Some Debussy and Bach

I had the privilege of playing for the inauguration of the newly-donated piano in a church in downtown Toronto. Despite the weather being ridiculously gloomy (it was not really raining, but it was very much not dry), the day was extraordinarily beautiful; although I've never considered myself especially religious, the service was lovely and the people were very kind. What a wonderful day!

I played some Bach and Debussy. The pieces can be listened to in the YouTube links below. 

Here is Debussy's Arabesque  no. 1 from Deux Arabesques, as played by the master Walter Gieseking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDfLZSWlKI

And here is a beautiful performance of J.S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E-major from Book One of the WTC by Dominique Kim at the 10th International Russian Music Piano Competition. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSOdUHiiXiU

Enjoy!

New Name, New Focus

Earlier today, I decided to change the title of this blog to Roundabout Contemplations. Inspired by Henrik Ibsen's master play "Peer Gynt" and Grieg's famous music to Peer Gynt, this change of title reflects a shift in focus. After much thought, I decided that a blog focused solely on my love for music isn't what I'd like to devote my writing to. I want this blog to not only be about music, Classical or otherwise, but also about the various thoughts that come my way and give me a new and different understanding of the world.

Of course, this focus change doesn't mean that I'll stop writing about music; after all, so much of my life revolves around playing piano, playing cello, studying music history, listening to Beethoven, Wagner, Jason Mraz, Dispatch, and much more. However, with this new blog focus, I will have a wider span of writing topics in which I may indulge.

It is also worth noting that along with the name and focus change, my blog will now be located at the following URL: http://roundaboutcontemplations.blogspot.com/

Please continue to enjoy my blog.

Cello Choir at Music Night!

Last week, the Cello Choir performed for students, parents, faculty and staff at our school's Music Night. We played "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica (arranged for four cellos by Apocalyptica). "Nothing Else Matters" is a beautifully powerful piece, and I hope that you all enjoy listening to it here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ

We hope to perform it again in the upcoming weeks, along with Fauré's "Dans Les Ruines d'Une Abbaye" and traditional tune "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)" arranged for three cellos.

Here is "Dans Les Ruines d'Une Abbaye." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOgyCbxwSuo

Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 - 1847), known to most English speakers as simply Felix Mendelssohn, was nothing less than a genius. Born in Hamburg, Germany, this incredible pianist, organist, conductor, and composer created brilliant masterpieces during his lifetime. All of his works are worth listening to, but if you're going to just pick a couple, I'd recommend hearing his beautiful "Andante and Rondo Capriccioso" for solo piano (also on the RCM ARCT repertoire list, by the way), his very virtuosic "Violin Concerto in E-minor, Op. 64," and his well known Overture to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

They're brilliant, so get out and listen to them!

Or stay inside, by your computer, and have a listen to these YouTube links.

Andante and Rondo Capriccioso:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQngHGBI4ak

Violin Concerto in E-minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCLxso5XDN4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3PJf4lAj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr0ixoV8mtc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y2qZRocdXYU

Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h1MGAlkqno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mLJzAsOEs&feature=related

Happy listening!

Finlandia

Music is powerful. Take one listen to Finlandia and that fact becomes startlingly obvious.

Here's the YouTube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgwr3wrenkQ

Enjoy!

Cello Choir

My school's cello ensemble, also known as our Cello Choir, has a new piece!

We're learning the aria from the fifth suite of Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras.
I'm super excited to play this piece. It's gorgeous.

Have a listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06B1SQjRRQ

P.S. Beatstock is in less than a week!