This is mostly for you mom, since you couldn't be there!
Thank you for being a 'Patron' this year :-) ♥ ♥ ♥
Program
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Faith also had an Encore:
Amazing Grace - by Virginia Harmony Arr. by Victor Labenske
Here are Faith's intros to each piece:
Good Afternoon everyone!
Thank you so much for coming to my Grade 9 performance exam! I look forward to
playing some of my favourite piano pieces for you. The first piece I shall play
for you is called Footloose composed by Mary Gardiner. She was a Canadian
composer who recently passed away in 2010. She won many awards in piano and has
composed music for piano, string orchestra, voice, choir, chamber and vocal
ensembles. This piece has a very unique sound to it which always thrills me.
You can also hear that the left hand is in a different key than the right hand
– maybe that’s why I’m drawn to it J. This piece could be put into the style of Canadian
contemporary in the twentieth century. I love how joyful this piece is and I
hope you enjoy it as much as I do. J
For my next piece, I will be
playing Sonata in D Major by Domenico Scarlatti. He lived from 1685 –
1757 and composed 555 keyboard sonatas. The sonatas were organized in two
manners by two different people, making them tricky to find sometimes. He was
considered the best harpsichordist of his time. This style of music is
classified as baroque but it fits better in the rococo style: the
link between baroque and classical. An interesting feature of this piece is
that no dynamics were written in, which leaves the interpretation up to the
performer. This piece is moderately fast
with wide jumps and gap which creates a wonderful dance-like feel, while at the
same time making it tricky to play.
For my third piece, I would
like to play a Nocturne by Frederic Chopin. It is in C sharp minor, one of the
21 nocturnes Chopin composed for each key signature. His compositions were
solely for the keyboard, with very little – if any – music for other
instruments. Only living for 39 years, he died in 1849 due to tuberculosis. He
was of polish descent and was considered one of the greatest pianists of his
era. Composing pieces easily, he found writing it down in a score difficult.
Chopin disliked playing in public, because he believed that his music was suited
to a more intimate setting. This piece especially reminds me of a romantic candlelight
dinner. This nocturne is written in ABA form, but there is a small section that
is more like a dance, almost like a bridge back to the last section. The piano is able to really sing in the ‘bel
canto’ style. The character of this piece is quite moody, which is fun to play,
and gives the performer the opportunity to draw the audience in.
Haydn, known as the Father of
the Symphony, created a beautiful, showy piece in this composition. I will be
playing the first movement of Sonata in E minor. Papa Haydn was an Austrian,
with a great attitude and sense of humour. He taught Mozart and was patronized
by the Prince Esterhazy for almost 30 years. This allowed for freedom to
compose and work without worry. He was
known for his interesting forms in his sonatas, and there were 40 – 50 of
them. This one however is in regular Sonata
ABA form. The term sonata is first found in the 17th century, when
instrumental music had just begun to become increasingly separated from vocal
music. This piece has fast 16th notes, and lots of different ranges
in sound, which I love.
The next piece I shall play
is To the Lute by Heinrich Hofmann. Hofmann was born in 1842, in Berlin. He began
his music career as a singer, but when his voice changed, he turned to
composing music. His compositions were criticized for not being original and for
being too predictable. A 20th-century view of Hofmann is offered by
Thomas Langner in the book The New Grove. He notes Hofmann’s “amiable
traditionalism,” adding that “the natural simplicity and classical clarity of
his style are best seen in his poetic keyboard works and his chamber music.”
The style of this piece is romantic, and lyrical. It is known as salon
music. The melody is above the rest of the notes as the right and left hands
share the 16th notes underneath. It’s a very beautiful, soft piece
that is like a lyrical song – I find the melody really draws me in. I hope you
enjoy it. J
For my own musical selection
I have chosen a Concerto that is to be played on 2 pianos. My wonderful piano teacher – Miss Olson –
will be joining me for this piece. This is a very modern, contemporary piece
composed by Kevin Olson. Olson began composing at the young age of 5. Now he
teaches piano literature, pedagogy, and accompanying courses at the University
of Utah. This piece showcases both pianos parts, with interesting duel tonality
and chord progressions. It was commissioned for the 50th Anniversary
of the Utah Music Teachers Association. I love how each movement is so
different from the others in style and mood. The energy and rhythmic changes
make this piece interesting and fun to play! :D
For my final piece, I would
like to play Once Upon a Time by Alexina Louie. Louie was born in Vancouver in
1949, in a generation of Canadians of Chinese descent. At the age of seven she
began piano studies, and now she’s Canada’s most highly regarded and most often
performed composer. Her style is very contemporary, and she makes all her
pieces unique. This piece has two very distinct parts to it. The first is quite
lyrical and distant, like she is recalling a memory, while the second one
sounds like bells. It is a lot like a fairy tale, as the title implies, and I
find myself composing happily-ever-after stories while I play.
Thank you for joining me
today! It’s been a joy to play for you and even though sometimes getting ready
for something this big seems overwhelming and very tiring, I’m so thankful you
could all come and enjoy the fruits of my labour! As a farewell treat, I would
like to play an encore for you. I’m sure everyone knows the hymn Amazing Grace.
This was composed by Virginia Harmony and arranged by Victor Labenske, in the
black gospel style. Labenske is known for his beautiful arrangements of many
older hymns and pieces. I love the freedom of the rhythm at the beginning and
end, and the large chords add drama to it as well as the glissando and fast
arpeggios. It is a lively piece and I thought it was a great way to end our
time together! One again, thank you for joining me and have a great rest of
your day!
