Innehållsförteckning för 122 från Pianist

When Pianist hit the newsstand 20 years ago, nobody had heard of Daniil Trifonov (he would have been ten at the time). Here he is now, an instantly recognizable face on the cover, the model of a modern virtuoso. How much has changed (for all of us) since 2001! The 17-year-old Lang Lang had just made his London debut. Piotr Anderszewski had released his first album for Virgin Classics. British piano manufacturers such as Kemble were still thriving. I have looked back over many of the highlights in the life of Pianist with a retrospective article, remembering artists and instruments, teachers and scores, tuners and cats, and more. How good it is that more and more pianists in our own time push the boundaries of ‘the repertoire’; something I try…

Key E flat Tempo Andante Style Late Romantic Will improve your ✔LH control ✔Counterpoint between melodies ✔Phrasing This gem of a Prelude held a very dear place in Rachmaninov’s heart. He composed it just after the birth of his first daughter. The work contains a sense of profound tenderness and love, so it is very important to convey this in the overall mood. The piece has always been special to me as well. My mother was a good pianist and I remember her playing it when I was very young, so it has been part of my musical life for many years. Don’t be deceived by its appearance. It may look fairly simple and manageable but I can assure you that it’s not. The most difficult challenge is the LH…

Gurlitt’s Album Leaves for the Young is a set of 20 short pieces, first published in 1880, aimed at the young student. Some of the pieces are rather moving, such as this tender Lament (‘Klage’ in German). Playing tips: The notes might seem simple enough, but you will need a deep tone as well as a good sense of line (see the long phrase markings) and a good legato technique. Keep moving (notice the ‘con moto’ at the start) and always aim towards the top RH note (follow the dynamic markings). Try to ‘creep’ over the keys and keep the fingers close. This will help produce the much-needed legato. Almost feel that the fingers are overlapping from one to the next. The LH acts as the stable foundation, and even…

Little is known of American composer, writer and music critic, Wilson G Smith. Graduating from the University of Cincinnati, he continued his studies in Berlin where he was taught by Scharwenka, Kiel, Moszkowski and Raif. He wrote over 1,000 compositions, including piano solos and suites, songs and technical studies for the piano, dances, and waltzes. Autumn Memories is the final piece from his Autumn Sketches suite; so, as autumn approaches, we felt it apt to publish this tender work. Playing tips: The endearing melody will benefit from good legato. Try to feel as if the keys are glued to your fingers! In the RH, at the start of bars 12, 14 and elsewhere, the fingers change on the minim note. This is called finger substitution: whereby the fingers change on…

DON’T MISS NILS FRANKE’S LESSON ON THIS PIECE Virtually unknown today, German composer Arnoldo Sartorio was remembered by past audiences chiefly for pedagogical pieces written for his piano students to play. Many of these were issued under pseudonyms, which include Felix Durand, T. Devrient, Arthur Dana, Carlotta Bocca, Christian Schäfer, and Victor Abelle. You can find another Sartorio arrangement for the left hand inside issue 104 – that of Wagner’s ‘Pilgrim’s Chorus’ from the opera Tannhäuser. Read Nils Franke’s in-depth lesson.…

Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin was an American pianist and composer. Born in Pennsylvania, he began playing the piano by the age of four, although he needed cushions piled on the pedals to enable him to reach them! His father provided his son with both vocal and instrumental instruction until he continued his studies in the US and Germany. In 1892 Nevin moved to Paris, where he taught singing, coaching many American and French artists for the operatic stage. Seeking solitude and the right atmosphere for composition, he moved to Florence, Italy (followed by a year in Venice and another year in Paris) but he eventually settled in America. Narcissus is one of his best-remembered compositions. Playing tips: Here’s another piece where, at the start and at the end, the LH needs…

DON’T MISS LUCY PARHAM’S LESSON ON THIS PIECE Rachmaninov’s ten Preludes of Op 23 were completed in 1903. The most often performed of the set, the No 5 in G minor, was completed as early as 1901. The Op 23 were composed at the same time as Rachmaninov’s substantial Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op 22, itself derived from Chopin’s C minor Prelude. It is no surprise, then, that Rachmaninov would take inspiration from Chopin’s precedent and begin composing a set of Preludes of his own. With the addition of the later 13 Preludes Op 32, and the famous C sharp minor Prelude written when he was 19, Rachmaninov continued the tradition of Bach and Chopin by having written preludes in all 24 of the major and minor keys.…

