A Dream of Love

by Farkel 22 Replies latest social entertainment

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  SPAZnik

  *dreamy sigh*
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  blondie

  Wonderful as usual, Farkel. Liszt's work is challenging since he composed it for his unusual hands. Pianists with smaller hands like my own have to be inventive.

  These are the three points I remember from my salad days and piano lessons.

  The greatest pianists of the time, including Chopin and Mendelssohn, while repelled by some of the vulgar showmanship of Liszt's playing, were none the less awed by probably the greatest technical pianist the world has known. Clara Schumann stated that "Liszt played at sight what we toil over and at the end get nowhere with."
  

  It was Liszt in his egomania who invented the modern solo recital, at first calling them "soliloquies."

  The myth that all great pianists have long slender fingers most likely originated by people viewing Liszt's hands - although today we know many great pianists do have short and thick fingers. Upon viewing the casts we clearly see that Liszt had slender fingers, yet not exceedingly long. But what these casts compellingly revealed was that the web-like connective tissue between the fingers was almost nil, allowing for a much wider spread than a normal hand of similar proportions. This physical trait allowed Liszt greater flexibility.

  Blondie
• 

  Farkel

  blondie,

  I, too have seen pictures of the casts of Liszt's hands. Both he and Chopin had longer-than-normal fourth fingers and thumbs.

  Ok. He is what COMF is talking about. This will take a Real Media player to hear which can be downloaded for free at real.com. I made this recording several years ago while learning a Rachmaninoff Prelude. The piano was an old, beat-up upright piano that wouldn't stay in tune, and as I said, I was still learning that particular prelude. It's not at all remarkable for the music, but for the fact that my parrot was singing along with it. Trust me, his singing is hilarious.

  Opera Parrot

  Farkel
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  blondie

  Bravo, parrot. That was great. I had a friend who had a parrot and they had a player piano. The parrot would always sing along. That friend died some years ago so this was a nice reminder of a happy moment.

  Blondie
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  IslandWoman

  Acceptable Farkel, acceptable.
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  Solace
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  wasasister

  I don't think I can adequately express what this music means to me.

  From the time I was a little girl, I remember my mother playing these notes on our badly tuned upright piano. She was not an artist, but she loved music and imparted her passion to my sister and I.

  When my sister was old enough, she climbed up onto the piano bench and played better than my mother's wildest dreams. She truly had a gift.

  But even she would admit that she does not have the "classical touch" as you do. You are able to get inside the composer's head and bring a depth to the notes few people can. I often wonder what the composer would think to know their music is bringing pleasure to modern generations. In your able hands, Liszt would be happy.

  Wouldn't it be fun to bring Wolfegang to life and play for him?

  Thank you, Farkel, for bringing this music back from my childhood. Please, please, keep it coming.

  Wasa/ of the "people will think we're in love" class

  Edited by - wasasister on 13 January 2003 0:57:10
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  Cassiline

  Bravo Bravo Cockroach!

  I am sitting here laughing so hard I have tears rolling down my face. Farkel how did you not laugh, and continue to play?

  What in the world is he singing, saying?

  BTW Even though you say you were still in practice the song sounds lovely.

  Thanks again Farke

  Edit to add:

  I think Cockroach deserves his own thread started and not buried in this one. Remember you even said he gives great beak!

  Edited by - cassiline on 13 January 2003 1:12:49
• 

  Farkel

  wasa,

  : Wouldn't it be fun to bring Wolfegang to life and play for him?

  I would crap my pants and freeze up if I had to play for him. How could I ever do anything that would impress "Wolfie?" I can't. I thank God for the gifts that I have and worship the gifts that were given to "Wolfie." Heck, I would crap my pants just hearing HIM play!

  I may be a little good, but I'm not even in that universe that Mozart roamed about in.

  Farkel, of the ending sentences in prepositions, CLASS.
• 

  Farkel

  blondie,

  : Clara Schumann stated that "Liszt played at sight what we toil over and at the end get nowhere with."
  
  Isn't it ironic that Clara was so famous in her day and Robert was not? As you no doubt know, Johannas Brahms was madly in love with Clara as much as she was madly in love with Robert. And poor Robert threw his talented body in the Rhine river and died. Robert's old man demanded that he become a lawyer and failed to recognize his talent. What a fuckwit. Robert ruined his hands because he thought the only problem with the third finger was it needed more exercise. (He didn't know that that digit had tendons on either side and that's why it wasn't as versatile as say the index or middle fingers.) Robert Schumann came up with a pully and weight system designed to "train" that finger and in so doing, he wrecked it and his ability to play again. Clara was THE concert pianist in that household and Robert went on to write some GREAT music. Even catastrophies can bring miracles.

  I do play the Schumann Arabesque. It is a beautiful peace. Would you like to hear it, and cry? I cry when I play it. It makes for a messy performance, you know, with all the crying and stuff.

  Farkel