Archive for the ‘Partners’ Category
Scott Houston Is Coming To PianoSD.com
Thursday, May 6th, 2010SUNDAY FREE CONCERT – DON’T MISS IT………
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010Performed by:
ANTONY COOKE, Cellist
and
ARMIN WATKINS, Pianist
Sunday, April 25th , 3:00 p.m.
at PIANO SD
Friday, April 30th, 6:00 p.m.
at GREENE MUSIC
7480 Miramar Rd., San Diego, CA
Admission Free
Our Program
I
Sonata in E minor, Opus 38
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Allegretto quasi Menuetto and Trio
3. Allegro
II
Sonata in D major, Opus 78 (Regenlied)
1. Vivace ma non troppo
2. Adagio
3. Allegro molto moderato
Intermission
III
Sonata in F major, Op. 99
1. Allegro vivace
2. Adagio affettuoso
3. Allegro passionato
4. Allegro molto
Johannes Brahms
1833-1897
Johannes Brahms was born into the great Romantic Era of the 19th century. To many he is considered the logical successor to Beethoven.
The Sonata in E minor, Op. 38 is an earlier work than the Op. 78. Listeners will find it quite heroic in nature, while brimming over with optimistic confidence and lyrical muscle. The finale captures the towering strength of the great fugues of 18th century Johann Sebastian Bach.
The Sonata in D major, Op. 78 Originally the Violin Sonata in G major, this had long been more dear to Brahms himself, out of all of his output. Too ill at the end of his life to make it available for cello and piano (as he had wished), the work was transcribed by Brahms’ publisher, with input presumably by the composer. An intense passion and nostalgia of the work reflects the deep friendship of Brahms with his mentor, Robert Schumann and his wife, Clara Schumann. Because of the several tragedies in their lives, Brahms was known to dissolve in emotion between movements of this Sonata when he played it. According to Clara Schumann’s wishes, Brahms performed this Sonata at her funeral in 1896.
The Sonata in F major, Op. 99 perhaps the most popular of the three Sonatas, it is likely because of its regal flourishes, memorable melodies, and pivotal moments, that the F Major Sonata is so beloved. Less elaborately conceived and intricate from the inward-looking D Major Sonata, more fragmented, from the sonorous E Minor Sonata, the F Major Sonata stands as a towering testament to the aging composer’s immense grasp of new possibilities.
The Performers
Antony Cooke – Long one of the leading musicians in the Hollywood recording industry, and one of the most recorded cellists in the world, he has played in over 1,500 movies, as well as countless television and record productions. Formerly Associate Professor of Cello at the prestigious School of Music at Northwestern University in Chicago, he has also performed widely and internationally as soloist, and made many solo and cello and piano recordings, on both CD and LP. Earning artist diplomas from the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, he was also recipient of Music Festival, and “Young Musician ‘73”. In 1971 he was to become England’s youngest principal cellist with his appointment as solo cellist of England’s premier chamber orchestra, the London Mozart Players, and was a BBC soloist during those years.
Antony Cooke is also well-known author of books on astronomy, and has composed music for prime time television.
Armin Watkins – has performed and recorded widely throughout Europe and America. As concerto soloist, he has performed with major orchestras, such as Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Danish Radio Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony, Basler Kammer-orchester, twice with the Chicago Symphony as competition winner. His teaching career includes Michigan State University, Bradley University, and University of South Florida as both professor of Music, and Professor of Humanities. His musical studies culminated with a successful London debut under Louis Kentner, after being the very first to earn the Doctor of Music degree in Piano Literature and Performance from Indiana University, which followed graduation from Yale University, where he majored in both piano and violin simultaneously.
Cooke and Watkins have played together as a duo since 1971.
A concert of Three Romantic Sonatas for Cello and Piano
By Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Performed by:
ANTONY COOKE, Cellist
and
ARMIN WATKINS, Pianist
Sunday, April 25th , 3:00 p.m.
at PIANO SD
at 1233 Camino del Rio So., San Diego, CA
Friday, April 30th, 6:00 p.m.
at GREENE MUSIC
7480 Miramar Rd., San Diego, CA
Admission Free
STOP DREAMING AND START PLAYING
Thursday, March 4th, 2010When I first had the idea of PianoSD.com (along with some others) I really wanted to underscore the fact that music should be fun and exciting. All of my life music has been an extension of my mood and personality. Sometimes quiet and blue other times very emotional and most of the time very up tempo and exciting. I had not thought of helping others feel what I had felt most of my life.
Last year we began the PianoSD.com School of Music. It immediately grew to an acceptable number and we have been working as status quo for about a year now. Last month for some reason I had more people than usual question me about our lesson program and how it works. I answered the questions and it was not until someone expressed to me that their life long dream was to be able to play the piano that I realized status quo was no longer enough.
This brings me to the present. Marko Paul has done a fantastic job teaching people to play the piano. I have even taught a few classes myself and had an absolute blast doing it but, now I see that “enough is simply NOT enough”. Many people are wanting to learn to play the piano and understand music so, we are giving music and music lessons an all out push.
Play Piano in a Flash is one of the classes that we are teaching in a group setting. It is written by Scott Houston “The Piano Guy” on KPBS. He plays the piano and teaches the piano in a televised class that he has won four emmys for. We are his exclusive franchise in San Diego County and have been working with him for over a year now. I am so excited about this because i get to teach this “easy to learn” class of adults. We just began a new class last night and it is going great.
Marko is teaching mostly private classes and one on ones with younger and older students and his classes are really growing. We are considering now a young man to add to the teacher line up and after talking with him last night I cant wait until we are all on board together.
As we are learning and teaching I will add more workshops such as the history of music, the origins of musical instruments and perhaps “how a piano works” class that I get to teach. I love this class because it is about my real passion.
If you are considering taking piano lessons……..NOW is the time. In Scott Houston’s words:
STOP DREAMING AND START PLAYING.
Drop by and say hello sometime, we would love to meet you
Ric
Bechstein was in today
Friday, May 15th, 2009One of the executives at Bechstein USA was in today talking about what’s going on with Bechstein. It seems that business is pretty good. Sales are up and the busienss is moving along. Of course, like everyone else, they are waiting for the economy to change but in the mean time people are willing to buy high quality German engineered and manufactured pianos. Bechstein is certainly the finest available.
After much discussion today with them, I have decided to teach a few pointers about pianos and the important points one should look for inn a quality piano. I will start on that series next week. I will draw from a host of books and reference material as well as some of the best technicians in the city and a few others I know worldwide. Look for more in an upcoming study.
We always look forward to the weekend. We have four recitals tomorrow and three on Sunday. It is always exciting to hear these guys play some of the music they have prepared for the past few weeks and months.
Drop by sometime and say hello. We would really like to meet you.
Ric
Magic Of Music
Saturday, April 11th, 2009Tuesday April 28th and Wednesday April 29th
