Eine Kleine Nacht Music

Farkel

Hello, all.

I've finally started recording tracks on the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. I''m posting this little snippet to give those of you who care about what it takes to tackle a project like this. My big project last year was the "Danse Macabre." It's on my website, for those who haven't heard it and would like to. It took me nearly 7 months to learn, play and record. My big project of this year is the Rach Rhapsody: 23 minutes of music.

They are different animals. While the Liszt reduction of the Danse Macabre is nearly impossible to play, the Rach Rhapsody to be understood requires both the piano AND the Orchestra. Without each other, each part sounds stupid. And since I'm not a concert pianist, I've had a very difficult time coordinating the orchestra part (which I play and record first) with the piano part (which I record and play second.) I'm fine with solo music, but it's tough for me to play with an orchestra (who also happens to be me!) I don't play very well with myself. (Let those flames begin!)

Fortunately, Rachmaninoff did a "reduction" of the orchestra score, so that it could be played on a second piano. He "reduced" all the strings, reeds, horns, percussion and every other part of the orchestra to a piece that could be played on the piano as an accompanyment for the artist who wanted to practice the featured piano parts before the actual performance with the real orchestra.

Even the most wealthy Concert Pianists cannot keep a full Orchestra on retainer so they can practice with them when they are learning their latest Concerto or the Rach Rhapsody. The "reduction" for a second piano was the best and most economical solution."

The hardest part about this project is that I not only have to learn the PIANO part (which Rachmaninoff himself said was "quite difficult") but I have to learn the ORCHESTRAL part (reduction) and somehow make them both fit together. This is a challenge, but I'm fearless! (Or stupid.)

This recording is ONLY of the Introduction to the Rhapsody and the Theme of that Rhapsody. There are 23 variations on that theme. I will record each of them as I have time. I've already learned most of them, but I still have to learn what the Orchestra is saying to the piano when the piano is playing.

Note: I recorded the piano part first. I recorded the Orchestra part after and over the piano part while it was playing back. The part that sounds like an orchestra (but isn't) is only a patch or voice that is a string ensemble. So I recorded the piano part first, and then, while listening to that, I recorded the "orchestra" part.

When I finish this, I will tell you the story about what inspired this music. It is fascinating. It is about a myth that the great violinist Paganini sold his soul to the devil for women, fame and wine! (Not a bad deal, considering hedonism and stuff.)

This is nothing like the real thing (a real orchestra with 90 people and a host of instruments), but it will give you a sort of flavor for what I want accomplish:

http://www.leadsforclosers.com/RachRhap.wma

Farkel

wasasister

But, where is Mozart's "A Little Night Music", of which I am so fond.

PS, I have a CD to send you that you will love. Remember the Bach jazz CD? There's more...

SC_Guy

Farkel, If you played the original version of 'The Dance of Death' by Sanit-Saens... good for you! It is a very difficult peice... I have only played the inky-dinky String Orchestra version, I know how hard the original is though. If anyone doesn't know the history of 'The dance of death', Saint-Saens wrote it to sound like a progression of the dead coming from the grave into a church to play music, and it's creepy sounding to say the least.

Anyhow, it sounds like a good start. Keep at it...

Not to get off topic, but it sounds like you have a hard time about matching up with the orchestra... don't worry, it's a comman ill and I notice this quite a bit with pianists. It's good your working on it... It's my new motto though when it comes to pianists; good pianists are a dime a dozen, however a good accompanist/forgiving solists are so rare and true treasures to chamber/orchestra music! Isn't Paganini great? He didn't write much for the cello, except the caprices. Those are ridiculously hard, heck even David Popper said they were difficult. What other composeres do you perfer playing?

Oh yeah, where is the mozart? Lol... Eine Kleine is something else, I've had the misfortune of playing all of it at a concert last summer. It's a classic, but the part is sooo boring. There is a section where I play the same notes over and over again... at least it isn't Pachebel's Canon, now there is a awful cello part.. during the whole thing I play the same 8 notes over and over like 40 odd some times. It wears on you... especialy if the violinist are wizzing around these 32nd notes... kill me please! lol.

