Bennet Gedan » music

Robert Schumann, Bunte Blätter Op. 99, V. Langsam.

bgedan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:31:53 +0000

I recorded this piece long time ago, but never uploaded it to my website. Schumann’s ‘Bunte Blätter’ are rich and colorful musical gems, of wich I love the fifth one the most, but listen yourself:

Schumannn, Bunte Blätter Op. 99, V. Langsam.

My father has written beautiful variations on it for a small orchestral ensemble: J. Gedan, 21 Variations by a theme of Robert Schumann, Op. 21.

September 18, 2009 -- Anonymous, Impromtu B flat major
September 7, 2009 -- Claude Debussy, Prélude Livre 1, No. X “La cathédrale engloutie”
June 12, 2009 -- Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin, Prélude Op. 22 No. 2
May 17, 2009 -- Youtube Discovery (Piano Trio: Trio Vita)
March 21, 2009 -- Joseph Haydn, Sonata 54 G-Major
November 10, 2008 -- Claude Debussy, Deux Arabesque: No. 1 Andantino con moto
October 27, 2008 -- Edward Elgar, Love’s Greeting
October 26, 2008 -- Johann Sebastian Bach, French Suite No. 5 (excerpts) and Goldberg Variations (excerpts)
October 25, 2008 -- Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle Op. 126.2
May 13, 2009 -- Photo Gallery Opened

Anonymous, Impromtu B flat major

bgedan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:04:03 +0000

Anonymous, Impromptu B flat major

I love this piece. The composer wants to stay anonymous however. The piece was written at an age of sixteen. I did the recording some time ago, but never put the file up.

December 11, 2009 -- Robert Schumann, Bunte Blätter Op. 99, V. Langsam.
September 7, 2009 -- Claude Debussy, Prélude Livre 1, No. X “La cathédrale engloutie”
June 12, 2009 -- Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin, Prélude Op. 22 No. 2
May 17, 2009 -- Youtube Discovery (Piano Trio: Trio Vita)
March 21, 2009 -- Joseph Haydn, Sonata 54 G-Major
November 10, 2008 -- Claude Debussy, Deux Arabesque: No. 1 Andantino con moto
October 27, 2008 -- Edward Elgar, Love’s Greeting
October 26, 2008 -- Johann Sebastian Bach, French Suite No. 5 (excerpts) and Goldberg Variations (excerpts)
October 25, 2008 -- Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle Op. 126.2
May 13, 2009 -- Photo Gallery Opened

Claude Debussy, Prélude Livre 1, No. X “La cathédrale engloutie”

bgedan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:49:48 +0000

Claude Debussy, Prélude Livre 1, No. X “La cathédrale engloutie”

La cathédrale engloutie (The Sunken Cathedrale) is a prelude written by Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918) as the tenth prelude in a series of 24 (split into two volumes).

I beg pardon for the bad sound quality and distortion, but I currently have some problems with sound recordings with linux’ pulseaudio-system.

A problem playing this piece on an electric piano like I’m doing is the technical difficulty of making it sound right. Normaly you would use a combination of all three pedals (una corda, sostenuto and sustain pedal) and a technique called “half-pedal” to achieve the “underwater effect”, Debussy intendet with his composition.

La cathédrale engloutie (The Sunken Cathedrale) is one of the more popular Debussy preludes alongside La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair). La cathédral engloutie comprehends many characteristic for the musical impressionism Debussy is generally referred to. Most significant are the parallel harmonic cords in the bright fortissimo passage of the piece.

The name cathédrale engloutie is originated by an ancient Breton myth, the Legend of Ys, an ancient mythical city. Gradlon, the King of Cornouaille, had a daughter, Dahut, who loved the sea so much, that she requested her father to build a city below the sea level. The City was built with the name Ys, and had a dike for protection, whose gate was controlled by a key held by the king.

Ys rised to the most beautiful and impressive city in the world.
Dahut had the habit of celebrating orgies and killing her lovers at the break of dawn. Under her influence Ys rapidly turned into a pool of sin. Dahut had been warned of God’s punishment by saint people, but had ignored all of them.

One day, a red-dressed knight came to Ys. Dahut took a shine on him and one night asked him to come and spend the night with her, wich he agreed. In the middle of the night a storm broke and waves surged, smashing against the city gate. The red knight, who was no other then the devil himself, convinced Dahut to steal her fathers key to the city gate, and opened the city gate.

The indruding water engulfed Ys. King Gradlon and Dahut flew away On Morvarc’h, the kings magical horse. Saint Winwaloe stopped Gradlon and asked told him: “Push back the demon sitting behind you!”, meaning Dahut, the kings daughter. Gradlon refused but finally gave in and pushed his daughter into the sea.

It is said that the bells of the churches of Ys can still be heard in the sea calm. A legend says that when Paris will be swallowed, the city of Ys will rise up from under the waves (Par-Is meaning, in Breton, “similar to Ys” ).