The story of piano music for the left hand alone has so far been linked to debates about injury, or the loss of the right hand (or arm), thereby focusing on the circumstances of individual performers rather than the music’s aesthetic qualities. In this article I want to tell a different story; one of a specialist genre within the vast territory of piano music; one which is so distinct and comprehensive, it offers enough remarkable music to sustain a successful career as a solo, chamber and concerto player – and that is without exploring the considerable potential for commissioning new works! In terms of solo repertoire, the shape of the left hand (thumb in the higher register) lends itself perfectly to a treble melody and bass-line accompaniment figuration In my…

EMAIL: editor@pianistmagazine.com WRITE TO:The Editor, Pianist, Warners Group Publications, The Maltings, West St, Bourne, PE10 9PH. Letters may be edited. Phenomenal Phoebé I love Mel Bonis’s piece Phoebé which is featured in the Scores section of issue 121. Is it possible to have more of these lush sounding scores for pieces in future issues? Rowena Fryer, Congleton, Cheshire You have great taste, Rowena! When the editor came across this piece, she knew she’d found a winner. Inside this issue you might like to try Reynaldo Hahn’s Les revêries du Prince Églantine. It’s less thickly textured, but the harmonies are a dream. From recent past issues we’d recommend Levitzki’s The Enchanted Nymph (119), Sinding’s Rustle of Spring (102) and Chaminade’s Automne (86). More lush sounding pieces to come! How does she…

When is an accompaniment not an accompaniment? Unless we’re talking about a pattern-based sequence of notes, such as an Alberti bass, the answer is often not so clear-cut. And though we might be tempted to glance first at the bass line for confirmation of how the roles are divided between the hands, we’ll often need to look elsewhere, especially in repertoire from the Romantic period onwards. Even by the early grades, accompaniments can be found in the RH, with the tune in the LH. Furthermore, accompaniments won’t necessarily remain rooted in one hand (or keep conveniently to a single position within the musical texture). Frequently in piano music an accompanimental line will suddenly morph into something more melodic, perhaps just fleetingly. We sometimes think of the piano as being an…

Key B flat major Tempo Andantino Style Romantic Will improve your ✔Cantabile ✔LH chords ✔Leaps This beautiful miniature contains a joyful if not slightly sentimental character. The RH part consists of a florid, lyrical melody which is combined with a widespread LH chordal accompaniment. Lasting just 14 bars, it perfectly encapsulates the essence of Chopin’s style; the opening eight bars tell the story, and the final six bars act as a reflective refrain. Quaver equals 88 beats per minute should keep the pulse moving along nicely, whilst allowing time for the necessary rubato. Let’s start with the LH part. Aim to play the first beat of every dotted crotchet note-group alone: the Bb and Eb in bar 1, the F and Bb in bar 2, and so on. I suggest…

On these pages, Pianist covers the most basic stages of learning the piano through a series of lessons by Hans-Günter Heumann. This lesson features three exercises that focus on left hand technique. Cross Hand Etude This delightful study will help improve precision and flexibility of the LH. Notice how the LH needs to cross over the RH in order to place the dotted minim in the second bar (and so on). The role of the hands reverse from bar 17. Two Octave Arpeggios in the LH Here is a fun exercise for improving LH arpeggios. Try to keep the LH quaver notes even in sound (no bumps!). A fair bit of wrist rotation will be needed. Try not to lift the wrist too much when the finger is required to…

DON’T MISS MELANIE SPANSWICK’S LESSON ON THIS PIECE Chopin wrote this short Cantabile in 1834, though the work wasn’t published during his lifetime. As it doesn’t have an opus number, it is usually referred to by its Brown catalogue number, B84. Like many of Chopin’s lesser works, it was published posthumously (in 1931), contrary to his wish that all his unpublished manuscripts be burned. It’s a beautiful gem, though, and a good introduction to the repertoire of Chopin. We are sure you will enjoy learning and performing it. Read Melanie Spanswick’s lesson on this piece.…