GermanXJW

The Original title is "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" meaning ""A Little Night Music"

Celia

I can't wait ! I love that piece.

thanks Farkel.

Beans

Wunderbar Herr Farkel!

Farkel

SC_Guy,

Farkel, If you played the original version of 'The Dance of Death' by Sanit-Saens... good for you! It is a very difficult peice... I have only played the inky-dinky String Orchestra version, I know how hard the original is though. If anyone doesn't know the history of 'The dance of death', Saint-Saens wrote it to sound like a progression of the dead coming from the grave into a church to play music, and it's creepy sounding to say the least.

Yes, I play it. Franz Liszt did the reduction that I play and next to the Beethovan Choral Fantasy, it was probably the hardest piece I've ever tackled. Clara Schuman used to complain that while she and other artists had to sweat for months learning pieces, Liszt would play them as if they were child's play. If you haven't heard me play it before, here it is:

http://www.leadadmin.com/farkel/DanseMacabre.wma

: Not to get off topic, but it sounds like you have a hard time about matching up with the orchestra... don't worry, it's a comman ill and I notice this quite a bit with pianists.

Damn right I have a hard time with it, and those two short sections are the easiet and least interactive of the work! I've only played alongside Orchestras twice in my life. Once for the Mozart Dm Concerto, and once for the Beethoven Choral Fantasy and that was decades ago.

My problem is with matching the tempi and that fact that there is a lot of rubato in Romantic music such as the Rhapsody, makes it worse. It's going to still be a long haul getting this piece polished and put to bed.

: It's good your working on it... It's my new motto though when it comes to pianists; good pianists are a dime a dozen, however a good accompanist/forgiving solists are so rare and true treasures to chamber/orchestra music! Isn't Paganini great? He didn't write much for the cello, except the caprices. Those are ridiculously hard, heck even David Popper said they were difficult.

Legend has it that Paganini sold his soul to the devil in return for becoming perhaps the greatest violinist of all times. (And for being able to have his way with many women!) Rach's Rhapsody is built around that theme as he uses the Dis Irae (starting with Variation VII) throughout the piece.

: What other composeres do you perfer playing?

It's easier to ask which ones I DON'T prefer! Seriously, Chopin, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel and Grieg are ones that readily come to mind, although not in any particular order.

: Oh yeah, where is the mozart?

Mozart is difficult to play properly. Because of the narrow dynamics of much of his music, one cannot "fake" it. Bach is even worse! I enjoy playing his Cm Fantasie. It sounds almost more like Beethoven than Mozart. Mozart's music was migrating in that direction during the last period of his life. Just imagine what directions his music would have taken if he lived to be 75 instead of only 35.

: Lol... Eine Kleine is something else, I've had the misfortune of playing all of it at a concert last summer. It's a classic, but the part is sooo boring. There is a section where I play the same notes over and over again... at least it isn't Pachebel's Canon, now there is a awful cello part.. during the whole thing I play the same 8 notes over and over like 40 odd some times. It wears on you... especialy if the violinist are wizzing around these 32nd notes... kill me please! lol.

Eine Kleine? Overplayed. Pachebel's Canon? Overplayed.

Thanks for your comments and input.

Farkel

garybuss

Wow! What a job! I loved it! Thanks for posting it. GaryB

Nocturne

This is great stuff Farkel! How long have you been playing for, and what other challenging projects have you tackled? I'm always looking for new stuff, but I don't get to practice that much anymore because I'm so busy with school. I can't wait till I graduate, then I'll be able to get more involved into it.

Farkel

Nocturne,

Here is some of what I've recorded, but certainly not all that I've played.

I've been playing the piano for forty six years (part time). I should be better than I am, but I'm doing the best I can.

http://www.leadadmin.com/farkel/da_farkel.htm

Farkel

Eine Kleine Nacht Music

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