Music
I'm a bit of a muso: to read some waffle about how I got into it, click here. Otherwise, read on for some stuff about repertoire, and to listen to some recordings! I'll try to keep this page updated with new recordings etc.(Warning: this page may contain traces of wrong notes...)
Solo work
A long-term project is learning Preludes and Fugues from Bach's Well-tempered Clavier. I'm having a stab at some in Book 2 just now. Since December I've been trying to learn the last movement of the Moonlight sonata, with some (I emphasise "some") success, but I'm sure how that'll turn out.
In the summer of 2006 a music technology student (and recording wizard) made some recordings of my playing at the Jack Hylton Room in Lancaster University. Here's a track from the session, along with a home (dodgier) recording.
Bach: C# major prelude and Fugue from Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier
Debussy: Serenade for the doll, from Children's Corner
Chamber music
In the last few years I've started to play the piano much more with other people than I did in my youth. A neighbour of mine (who also regularly organises performances of PDQ Bach's oeuvre) plays the clarinet, and a while ago we had a go at the Brahms trio, with a local cellist and would-be politician (if you're not sure how the Brahms goes, try here). With the same cellist, I worked on the Brahms E minor sonata, which we performed at a concert in March 2006. I've also recently ensnared another local cellist, who was also willing to have a bash at the Brahms (it was a grade 8 piece a few years back, so quite a few players seem to have played it!).
Accompanying
I really enjoy being an accompanist, and have played the Franck violin sonata (with my little sister, for her Grade 8), the Poulenc Clarinet Sonata (with a 1st year music student at the university who was desperate for an accompanist) and the Brahms B minor Clarinet sonata (ditto, different person). I find it quite refreshing for somebody else to decide what I'm going to play for a change!Current work (as of January 2007) in this area:
- Finzi Bagatelles
- Poulenc Clarinet Sonata
- ABRSM grade 3 Jazz saxophone (I bash out the part, the sax player improvises!)
- Brahms Clarinet Sonata in B minor (1st movement)
- Brahms Clarinet Sonata in E flat (1st movement)
- Finzi Clarinet Concerto (1st movement, piano reduction)
- Dankworth Suite for Emma (numbers 1 and 4)
- Hindemith Clarinet sonata
- Mozart Flute concerto in D, K.314 (3rd movement, piano reduction)
- Pessard Bolero, Op. 28 no. 2
- Poulenc Clarinet Sonata (1st movement)
- Weber Grand Duo Concertant
- Weber Concertino (for Clarinet and orchestra, piano reduction)
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