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From classical to pop, join the discussion on our Music forum.

Original poster

Instrument players - come and chat!

999 replies

NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/04/2017 23:21

I thought we could have a thread to chat about playing! I play the piano (not as badly as I fear but not as well as I hope) and have recently tried my hand at chamber music. Would love to hear what other people are doing.

CoteDAzur Here's a picture of the instruments they used in Rameau's Dardanus.

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CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 08:29

I can't even watch Daniel Barenboim, let alone admire, after finding out that he left his wife Jacqueline du Pre once she developed MS at age 28. She was unable to play her beloved cello and died alone. Now, she was .

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 08:32

Keith Jarrett is also a surprisingly good classical pianist. He has a really fantastic CD of Handel's keyboard suites and another one of Bach's harpsichord sonatas.

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 05/07/2017 08:33

I like the Barenboim's performance of the Beethoven's sonata when he was young but not so much the recent ones.

Jacqueline du Pre was an exceptional performer. Sad Sad

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CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 08:37

Keith Jarrett also has a CD of Handel's harpsichord & flute sonatas.

So, I guess at least some people are able to appreciate & play both Baroque and Jazz! Smile

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 08:40

J du Pre's story is so incredibly sad. Child prodigy, brilliant musician, height of fame in her 20s, married to young musician Barenboim. Then MS at 28, and she can't play her beloved instrument Sad And that before her husband leaves her and she dies alone at age 40.

There is a good book about her (written by her sister?) but I haven't yet gathered the courage to read it.

LooseAtTheSeams · 05/07/2017 08:58

Cote I have Keith Jarrett's Bach cds but not the Handel - thanks for pointing me in that direction!Smile

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 09:02

Sorry to bang on about Keith Jarrett but I just wanted to give some examples of just how brilliant he plays Handel:

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 09:04

Happy to have helped, Loose Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 05/07/2017 09:24

Thanks Cote I think I'm going to make him my classical choice as well as jazz! Problem solved!Smile

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 10:01

Re favourite instrumentalists, do vocal artists count? (their voice is their instrument etc)

In that case, I'll nominate and .

CoteDAzur · 05/07/2017 13:29

Meanwhile, I'm at Double #3 of Handel's Air & 5 Doubles (link downthread), which I thought was pretty impossible but I'm doing pretty OK with now Smile (it's all 'weird piano technique, with pinky finger playing its own melody, like in Gavotte's 3rd Double).

And now I've got my eye on Variation #21 from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Isn't it incredibly beautiful?

buggerthebotox · 05/07/2017 17:22

Some lovely nominations!

Didn't know that about Barenboim. Sad.

Broken11Girl · 05/07/2017 20:22

'Bare bum' is remarkably appropriate for Barenboim, to put it politely. Disgusting behaviour. Jacqueline du Pre was an amazing musician. So sad Sad Read that book years ago I think Cote.
Will have a listen to all your nominations. Martha Argerich and of course Horowitz are mine.

Broken11Girl · 05/07/2017 20:24

Teacher was impressed with me this week Grin guess my pulse improved.

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/07/2017 07:40

Well done on the pulse Broken! Smile

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Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/07/2017 07:41

I'm still playing the Rameau gavotte & doubles. Still lots to discuss with my teacher.

And also Brahms Hungarian Dance and the art of jumping three octaves and landing in the right place without blinking.

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Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/07/2017 07:43

I once saw a masterclass on youtube with Barenboim explaining how to make silence go louder. Hmm Grin

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CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 08:16

Where are you at the Gavotte, Never?

The last two Doubles are so satisfying to play (although they kill my forearms) Smile

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/07/2017 08:22

We have only managed to discuss the gavotte and the first double. Shock

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CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 08:30

I think you will really enjoy playing the rest. My personal favourites are Doubles #3 ("weird technique"), #5 (where right hand goes nuts) and #6 (where left hand goes nuts).

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/07/2017 08:31

I've learned them all. It's fine-tuning. :) They are all very nice to play.

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CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 08:38

Ooh how could I forget #4? I love that one, too Smile

CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 19:34

I managed to make a couple of videos this afternoon, which I'm uploading to YouTube. I haven't had much time (just had 2 takes of each) and received some very bad news in the middle of it which left my hands shaking and my head reeling, so it's not even as good as I usually play these pieces (which isn't anywhere near perfect at best of times). Anyway... coming up soon!

CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 19:48

Here is . Without the Doubles for now. I'm working on those Smile

CoteDAzur · 06/07/2017 21:55

Aaaaand here is Rameau's , full of mistakes, warts and all. I think I'm better at it on the piano these days than the harpsichord, but I wanted to do this video on the harpsichord anyway because I won't see it until September Sad