It seems a lifetime since I was preparing for my Performer’s Diploma in Piano. At the time, I was worried that my concentration might lapse during the exam, so I decided to tape myself playing the exam (and other) pieces to learn how to get through without mistakes under pressure. I bought a good quality microphone and tape recorder (well, the best I could afford at the time) and placed them at the treble side on the piano. It sufficed, but was no means a studio recording. However, it did have the desired effect of reducing errors during my exam (and yes, I did get my Diploma).
I was pleased with some of the recordings, so kept the tapes. After a while we no longer had a cassette player, and I thought I might have thrown them out.
Recently my husband bought a machine that could convert taped music to MP3 format (to convert some old favourites he’d bought, oooh, decades ago), so I looked for my old practice tapes and found them again. At last I could listen to those recordings of mine and decide in hindsight (‘hindsound’?) which, if any, were at a reasonably good standard, acknowledging that over time some parts of the tapes had deteriorated somewhat (but be assured my piano was always in tune). It’s interesting (to me, if no-one else) how I might prefer to play those pieces of music now that I’m older and not trying to ‘prove’ anything. I still play some of those pieces – the easier ones.
I have added them to this page, so that I can keep the recordings safe and so others can listen to them here if they like.
We had some budgerigars in the house back then, and whenever I played the piano they sang too, so occasionally their chirping can be heard faintly on some of the recordings.
Sadly for me, I am now well past my musical prime. My piano is about to be tuned and have some minor adjustments (re-voicing and tightening the action) ready for sale – if I can bear it! Even though it is an 1984 model, it is still a top class piano (Yamaha C5) and very special and would be ideal for the serious student or performer. If I were younger and looking for a superb piano, I would opt for this one, rather than fork out the $50K to $65K now needed for a brand new C5. When I finally do decide to part with it and work out a fair selling price, I hope it gives someone else the same pleasure that I’ve enjoyed from it. At least I will always have those recordings, which might make that decision more palatable.
Since writing the above (long story), I have been put in contact, through a friend of his, with Kotaro Nagano, the young Japanese virtuoso pianist who has made quite a splash world-wide in the last few years, winning several prestigious piano competitions. He is, arguably, the world’s finest pianist of Chopin. Google him! he is also a world-class harpsichordist, and yes, he builds his own harpsichords. I have attended one of his concerts and he is indeed an astonishing pianist. Kotaro wants his friend to buy my piano (IF I can bear to part with it) for her own use, but also so that he can use it to practise on when he’s in Canberra to perform (because he is hosted by her). So he and his friend have visited us to check out my piano and put it through its paces. What a treat we had! The upshot seems that it’s likely that a sale will go through eventually, but not for one or two years, as his friend needs to add an extra room to her home to accommodate it. In case you don’t believe me, photos are attached. We also took a video of his playing, and once that’s edited I’ll try to put it up here too.
Debussy
Claire de Lune
Golliwog’s Cake Walk
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin (Girl with the Flaxen hair)
Bach
Prelude & Fugue Well Tempered Clavier Book 2 No. 3
18.Bach Prelude & Fugue Bk.2 No.7.mp3
Beethoven
Sonata Op. 101 (first movement)
02.Beethoven Sonata Op.101 -I.mp3
Sonata in C# minor Op. 27 No. 2 (‘Moonlight’) (second movement)
14.Beethoven Sonata in C# minor Op.27 No.2 (Moonlight) -II.mp3
Chopin
Valse Op. 34 No. 2
12.Chopin Valse Op.34 No.2.mp3
Granados
Andaluza
Liszt
Consolation No. 3
MacDowell – Woodland sketches
To a Wild Rose
21.MacDowell; Woodland Sketches- To A Wild Rose.mp3
Mozart
Piano Sonata No, 12 in F, K332 (1st movement Allegro)
01.Mozart; Piano Sonata No.12 in F, K332 -I Allegro (no repeats).mp3
Schumann – Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood)
1. Von Fremden Landern und Menschen (From Foreign Lands and People)
01.From Foreign Lands and People.mp3
2. Kuriose Geschichte (Funny Story)
3. Hasche-Mann (Blindman’s Buff)
03.Hasch-Mann Blindman’s Buff.mp3
4. Bittendes Kind (Suppliant Child)
5. Gluckes Genugn (Perfect Happiness)
6. Wichtige Begebenheit (A Great Event)
7. Traumerei (Reveries)
8. Am Kamin (At the Fireside)
