MENDENHALL MUSIC STUDIO
The first thing I want you to do
is forget everything you know
about TEXTING.
Harmony is when you find two notes that love one another.
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
The Royal Conservatory of Music; exams info - rcmusic.ca
The Cowichan Music Festival - cowichanmusicfestival.com
Info about Pianofest & workshops - cowichanmusicteachers.com
Buying sheet music online; one site of many - musicnotes.com
Studying theory? studystack.com/music
Notereading practice? musicteachers.co.uk/namethatnote
Educational music games https://wordfinderx.com/blog/music-games/
Free scores online -http://imslp.org/
Scholarships: https://couponfollow.com/research/future-musicians-guide
VS concerts in Duncan: www.cowichansymphonysociety.ca
Monthly recital series www.ChemainusClassicalConcerts.ca
Fun music "quizzes" - www.musictechteacher.com
Instrument sounds - https://www.aaastateofplay.com/the-wide-world-of-music-a-guide-to-100-musical-instruments-interactive/
Short bios of famous composers -https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/find/content-know-your-composers-famous-people-of-classical-music
Proven music study benefits - https://www.rcmusic.ca/sites/default/files/files/RCM_MusicEducationBenefits.pdf?mcclnktrk=2
Victoria concerts: Opera www.pov.bc.ca
Strings: www.emilycarrstringquartet.com
General: http://wentworthvilla.com/events/
Summer: http://www.eksm.ca/
LISTENING SELECTIONS (Copy and paste the links into your browser window)
#1 One of the world's great improvisers takes a tune from the audience (that she clearly has never heard before) and away she goes....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUqhPoA5bIY
#2
#3
Listen to this several times, if you can...and enjoy being swept away, particularly near the end, where the composer makes the insistent repetition of a single note amazingly beautiful. This piece is in a quintessentially Romantic style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykUCfqvnI9I
#4 One of the most inspired pieces of music of all time...in a gorgeous recording of a performance by three unforgettable artists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aanDMH7GEZE
#5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdhRYMY6IEc This is the piece of music, written by a 17 year old, that "started" the Romantic era. So as you can better appreciate it, here is the translation of the words:
Who rides so late through night and wind? It is the father and his child.
He has the boy in his arms
He holds him safely, and keeps him warm.
"My son, why are you hiding your face like that?"
"Father, don't you see the Elfking?The Elfking with a crown and a tail?"
"My son, it's just the fog."
"Come dear child, come with me! I'll play lovely games with you;
There are some colorful flowers on the beach,
And my mother has some golden garments."
'My father, my father! Don't you hearWhat the Elfking is promising me?'
"Be calm, be calm, my child; It's just the wind rustling in the leaves."
"Do you want to come with me, dear boy? My daughters will wait on you;
My daughters will lead a dance, And rock you, dance you and sing you to sleep."
"My father, my father! Don't you see them? The Elfking's daughters in that eerie place?"
"My son, my son, yes, I see it clearly:It's just old grey willows shimmering."
"I love you, you're beautiful!; If you don't come willingly, I'll use force!"
"My father, my father, he's grabbing me!The Elfking is hurting me!"
It horrifies the father; but he rides on, He holds the moaning child in his arms,
With effort and trouble he reaches his farm, But In his arms, the child was DEAD!!
#6 And now for some humour...I thought some "turkey" would be good for this occasion... Happy Thanksgiving!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=562rqZ7sKI
#7 This week's ties in with the Music History Weekend we just enjoyed...this piece was actually performed, with harp accompaniment, at the concert Friday night (some of you were there.) This is an amazing version of this short piece, in a stunning setting.... Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96d9mlRmjus
#8 Now for something from the Baroque era: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e5bgRqdmxI
#9 And now for some more fun... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icp92mV6XeU
#10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjghYFgt8Zk One of the foremost pianists alive today - a charming rendition of some of the most original music to come out of the Baroque era.
#11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgx1VXIbvn8&feature=share&list=PLzqAq0H6jS8GVtScP-aXK0QG2kgK5KlCv This young pianist will soon be performing in Vancouver - we get an "up-close" look at his hands while he plays this evocative piece. Notice how he shows us the important notes, which correspond to the shadowy shapes discernable in the mist. Perhaps the mist lifts at times, then descends again. If this sounds "modern" to you - would you believe the composer died in 1928?...not exactly "new" music!