Hearing of this legend has influenced Debussy to write his La cathédrale engloutie. The church bells of Ys can be heared initially, highly muted by the deep sea. As the piece goes on you can literally hear, how the church emerges from the deep sea, hearing both the increasing waves and the sharpness of the clear church bells, rising above the sea.

As the cathedral fully emerges, the great organ is heared in full fortissimo, represented by parallel harmonic cords, marking the climax of the piece. Finally the cathedral sinks back down into the ocean and the organ is heard once more, but from underwater.

The narrative character of the piece is directly linked to the musical instructions Debussy gives: Peu à peu sortant de la brume (Emerging from the fog little by little), Augmentez progressivement (Slowly growing), fortissimo and Sonore sans dureté (sonorous without durability).

June 12, 2009 -- Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin, Prélude Op. 22 No. 2
December 11, 2009 -- Robert Schumann, Bunte Blätter Op. 99, V. Langsam.
September 18, 2009 -- Anonymous, Impromtu B flat major
November 10, 2008 -- Claude Debussy, Deux Arabesque: No. 1 Andantino con moto
May 17, 2009 -- Youtube Discovery (Piano Trio: Trio Vita)
March 21, 2009 -- Joseph Haydn, Sonata 54 G-Major
October 27, 2008 -- Edward Elgar, Love’s Greeting
October 26, 2008 -- Johann Sebastian Bach, French Suite No. 5 (excerpts) and Goldberg Variations (excerpts)
October 25, 2008 -- Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle Op. 126.2
May 13, 2009 -- Photo Gallery Opened

Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin, Prélude Op. 22 No. 2

bgedan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:15:32 +0000

Prélude Op. 22 No. 2, c# minor

Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin (1872-1915) was a russian composer and pianist. Skrjabin’s compositions are heavily influenced by the music of Frédéric Chopin. The Préludes for solo piano are evident for this influence. Given here is a recording of the Prélude Op. 22 No. 2. You can find the sheet music on imslp.org (Préludes Op 22, sheet music)

September 7, 2009 -- Claude Debussy, Prélude Livre 1, No. X “La cathédrale engloutie”
December 11, 2009 -- Robert Schumann, Bunte Blätter Op. 99, V. Langsam.
September 18, 2009 -- Anonymous, Impromtu B flat major
May 17, 2009 -- Youtube Discovery (Piano Trio: Trio Vita)
March 21, 2009 -- Joseph Haydn, Sonata 54 G-Major
November 10, 2008 -- Claude Debussy, Deux Arabesque: No. 1 Andantino con moto
October 27, 2008 -- Edward Elgar, Love’s Greeting
October 26, 2008 -- Johann Sebastian Bach, French Suite No. 5 (excerpts) and Goldberg Variations (excerpts)
October 25, 2008 -- Ludwig van Beethoven, Bagatelle Op. 126.2
May 13, 2009 -- Photo Gallery Opened

Youtube Discovery (Piano Trio: Trio Vita)

bgedan — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:47:38 +0000

The Trio Vita

Recently on youtube I’ve encountered a channel called Midwest Young Artists. These channel is presenting young musical talents. They all seam to have great technique and musicality (so watch the channel if you’re interested into this), but three of them apealed my special attraction: The Trio Vita. Especially the communication between the three musicians and the understanding of the musical structure, great sense for melodic lines and polyphonic movements. This is so dazzling what they are able to do at their age.

Unfortunately there are only three recordings avaible at youtube (wich I like to present you here at a glance; don’t forget to visit the youtube channel, too). I’d really like to hear more of them.

Bedrich Smetana, Piano Trio Op. 15, Third Movement

This is the recording I’m most impressed with. I didn’t noticed the Smetana Piano Trio before listening to this recording (as I’m not familiar to most of Smetana’s Music) and it’s a real discovery. See how these guys are playing with each tone, measure by measure is pure pleasure. It’s impressive how they make it seam easy, playing musically at such tempo. I like how calm they are at the slow interlude and that you can’t hear any jumpiness or tempo drifts (unless stated) in their play throughout the hole piece. They seem to be perfectly self-confident (that’s meant as a positive attribute).

Felix Mendelssohn Bartoldy, Piano Trio No. 1 d-minor Op. 49, First Movement

The Mendelsohn Trio is quite popular and well known and is part of standard reportoire of many trio formations around the world. So at least there’s almost no way around this one. Listen to the most beautiful moment, there the cello is introducing the second theme in A major and the piano is catching up the motive. I love the tone the youn cellist is achieving here. Listen to the counter-melody in the violin at the reprise of the original theme, and the warm violin tone.

You can find the sheet music of this trio at imslp at imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_No.1_Op.49_(Mendelssohn,_Felix)

Cafe Music No 3

I have got no idea of the composer of this work, if anyone knows, let me know. I’m realy envious about the beautiful piano introduction and the way it’s played. I wish I had this expression and calmness at the piano. The glissandi and portamento in the violin part are letting me raise a smile each time I hear it. It’s a joy hearing these young guys playing all that music