The Music Thread.

[Mack The Knife]

I decided to post about one of my favourite pianist's today and was saddened to find that he had passed away earlier this February.





Rest In Peace Vanya.

[Grumpy]

Van Cliburn was an interesting character and had a very distinctive tone.
He shot to immediate fame when he won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958. He was also the first classical artist to sell a million copies of a record - with the Tchaikovsky No.1 as shown in the photo.
Listening to him speak was quite novel because it was as if the `cold war` never existed ..... and, I suppose, for him it didn`t because he returned to the USSR several times and was always welcome and appreciated there. He always came over as a nice man .... and certainly appreciated his fans. He disappeared from public life for about 20 years - late `70s - late `90s` - yet when he came back to public performance he was as good as ever.
Very understated in many ways and quite `normal ..... he was an absolutely first class pianist but without the `eccentricities` of many performers at the highest level.

[Mack The Knife]

He was also the first classical artist to sell a million copies of a record - with the Tchaikovsky No.1 as shown in the photo.

That is one of my most treasured LPs and my father probably bought it before I was born.

Thanks for the precis.

[Mack The Knife]

The following are pics of the only album that was posthumously published of an Indian pianist (from Parsi Colony, Dadar, Bombay) who would still be playing had he not died in a plane crash.

If I am not mistaken, he was on the same ill-fated plane as Dr. Homi Bhabha, that crashed near Mont Blanc in 1966.

If the LP is anything to go by, he played beautifully.

[Grumpy]

If you read anything about Van Cliburn the likelyhood is that there will be mention of his `bell-like` tone - and if you listen you can hear what is meant. Must be to do with how he struck the keys and his use of the loud pedal.
Although not a classical pianist, Ryuichi Sakamoto is another who has a very distinctive tone on the piano. His is very bright and clear. You wouldn`t describe it as at all `bell-like`.

[Mack The Knife]

Never heard of Ryuichi Sakamoto until now. Will look up his music.

Thanks.

[Grumpy]

Ryuichi Sakamoto writes and plays electro-pop with Yellow Magic Orchestra, etc, writes and plays jazz - solo and with his trio - writes and plays film scores ( Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, The Last Emperor, Seven Samurai, etc ) etc, etc.
Here`s a solo piano version of the main theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence :

and here`s the original film score version :

Sakamoto is unusual in that he is not afraid to revisit and re-arrange pieces so, for example, there is the original film score version of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, there are various solo piano versions, there is the vocal version that he did with David Sylvian ( `Forbidden Colours` ) and there are the jazz versions he`s done with his trio....... He hasn`t done an electro version with YMO yet though ...... not that I know of anyway.

[Mack The Knife]

This little fellow obviously hasn't heard of stage fright. LOL.

[Grumpy]

LOL. Definitely not at all shy.

[Grumpy]

I didn`t realise you liked Clapton ..... Here`s an example of musical evolution.
You`ll have to work out the number of steps between the two tracks .... It`s more than you might think:
`Behind the mask`

[Skyman]

Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton for you?

[Grumpy]

Me ?
Jeff Beck`s technique has evolved more than Eric Clapton`s but I preferred EC in the early days.
Nowadays I like Joe Bonamassa, David Gilmour and one or two others.

[Skyman]

I find Jeff's stuff to be quite electric and stimulating.Always loved the sound of a hot strat.No denying, clapton has incredible technique but somewhat lacking in composition i feel.For example, Sunshine for your love and Cocaine start with the same notes.

[Mack The Knife]

I enjoy listening to various forms of music but western classical and jazz is my staple diet as that is what I grew up listening to and more importantly, liking.

Beck or Clapton? Both but I prefer listening to John Williams more.

[Skyman]

Do you listen to flamenco?