As a child, the French composer, organist and teacher César Franck showed great talent for the piano. In 1837 he enrolled into the Paris Conservatoire, but abandoned a career as a piano virtuoso and turned his attention to teaching the organ. In 1871 he was appointed professor of organ at the Paris Conservatoire, where his lessons became informal composition seminars to faithful pupils who termed themselves the ‘bande à Franck’. His pupils included such stars-in the-making as D’Indy, Dukas, Duparc and Vierne. Playing tips: It’s the LH that has the action in this piece! The fingers need to move around the keyboard with ease and control. Keep close to the keys and try to keep the left elbow steady. With regards to tempo, even if marked Adagio, don’t play too…

Hermann Berens was a German-born Swedish Romantic composer, famous mainly for his piano music, some of which is included in the Stockholm Royal Conservatory of Music’s syllabus. Berens mainly gained his popularity as a teacher and author of instructive pieces for piano (Op 61) and a collection of piano etudes (Op 89). Playing tips: This might be a study, but if you listen to Chenyin Li’s recording, you can hear that she really shapes the LH line, making it sound more than just a technical exercise. The tempo should be a resolute allegro; learn it slowly, though, building up the tempo gradually over time. Try to play as evenly as possible. Pedal is not required.…

WATCH CHENYIN LI PLAY THIS AT WWW.PIANISTMAGAZINE.COM Beethoven’s six Bagatelles Op 126 were published late in his career, in 1824, and were dedicated to his brother Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven (who even knew he had a brother!). Beethoven was obviously proud of them, writing to his publisher that these bagatelles ‘are probably the best I’ve written’. The remaining five Bagatelles have appeared in previous issues of the magazine. Playing tips: A trademark of Beethoven’s style, there are many big contrasts within short spaces of time: The opening semiquavers, which are split between the hands, should sound strong and seamless. Then, at the end of bar 4, the ‘answering’ statement appears as a striking contrast – sweet, beautifully-shaped and legato. This statement-and-answer style prevails throughout. The ending should almost vanish into…

Buying a new piano, whether it’s your first ever or your latest acquisition, is an exciting undertaking. It can also be daunting. One of the challenges you may be facing is balancing your progress as a pianist against household pressures and budget constraints, sometimes making it more difficult to choose an instrument that fits your needs. The practicalities of a digital over an acoustic can be appealing, and if you have the budget for a step-up model, you can buy something noticeably superior to entry-level models. There’s plenty of choice from recognised brands, and among some recent 2021 releases, Roland’s RP701, priced at around £1,163, seems to hit the spot. The model benefits from the company’s SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine, which I’ve found responds with greater nuance than the sounds…

Pianists tend to complain that their left hand doesn’t feel as strong as their right, and students often ask me if they should be practising special exercises for the left hand alone to help their weaker hand catch up. Is it possible, though, for the left hand to be as agile as the right? In 2011, Psychology Today published some interesting research that showed that whether a pianist identified as right- or left-handed, the performance of the right hand always displayed a higher degree of evenness and motor control than did the left hand. Also, the more practice time a left-handed player had accumulated, the better the performance of their right hand. In this article I explore a range of exercises, studies and repertoire written for the left hand alone,…

Key G major Tempo Andante tranquillo Style Romantic Will improve your ✔LH voicing ✔Pedalling ✔Awareness of the LH’s capabilities On Wings of Song is the second of Mendelssohn’s Six Songs Op 34. Published in 1836 and using words by Heinrich Heine, it quickly established itself as one of Mendelssohn’s most popular songs. That meant that a number of virtuoso pianists of the time lined up almost immediately to transcribe the piece for two hands: Franz Liszt, Sigismund Thalberg and Stephen Heller amongst them. This transcription is by Arnoldo Sartorio (1853-1936). A German composer of Italian descent, he was a prolific composer: In September 1912, the influential American piano-teaching magazine The Etude marked the publication of Sartorio’s Op 1000 (!) with a feature article about his work. There is no denying,…

Bach’s Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (in German, Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach) refers to either of two manuscript notebooks that the composer presented to his second wife, Anna Magdalena. Comprising minuets, rondos, polonaises, sonatas, musettes, preludes and more, this particular Minuet appears in the second book. Both books provide a glimpse into the domestic music of the 18th century and the musical tastes of the Bach family. Playing tips: The notes should be slightly detached but completely even and rhythmical. The tied RH crotchets that are often placed over the bar line should feel syncopated, so give them a little emphasis. The hardest technical challenge here is the execution of the trills, especially in bars 21-24. Practise them out of context, very slowly. The score suggests two different fingerings…

German Romantic composer Ferdinand Hiller was a remarkable talent. He began his career as a musical prodigy and later became a celebrated piano virtuoso, successful composer, conductor, writer on music and impresario. With his social skills and artistic versatility, he became one of the most imposing musical personalities of the 19th century. Playing tips: This lyrical, barcarolle-like Cradle Song should rock calmly along at an Andante pace. Even if the LH acts as the boat’s (and the music’s) anchor, you should still try to shape it and give it a line of its own (follow the phrase markings). The RH will need good voicing: the upper note should ring out at all times. At bar 17, a short development ensues. Keep it sweet and soft. After the ritardando at bar…

Notes from the composer: My piece, Follow the Birds, is written over a basic 12-bar blues chord progression. Musicians that play by ear often ‘jam’ together over these chords: C-C-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C, with each musician taking turns to solo over them. Playing tips: This bass line pattern is played over two bars. Learn the first two bars off by heart, until you’re not looking down. This will make it easier to focus on the RH. Use the same pattern for F (bars 5-6). The bass line for G (bar 9) only uses the first four notes of the two-bar pattern. Blues piano often uses thirds in the RH. When playing from two black notes onto two white notes, as in the first bar, start with your fingers close to the edge of…

CPE Bach was the fifth child and second surviving son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. This feisty Allegro is the first movement of the Sixth Sonata from his Keyboard Sonatas Wq63. Playing tips: What a great, energetic piece this is! It should sound brilliant from beginning to end. Finger articulation needs to be spot-on, with the RH semiquavers nimble from the outset. Notice how the LH often has to jump over the RH (first appearance is in bar 2). Make sure that, even if the LH jumps over the RH, it remains as close to the keyboard as possible. This allows for quicker access to the notes. With regards to dynamics, most of the piece requires a strong forte tone, but at places such as bar 9,…

The Venezuelan-born French composer, conductor, music critic, and singer Reynaldo Hahn is best known for his songs, of which he wrote more than 100. This dreamy piece comes from a collection of solo piano works entitled ‘Le rossignol éperdu’ (the bewildered nightingale). The collection, comprising 53 short pieces, is to Hahn what the Songs without Words is to Mendelssohn and the Lyric Pieces to Grieg. Playing tips: The big challenge here is… yes, the LH part again! The intervals in the LH accompaniment part can be awkward to execute, but the suggested fingering should help. The LH notes need to be pianissimo, too, yet each note has to be heard! The RH should also remain soft throughout, but it still needs to project as it carries the gorgeous melody. Pedal…

LEIF OVE ANDSNES Mozart Momentum: Piano Concertos K466, K467 & K482; Fantasia in C minor K475; Piano Quartet in G minor K478; Masonic Funeral Music K477. Mahler Chamber Orchestra and various soloists Sony 19439742462 The first aerial crossing of the English Channel; the Marquis de Sade scribbling The 120 Days of Sodom in the Bastille; and the famous ‘necklace affair’ hastening on the French Revolution. The world was changing rapidly in 1785, and – as Leif Ove Andsnes demonstrates with energy and panache – nowhere less so than in the output of the 29-year-old Mozart. Could Wolfgang really have written the Concertos 20, 21 and 22, going from stormy, via majestic, to jokey, one after the other? And the exquisite G minor Piano Quartet? And the sublime Masonic Funeral Music?…

THE PIANOTRAINER SCALES WORKBOOK Karen Marshall Faber ISBN10: 0-571-54189-5 This is a companion book to Faber’s awardwinning PianoTrainer series but can be used by any student that wants to improve their scales and arpeggios. All major and minor scales (in harmonic, melodic, and natural forms), arpeggios, and broken chords are printed both on a stave and with fingerings on top of a keyboard diagram. A few extras are included as well – there is an ‘activity page’ for each key which includes written exercises to help embed the scale pattern, 24 ‘scale coach’ tips on how to facilitate the learning process, and a brief exploration of other scales such as chromatics, blues, and modes. The material is sufficient to equip a student with the technical requirements of all major examining…