guinness later in the afternoon
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Post by Zi on Mar 19, 2023 9:31:24 GMT
I have to sort out what I'm supposed to do but at the moment it's garden. This is our first year with the two new veg plots, the greenhouse and another veg plot Mr Z has decided to dig all by himself. I'm hoping that next year will be easier but I've been saying that since we moved in on the morning of lockdown... One day, this place will be maintenance only and will tick along like a well-oiled machine but just now it's chaotic.
I really hope the rest of you are having a much calmer time. And I do love hearing what you're all playing! I promise I'll sort mine by Tuesday of next week... Sadly, it's sunny today so it's gardening...
I hope the Guinness was pleased to see you pavane!
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Post by keff on Mar 19, 2023 12:49:25 GMT
On the piano music stand my book of JSB French suites has been opened at page 46&47, the Air and minuet from the suite in E flat.These two pieces are not unduly hard. I am however worried that the violin music stand is gathering dust because for the last couple of weeks I have missed a good number of days practise.
I am of the opinion that gardening and piano playing don't mix because both take up lots of time. Of course this doesn't mean I get out of gardening and I do need to make progress trimming the last of our beech hedges before the buds burst. Our garden itself is on boulder clay so it can be dug and enriched as much as you like and within a year it is back to square one. Trees and hedges limit the amount of sunlight so we don't have a vegetable plot.
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Post by pavane on Mar 19, 2023 12:52:07 GMT
One day, this place will be maintenance only and will tick along like a well-oiled machine
As the driver, I stuck to Guinness Zero Alcohol, which was pleased enough to see me. Mrs P had quite a number of pints of regular Guinness, so she probably enjoyed the parade more than I did (the local St Paddy's Day parade is indeed a sight to behold!) but I probably enjoyed Saturday morning more than she did.
I've dug out my book of Irish folk songs for recorder and am pottering through those for a bit of light relief, and working at some studies for clarinet - I quite like some of them, but I think the trick is to be selective because some I dislike greatly and I tend to think I have to plod through them, but really I don't. The Rose Études are the biggies for clarinet but I haven't gone anywhere near them yet. Maybe I should make some sort of start on them.
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Post by Zi on Mar 19, 2023 16:45:53 GMT
keff - One of the major problems with gardening, is that I'm prone to injuries. The year before last I tripped while mowing the lawn and damaged my left wrist very very badly - not usable for weeks and weeks. Last year, I tripped over the bits we were using to construct a raised bed and cut my mouth very badly - couldn't play for ages. So far this year, I've managed only minor scrapes (and I've moved paving slabs etc which really ought to have led to a squashed finger or foot!) - I'm doing really well... But I do wonder if anyone who plays an instrument professionally actually does anything because they'd be so at risk. Re the violin - I think the trick is not to worry but to do it when you can. It's a zero guilt - no calorie thing! pavane - re Saturday morning Which Irish tunes are using for the recorder? I've got one somewhere; I think... I have a feeling it's called Irish Tunes for The Recorder and has a girl on the front, with plaits.. maybe I'm imagining the plaits! Anyway, I enjoy hearing what's on other people music stands and I find it inspiring! So, thank you for sharing.
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Post by pavane on Mar 19, 2023 17:19:48 GMT
Which Irish tunes are using for the recorder? I've got one somewhere; I think... I have a feeling it's called Irish Tunes for The Recorder and has a girl on the front, with plaits.. maybe I'm imagining the plaits!
The one I have is called An Irish Tunebook - I think it features in some of the early ABRSM grades in the C section pieces.
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Post by Zi on Mar 20, 2023 8:10:52 GMT
It's raining... really raining. I'm intending to put a short time into the greenhouse - there's kohl rabi to sow... and then it's the sorting out the recorder stuff! Will round up the harp as well...
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Post by keff on Jun 13, 2023 13:22:31 GMT
Since it is far too warm to do any gardening there has been lots of music on my piano's music stand today. Have attempted to play the following pieces;
1. Bach French suite in E flat major. These comprise the most prominent pieces I am trying to get into my fingers and brain. 1.1 The Allemande, completed and in need of keeping fluent. 1.2 The Courant, just started learning. It is not easy. 1.3 The Sarabande, perhaps 75% there 1.4 The gavotte, 50% complete 1.5 The Air, completed 1.6 Minuet, polishing up the articulation 1.7 The gigue, this needs to be played allegro at the very least so will take a long time.
2. Warsaw Concerto, an easy arrangement which I ought to get under the fingers again.
3. Cry me a river arranged by Pam Wedgwood. Also dipped into a few more pieces from that book.
4. Easy arrangement of the Radetzky March
5. A few pieces from Mikrokosmos volume 5
6. Easy arrangement of Bewitched( bothered and bewildered), The nearness of you, Lullaby of Birdland.
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Post by Zi on Jun 13, 2023 17:43:02 GMT
Wow keff - that's quite a list! I do like the mix of material. I guess it taxes different bit of your playing and it's always nice to have some contrast - I think. I'm edging towards returning to playing... Things are a bit less hectic here. Right hand is being silly though...
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Post by keff on Jun 13, 2023 18:38:45 GMT
Hope the hand improves quickly Zi. Explanation for diverse mix of music was likely to be that it just been returned to me by a friend who had borrowed it for a couple of weeks whilst deciding what next to learn.
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