Arthur Rubinstein: W. A. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21

Remembering Polish-American Piano prodigy, Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) on his date of birth.  He is considered one of the best Pianists of the 20th century.  We love his performance of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major.  BTW, this is a personal favorite among Mozart's vast works.

Piano Prodigy, Arthur Rubinstein

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Yuja Wang, Concert Pianist

 Hard to believe that Yuja Wang's debut at Ravinia was 4 years ago! 

 I hope to see another of Ms Wang's piano concerts soon, Lord willing.  Maybe in Germany while on a visit with family members?!! That would be an awesome trip 🙋

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: 

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

(Psalm 98 )

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Daughter, the Neighborhood Pianist

pc: Town & Country Gardens

A Town & Country Gardens  delivery person knocked at our front door to drop-off a potted plant for our neighbors who were not home.  He made a beeline for our house and crossed  the cul-de-sac because our slightly open window made it possible for him to hear our daughter practicing the Piano.

There are 5 other houses he could have chosen, but he knew we were obviously home as he could hear the  pretty music (F. Chopin).  Mr Delivery Man complimented daughter's playing.  He also said a close relative of his had 3 Music degrees, and even mentioned something about the CSO.  He grew up surrounded by Music, obviously.  Now I know why he came to the house. I was pleased that he enjoyed what I am thankful to God to hear almost daily. This was also one instance I did not mind daughter talking with a stranger.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100)

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MacKenzie Childs: Rebecca Proctor's Talented Pianist Son

Young Pianist Alexei's mom is Rebecca Proctor -- Creative Director of MacKenzie-Childs. 

I love their checkered design and I've personally met her -- their main Designer.

[Alexei] will host Classical Expressions  .... when they air their 10 year retrospective of Tri-Cities performance organization Classical Pianists of the Future. For over a decade CPOTF partnered with PBS station WSKG to feature young pianist performers at the outset of their careers. Part One of the two-part retrospective will air on February 7th at 8pm -- Rebecca Poctor

He plays first in the video.
What an articulate, talented young man.  And those quick, perfect Pianist's hands, wow.  BTW, my own daughter has played a few pieces by Béla Bartók also, namely from "Mikrokosmos".

Béla Viktor János Bartók

PBS: Classical Pianists of the Future

MacKenzie Childs

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Superb Pianist Yuja Wang Returns to Ravinia with Gustavo Dudamel

A year after her debut at Ravinia, Miss Wang returned to do another show with the CSO (Chicago Symphony Orchestra). The guest conductor was popular Argentinian, Gustavo Dudamel. 

 It was an all-Beethoven show!

Yuja played  Piano Concerto No 1

Dudamel conducted Beethoven's   Overture to Egmont

and Symphony No 7 ("Allegretto" is liked by dear daughter).

Time spent with DD, plus two of my very favourite Musician's shared a stage -- of course, I had a terrific time!

Yuja tripped over her long, cut-out, pieced gown as she went on stage. (During last year's concert, she wore a very short dress and did not trip).  

She excelled at the Piano as usual. She didn't do an encore, though.  Was she still not feeling well?? Is that another reason she wore a long gown?  I'll pray for her good health and stamina.   Overall, the show was memorable. May she return next year, Lord willing.

leaving the stage after the performance

returning to the stage to take yet another bow

Conductor Dudamel acknowledging
the enthusiastic concert crowd

my introduction to Gustavo Dudamel

All-Beethoven Program

The Piano Teacher Who Mentored Yuja

Yuja's Ravinia Debut

Yuja Wang, Pianist





6.9.14.18

Arthur Rubinstein: Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 + Commentary

Remembering Polish-American Piano prodigy, Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) on his date of birth.  He is considered one of the best Pianists of the 20th century.  We love his performance of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major:

Watch the very rare treat below. An in-class commentary on Movement 1 by college son's Music History professor:

Piano Prodigy Artur Rubinstein







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Pianist Yuja Wang & Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1

We were thrilled to take our piano-playing and Pianist daughters to see Miss Wang's recent debut performance on Ravinia's stage.  She was accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (C S O).

 Miss Wang is very famous for her virtuosity on Piano, as well as for her very short and revealing outfits while in concert.  Plus, the sky-high stiletto shoes she wears -- also, while in concert.

Personally, I was most interested in her Piano performance of Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1; and her beautiful, long, pianist fingers. Bravo and Wow on both counts.  

pc: the New Yorker

Ravinia used a picture of Ms Wang at Carnegie Hall, 2013

View from above of Yuja's long, tapering fingers.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands

Ps 100

Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; 

and as thy days, so shall thy strength be 

Deuteronomy 33:25

Yuja Wang & the Art of Performance






34.07.12.18

Piano Strings Attached

One of our pianos, our baby grand,  needed a string replaced. The combination of a new piano wrench, an initial wrong threading, and a very dusty piano  meant three hours of work instead of one.  The good news is: Don, our piano tuner, did not charge a penny (he said we were his guinea pigs for his brand-new piano wrench). He did accept a cup of black coffee.  He will be back later to tune the piano.  BTW, how does ONE note with its broken string  result in FOUR, new strings?!  

118.07.04.17

Mozart: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No 26 Coronation in D

WoW!! Played by Japanese prodigy, Aimi Kobayashi, then 10 y.o.

She even had block supports under her feet!

Japanese Classical Pianist, Aimi Kobayashi

19.12.13.17

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Music School: Western Composers Poster/Timeline + Frederic Chopin

Playing Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude"

Chopin's Home

Here are pics from Music School (separate from music lessons at Wheaton).  It's all part of the usual routine on Saturday early A.M. -- Piano lessons for the kids at our local Music School, just a little over a mile from home. It's been going on for years and years, thank God.  The Lord has supplied through DH's job; we've managed to give all of our children Piano lessons, usually beginning at around age 7.  Any additional musical  instruments they've shown interest in have also been funded through Romy's hard work (for example, Flute for Camille, and Clarinet for AJ). The teachers are Mr and Mrs P (former Piano proteges of the Soviet world).  The waiting room is empty 'coz we're the first students in at 8:45 a.m.  I love the poster of Western Composers.  It's the inspiration of my eBay I.D. Nice artwork, eh? It's  Frederic Chopin  's childhood  home in Poland depicted as a carved work of art in Bronze(?) 

Jillian's Birthday

Happy Birthday to our daughter, Jillian. We love you, honey.
The Lord Jesus Christ has given us a terrific, multi-talented daughter. We bless His name and thank Him for our Jill-Dill.

Jillian is...

A great Pianist after many years of lessons (may the Lord continue to provide)

A sharp-shooter who is willing to learn only from the best (her brother Jared, and Brian M.) A hard-working Fencer

A pretty girl
and a cutie-pie since forever, as evidenced by the picture below
(green silk dress sewn by Mommy)

The girl's name Jillian \j(il)-lian\ is pronounced JIL-ee-an. Variant of Gillian, from Julian; diminutive of Juliana (Latin) "youthful"

The girl's name Ruby \r(u)-by\ ... is pronounced ROO-bee. It is of English origin, and its meaning is "the red gemstone". Jewel name first used in the 1870s.

Her birthday presents:

1. 
   
   Twizzlers Candy from FJE
   
   
2. 
   
   Nightmare Academy book from AJE
   
   
3. 
   
   Superchick (autographed, wooohooo!!) CD from KJE
   
   
4. 
   
   Mirror's Edge PC Game from CGE
   
   
5. 
   
   Coconut (real) from JSE
   
   
6. 
   
   Cash from Grandpa/Grandma
   
   
7. 
   
   Cash, Tanzanite Ring, & Dogtag Necklace from Mom/Dad