#12 Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) was an American composer of short, light concert pieces; many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler. As with all his other compositions, Leroy Anderson wrote The Typewriter for orchestra, completing the work on October 9, 1950. This particular orchestration was performed in a June 12, 2011 concert by members of the National Orchestra and Chorus of Spain in Madrid. The (typewriter) soloist is Alfredo Anaya. Watch his expressions and actions throughout the video...wonderful! Many of the younger crowd-- who may see this video--won't remember the old typewriter, unless they have seen it in old movies. For those who have never tried one out, well, you had to roll in a piece of paper, peck out your message on a clattery keyboard (with no chance to correct mistakes), and return the carriage to the left side of the paper at the end of each line (that's the 'ding' you keep hearing in the music.) You will find this rendition absolutely delightful. Have fun! If you aren't at least smiling at the end, YOU REALLY MUST BE HAVING A VERY BAD DAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G4nX0Xrn-wo&sns=em
#13 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJcQYVtZMo Some of you may have already seen this, but it is happy every time.
#14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ii6vQNEoCY Here is a little Christmas cheer for all of you - not so much the song as the decorations in this magnificent concert hall in Vienna!
#15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEGOihjqO9w This was my favourite music in the whole world when I was a teenager (and still is very high on my list.) It runs the full gamut of all possible emotions. I used to listen to it while watching tropical sunsets out my bedroom window… This is a gorgeous recording, clear picture and lovely tone.
#16 Enjoy this wonderful performance of one of the world’s most difficult piano pieces, by a blind pianist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbAoeZZvntk
#17 This selection is just one piece, but on YouTube it was divided into two parts. The third link is included just because it is the same piece, only played by a very young person on very small instrument; I found it quite amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxb7yNG0DGchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruV0qfhEoWUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u-6LzNtkpQ
#18 Now for some birthday fun...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLG7RSGmz6w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S75gYhODS0M
#19 The second link is pretty fun! But listen to the first one first, so you know where it’s coming from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJLyZqETuBU http://www.youtube.com/embed/96I_UrTOZF0
#20 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArPqlfjuiV8
#21 Enjoy these two very different but both extremely, unbelievably virtuosic performances of the same famous (and very short) piece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alxBofd_eQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZO5KTJTwhE
# 22 Such beautiful duet playing by two of the world’s greatest living pianists…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URj9NoUDD08
# 23 I heard this wonderful pianist live in Nanaimo recently…and this concerto is one of the most beautiful and famous ever written. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqJm1I3eZ-I
# 24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCzmYWwhxqQ
# 25 A lovely, short piano piece for your enjoyment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl_Udw22tXw
# 26 - Music students can play… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_t8o3JLtQ
# 27 - The famous finale starts at about 45. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFK1Fawnp4w
# 28 – Not your ordinary chamber music… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKezUd_xw20
#29 Bach wrote all of his music “to the glory of God.” Here is a wonderful example, to celebrate the religious side of Easter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu_C_g8VoPE
(…and we think we pianists have a lot to coordinate!) Now, for a complete contrast: a brief touch of Easter fun featuring a famous bunny…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvtDAUZjjwY
# 30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C563Mx-G8NA
#31 A very famous piece of music from the 13th century, complete with the interesting musical notation of the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsn9LWh230k
# 32 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdhLl1orx9I
# 33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiZJnBycEDg Debussy string quartet in G Minor
# 34 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvsc5B0Ywzg This young violinist (well, she is 53, so not young anymore! but 19 at this recording) was a very famous child prodigy in Costa Rica when I was growing up, because her mother is Costa Rican. I heard her play the Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn concerti when she was 10 or 11. (You may also wish to click on another video of one of these; I was undoubtedly in the audience when it was filmed!) I think you will enjoy the opening of this video, featuring musicians playing on the river etc in Philadelphia… and also the rehearsal with famous conductor Eugene Ormandy. Then the concert begins. Notice that if you wish to hear the rest of the concerto, you can click on Parts 2 and 3.
# 35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J73zWS3ZNY
# 36 – We will let one of Canada’s (and the world’s) best violinists and JS Bach have the final word for this season! Happy Summer Holidays. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lPUQgea1Iw
Copyright 2013. Ann Mendenhall. All rights reserved