March 2008

In the Spirit of the Bunnies

March 23, 2008 01:55

A short arrangement from the TV commercial "Sony Bravia". Wish you all a happy Easter holiday!

A story about Rachmaninov Prelude in C-sharp minor

March 21, 2008 16:55

About five years ago, when I was still "slaving" at PricewaterhouseCooper in Malaysia, a colleague of mine wanted to start learning the piano. After attending a Sunday concert at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, my collague called and asked if I could come along with him to a piano shop. He wanted to buy a piano and asked if I could "test" them for him. I gladly obliged.

So we arrived at the piano shop. I played all the upright pianos within his budget. About half an hour later, I picked one for him. While he was paying for the piano, the shop manager came out from his office at the back and started to chat with me. He then took off the leather cover of a grand piano and asked me to try it. It was a Steinway concert grand!

It was the first time I ever touched a Steinway. As I sat down, my mind was wondering what to play. My fingers however automatically rested themselves on the 3 A notes. I started playing Rachmaninov's prelude in C-sharp minor. As I hit the notes... WOW! The notes ring throughout the whole shop! I proceeded to play the piece and before I knew it, I played the whole prelude from memory.

For an ABRSM Grade 7 dropout to play the prelude from memory on a brand new Steinway concert grand, it was the highest moment of my piano life!

That is why this prelude means so much to me. After my AMEB Grade 8 violin exam, I plan to find a piano teacher and learn the prelude properly. The problem is, I'll need to practise on a proper piano. This prelude will totally blast the speakers of my digital piano!

For those that haven't seen this YouTube video, it is an absolute must! I bet you've never seen the prelude played this way before. I might ask Jo (in the video) if the wooden blocks are for sale!

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Rachmaninov, I missed you!

March 21, 2008 06:06

Not My Violin Self
I haven't been my violin self for the last few months. I've been absolutely sick of practising exam pieces and scales.

YouTube
Then, I started to post some videos on YouTube. As bad as my playing was, people don't seem to care about my lack of talent and musical taste. They don't seem to mind a slip here and there. So I posted a bit more, and a bit more... after 2 months I've posted 34 videos!

Back To My Violin Self
I'm glad that I've returned to my violin self last week. I'm now eager to tackle Bach, Beethoven, Falla and Dancla again. For some reasons, I'm still afraid of recording myself with these pieces despite having recorded 34 videos already (of very very easy stuff).

Rachmaninov
I showed one of my overseas friends my YouTube videos a month ago. He asked if he would ever listen to me playing Rachmaninov's Prelude in C-Sharp Minor again. I told him that I hope he remembered it when I played it to him over 4 years ago, because that would never happen again.

That thought (of not able to play Rachmaninov again) linggered in my mind since then. Last night, I bravely took out my Rachmaninov Preludes book and started re-learning the notes to the prelude again. I knew what to expect. I couldn't remember a note other than the first 3 octave chords. I knew it wouldn't all come back overnight. So I patiently read the chords, find my fingers on the keys... one by one.

My brain amazed me. In a day, I could play the first section already! My fingers are still very raw, and my right wrist hurts a bit twisting through those chords... but here's proof!

It looks like it's possible for me to play Rachmaninov again. Regardless of how bad I play, I'm happy enough (for now) to just hear myself playing Him. If I suceed, I might re-learn his G-Sharp Minor Prelude too, my other favourite.

Please Don't Watch
Please don't watch my other YouTube videos. They totaly sucks compared to what many of you could do.

The Chairman's Waltz
I replied a discussion topic not long ago about The Chairman's Waltz violin sheet music (from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha). I've dictated the violin part and so far 8 people have asked for it (7 from YouTube and 1 from violinist.com). It's not difficult to dictate for many of you here, but if you want to save some time, send me a message and I'll send the music sheet over.

Rachel Barton Pine
I've subscribed to your YouTube video. Thanks so much for sharing! Did you record an CD album of Sarasate Spanish Pieces? I have that CD and if I'm correct, the violinist was Rachel Barton (I think). I lend it to a friend so I couldn't check.

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More entries: April 2008 • December 2007