蝶ちゃん

Pianos in the Park

For those of you who have been encountering the various highly decorated old pianos that seem to have sprung up overnight in Seattle parks and public places, there is an art project that was recently launched entitled "Pianos in the Park".  I think the title is self-explanatory.

Here's the page for more info:
http://pianosintheparks.com/

So.  In preparation for my upcoming solo recital in late August or early September (date and location will be announced ASAP), I've given myself a huge and rather daunting task:  I aim to play my recital pieces on every piano involved in the project (in the city of Seattle) in the next two months.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to, but I plan to take pictures of myself on each piano, and we'll see how many I get around to!

Achil's Challenge

About two months ago, I finished three choral compositions for a competition (I didn't win, but that wasn't the point.  I just needed some motivation to complete projects, and it worked rather well).  Afterwards, I took a month or so off to do some accompaniment/recording projects, and to clear my brain.

But, as this stuff tends to go, when I tried to get back into composition, I had a bit of trouble getting started.  Nothing sounds good anymore; nothing's original, everything's too trite, yadda yadda.  So I've been struggling to keep on writing, even though everything feels a little flat right now.

And then I had coffee with Achil.

Achil Jackson is my "composition buddy".  She is a 23 year old Seattle native who mainly focuses on voice, and whose compositions feature chamber music with Renaissance instruments, such as lute and viola da gamba.  One of these days, I intend to write up a review of her music, but for now, here is the link to her ReverbNation page:

http://www.reverbnation.com/achiljackson/song/5053840-time-chant-and-gather-ye-mothes

Anyway, so we were talking about this motivation business, and I told her that I had a hard time really investing in a project unless I had something specific to compose for.  And she gave me a challenge.

So every Monday evening for the next month, I'm going to be recording a short piano piece and uploading it to this blog.  I'm not going to brag about them much, especially since I haven't yet gotten the hang of making my recording equipment actually sound good, but this, like everything else right now, is all about getting lift-off.  I'm going to trust in experience and determination and keep working hard until I have something worth listening to.

Have I ever mentioned that talent is way overrated?

Cheers,
-G

Einsam for piano

Opera/ Oratorio

I currently have the sheet music for and have played the following opera/oratorio arias.  Note that this is not a complete list of pieces I have learned throughout my career.

Bellini,          I Capuleti e i Montecchi,   “Oh! quante volte"
Catalani,        La Wally,    “Ebben?... Ne andrò lontana"
Charpentier,  Louise  “Depuis le jour"
Donizetti,      L'Eliser d'Amore,  “Una furtiva lagrima"
Giordano,      Andrea Chénier,  “Mama morta"
Gounod,        Romeo et Juliette, "Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle"
Gounod,        Faust, "Vous qui faites l'endormie"
Guettel,         The Light in the Piazza,  “The Beauty Is"
Handel,         Giulio Cesare,  “Piangerò la sorte mia"
Handel,         Messiah,  “Comfort ye/ Ev'ry Valley"
Handel,         Xerxes, "Si, la voglio"
Korngold,     Die Tote Stadt,  “Glück das mir verblieb"
Mascagni,     L'amico Fritz, "O pallida, che un giorno"
Massenet,     Manon,  “Adieu, notre petite table"
Moore,         The Ballad of Baby Doe,  “Willow Song"
Moore,         The Ballad of Baby Doe,  “Dearest Mama"
Mozart,        Don Giovanni, "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto"
Mozart,        Don Giovanni, "Madamina"
Mozart,        Idomeneo,  “Zeffiretti lusinghieri"
Mozart,        Così Fan Tutte "In uomini, in soldati"
Mozart,        Le Nozze di Figaro,  “Voi, che sapete"
Mozart,        Così fan tutte,  “Un'aura amorosa"
Offenbach,   Les Contes d'Hoffmann,  “Elle a fui, la tourterelle!"
Puccini,        Tosca,  “Vissi d'Arte, Vissi d'Amore"
Puccini,        La bohème,  “O soave fanciulla"
Puccini,        La Rondine,  “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta"
Rossini,        Il Barbiere di Siviglia,  “Ecco ridente in cielo"
Verdi,           Otello,  “Salce, Salce; Ave Maria"
Verdi,           Rigoletto,  “Caro nome"
Verdi,           Rigoletto,  “La donna è mobile"
Verdi,           Il Trovatore,  “Stride la vampa!”

Art Songs

I currently have the sheet music to the following art songs (and have played all of them).  Please note that this is not a complete list of art songs that I have worked on throughout my career.

Bachelet "Chére Nuit"
Fauré "30 Songs"
Fauré "Notre Amour"
Hageman "Do not go, my love"
Ricky Ian Gore "Will there ever be a morning?"
Sandoval "Sin Tu Amor"
Schirmer Collection "Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Aria" (medium voice)
Schubert "Ständchen" "Mut" "Wanderers Nachtlied" "Rastlose Liebe"
Schuman "Liederkreis" Op. 39
Strauss "Allerseelen"

Musicals

I have worked selections from the following musicals:

-Little Shop of Horrors
-Wicked
-Matilda
-Chess
-Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
-Gypsy
-Phantom of the Opera

I have a wide selection of pieces by Kurt Weill

In addition, I have the following solo selections:
Myths and Hymns: How Can I Lose You?
The Little Mermaid: Poor Unfortunate Souls
Spring Awakening: Whispering
Thoroughly Modern Millie: Gimme Gimme
Rent: Out Tonight
Hairspray: The Nicest Kids in Town
Once Upon a Mattress: Shy
Cinderella: Stepsisters' Lament
Sound of Music: Climb Ev'ry Mountain