Arvo Part's Spiegel im Spiegel

September 30, 2013 at 10:13 PM · A most beautiful piece, apparently simple, consisting of very slow scales in or close to the first position, accompanied by quiet arpeggios on the piano. However, to do it the justice it certainly deserves, the player needs the highest level of slow bow control; attain that level and you've arrived at an important milestone in your playing.

October 1, 2013 at 02:54 PM · I once used this piece as part of a multi-media concert on the Resistance Movement during World War II. It was played while showing images of the mistreatment of the Jewish people during the Nazi years. I found that the simplicity of the music was the only possible accompaniment to such sad photos. The result was quite powerful.

October 1, 2013 at 03:20 PM · I thought this piece was easy...my mistake!

While in school, I performed it as part of a dance concert, and I sweated every minute of it, and never made it through entirely cleanly. You can believe that exercises for slow bow control got added into the daily practice regimen from there on out! :P

October 2, 2013 at 04:16 PM · Here is Anne Akiko Meyers playing it. Watch how she breathes - an important part of performing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8ZScAdV8qE

Since the last time I viewed this video YouTube have seen fit to insert a stupid 20-sec advert at the start, but fortunately not actually impinging on the playing. Nevertheless, it ruins the effect.

I suppose a way round this is to use a download app so that the video is always on tap on the computer. The ad shouldn't download as well. If it does, then a video editor will be needed.

October 3, 2013 at 06:58 PM · I consider Anne Akiko Myers' performance to be the gold standard for this piece. Too bad about the Youtube ad - it wasn't there back when I discovered the video.

I purchased the sheet music and gave it a try - it was such a terrifying experience that I haven't really tried again since. But someday, when my tone is much better, I'd like to once again risk being that totally exposed. I've created a MIDI file of the piano accompaniment, so I'll be able to work on it at home.

November 12, 2013 at 07:20 AM · There is a wonderful ballet on You Tube choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon that uses this music. It's called "After The Rain" and it was filmed at Fire Island, at sunset, on the beach. The two dancers are principals from San Francisco Ballet. This particular pas de deux has become a staple of major dance companies world wide. Definitely worth checking out!

November 13, 2013 at 09:57 AM · I have a recording by Tasmin Little, which I like - although I have not listened to it for ages. Must dig it out.....

November 13, 2013 at 10:51 AM · Just listened to the Meyers recording - wonderful - perfect control from both players.

Also there's a recording by Nicola Benedetti- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV4LlCtvgwE

very different but also very effective (Maybe just too slow?). But I prefer Meyers and Little.

November 14, 2013 at 09:04 PM · What Jeff Nelson said!

I saw the ballet before I heard of the music, and it so haunted me that I sleuthed around to find out who was the composer. Soooo beautiful and soulful, and I, too, would recommend people take a look at the poetry-in-motion his music becomes in Wheeldon's "After The Rain."

David Russell - wow, I can just imagine the power of the music in the performance/production you described. Gives me chills just to think of it.

November 14, 2013 at 09:48 PM · Further to my comment about intrusive ads on YouTube and elsewhere, I have since started using the Epic Privacy Browser which does not load ads, either side-bar or embedded. It is Chrome-based but with the privacy screwed up pretty tight - no extensions or add-ons, or saving of browsing history, for example. Web searches are anonymous and done by proxy methods, so no search records are kept.

The overall result is a quick, simple and safe browser.

November 26, 2013 at 09:44 PM · I prefer this approach: