Question What would your "imaginary amp" need?

[matthewpianist]

Funnily enough, we've got the builders in. They're having to insulate the inside of all the outer walls of our house. We're stuck in the kitchen with the hi fi on as loud as possible to mask the constant sound of percussion drilling into our 200 year old stone walls . At the moment it's Beethoven Piano Concertos 1,2,3,4,5, Variations played by Emil Gilels. Probably be Led Zeppelin next, or maybe Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos ha ha.

Nice choice of pianist!

 

[JDL]

Nice choice of pianist!

Ah someone who knows of Emil Gilels. What an absolute genius. I read in the Guardian about a year ago the bastard writer was trying to say he was just a salesman for the Soviet Communist Party and that basically that was the main reason he was touring widely. Funny thing is the Guardian are the worst radically progressive Marxists of them all. How dare they bring their sickening political bias into one of the most beautiful art forms. Russia phobia perhaps in addition.

 

[matthewpianist]

Ah someone who knows of Emil Gilels. What an absolute genius. I read in the Guardian about a year ago the bastard writer was trying to say he was just a salesman for the Soviet Communist Party and that basically that was the main reason he was touring widely. Funny thing is the Guardian are the worst radically progressive Marxists of them all. How dare they bring their sickening political bias into one of the most beautiful art forms. Russia phobia perhaps in addition.

I won't get into the politics here, but I agree that Gilels was a genius, and especially in Beethoven. I have some old Melodiya recordings of him playing a wide range of repertoire, and he was a consistently engaging interpreter.

It was a time of wonderful pianists - Richter, Arrau, Nikolaeva, Rubinstein, Sofronitzki, Hess, Yudina, Horowitz, Anda, Kempff, Sherkassky, Curzon, Solomon.... A never ending treasure trove of wonderful music making.

 

[JDL]

I won't get into the politics here, but I agree that Gilels was a genius, and especially in Beethoven. I have some old Melodiya recordings of him playing a wide range of repertoire, and he was a consistently engaging interpreter.

It was a time of wonderful pianists - Richter, Arrau, Nikolaeva, Rubinstein, Sofronitzki, Hess, Yudina, Horowitz, Anda, Kempff, Sherkassky, Curzon, Solomon.... A never ending treasure trove of wonderful music making.

Have you ever heard Earl Wild playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos? I have yet to hear anyone play these pieces as well as he did. This is all very subjective of course. And Lili Kraus playing Mozart's Complete Piano Concertos, she was as I'm sure you know, a Mozart specialist. It's very difficult to source CDs of Lili Kraus playing Mozart's Piano Concertos, but someone very kindly uploaded the completion of them on to YouTube, which was where I discovered her and the whole thing, in three 31/2 hour installments is advert free somehow.
Incidentally, did you ever read the published Mozart letters. It's an amazing book. He wrote letters prolifically to mainly his Father but also his Sister and a few other characters including Kings and Princes of some of the German States. I enjoyed reading that so much, it was as easy as reading a novel.
I apologise for venting my spleen in that rather uncouth manner. I must and will desist in future.

 

[matthewpianist]

Have you ever heard Earl Wild playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos? I have yet to hear anyone play these pieces as well as he did. This is all very subjective of course. And Lili Kraus playing Mozart's Complete Piano Concertos, she was as I'm sure you know, a Mozart specialist. It's very difficult to source CDs of Lili Kraus playing Mozart's Piano Concertos, but someone very kindly uploaded the completion of them on to YouTube, which was where I discovered her and the whole thing, in three 31/2 hour installments is advert free somehow.
Incidentally, did you ever read the published Mozart letters. It's an amazing book. He wrote letters prolifically to mainly his Father but also his Sister and a few other characters including Kings and Princes of some of the German States. I enjoyed reading that so much, it was as easy as reading a novel.
I apologise for venting my spleen in that rather uncouth manner. I must and will desist in future.

We all have spleens to vent, so don't worry.

Yes, I've heard the Earl Wild and Lili Kraus recordings, and I've read the Mozart letters book. I'm in full agreement, though my favourite interpreter of the Rachmaninoff concertos (other than the man himself) is Vladimir Ashkenazy (the recordings with Previn). I've played Rach 2, and it's quite a wonderful experience for the pianist.

My favourite recordings of the Mozart concertos are those by Geza Anda, and for the Mozart sonatas it's Alfred Brendel.

 

[JDL]

We all have spleens to vent, so don't worry.

Yes, I've heard the Earl Wild and Lili Kraus recordings, and I've read the Mozart letters book. I'm in full agreement, though my favourite interpreter of the Rachmaninoff concertos (other than the man himself) is Vladimir Ashkenazy (the recordings with Previn). I've played Rach 2, and it's quite a wonderful experience for the pianist.

My favourite recordings of the Mozart concertos are those by Geza Anda, and for the Mozart sonatas it's Alfred Brendel.

Oh Great! Thank you very much for your thoughts. I will seek out Anda. I just purchase Ashkenazy playing the complete Mozart piano Concertos, I think they're with Previn and the London
Philharmonic if I remember correctly. I'm going to have a look for Geza Anda. And I love Alfred Brendel, such a great guy as well as a wonderful pianist.
Wow Mathew you must be quite an accomplished pianist yourself. I got to Grade 6 as a 14 year old and things started going wrong for me as I went well and truly off the rails. I gave up my Bassoon lessons too
Luckily I did at least start to self teach myself the Bass Guitar and put some real effort into that whilst in my forties so I do at least have something to play that I'm reasonably accomplished at and that I enjoy.
Anyhow, thank you for your thoughts, it's most helpful to me !

 

[matthewpianist]

Oh Great! Thank you very much for your thoughts. I will seek out Anda. I just purchase Ashkenazy playing the complete Mozart piano Concertos, I think they're with Previn and the London
Philharmonic if I remember correctly. I'm going to have a look for Geza Anda. And I love Alfred Brendel, such a great guy as well as a wonderful pianist.
Wow Mathew you must be quite an accomplished pianist yourself. I got to Grade 6 as a 14 year old and things started going wrong for me as I went well and truly off the rails. I gave up my Bassoon lessons too
Luckily I did at least start to self teach myself the Bass Guitar and put some real effort into that whilst in my forties so I do at least have something to play that I'm reasonably accomplished at and that I enjoy.
Anyhow, thank you for your thoughts, it's most helpful to me !

Always happy to chat about music.

It's never too late to take an instrument up, so don't rule anything out. It's good you're enjoying the Bass Guitar. I've always wanted to learn guitar, but there's only time for so much!

I've done a lot of playing as accompanist, recitalist and concerto soloist and I love it. I'm certainly not in the league of the pianists we've been discussing, but people who hear and work with me seem to think I'm decent, so that's enough for me. I play clarinet in a local orchestra as well, and enjoy the change.

 

[roaduck]

Hope you live in a remote location with no neighbours.

No I live in a 3-bed terrace but I have fabulous neighbours.
Thirty African drummers in my garden makes the ground vibrate - outside - worse than a stereo or big sub - you get hypnotised by the poly rhythms and go onto a different plane - like a mental trip - fabulous.
I do dinner parties and barbeques and have guitars, lots of brass , singers and keyboards outside - we all dance to boogie woogie I play on my sax.Love it.
You only live once.
I like reggae, Blues, Baroque - folk, Classical Chinese and Egyptian oud music in the garden - I like variety.Lived in China and Egypt.
Here`s Bob the scarecrow I welded in the garden.

 

[roaduck]

Funnily enough, we've got the builders in. They're having to insulate the inside of all the outer walls of our house. We're stuck in the kitchen with the hi fi on as loud as possible to mask the constant sound of percussion drilling into our 200 year old stone walls . At the moment it's Beethoven Piano Concertos 1,2,3,4,5, Variations played by Emil Gilels. Probably be Led Zeppelin next, or maybe Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos ha ha.

Love the Rach 3 - Mum was a concert pianist in the Halle Orchestra - I just play sax.
My fave is Beethoven fur Elise - and his 6th pastoral - it`s good for my soul and calms me down - heaven.
Usually I have to go out when the builders are busy - Thank goodness I`m going to Calpe, Spain to see my auntie and uncle -( they`re both musicians too and sing in harmony) Calpe is like a mini Gibraltar - I love it there - can`t wait for sax and sex on the beach - and the cocktail too - haha!
I`m not taking my laptop, my Dali Katch or anything electrical - I want to totally unplug.
There is loads of trumpets, clarinets, oboes, tin whistles, violins, double bass, trombones, French horns, Hammond 3`s, guitars, mandolins, ouds etc.His house is full of music and he knows a lot of musicians and singers there , as do I.
Can`t wait to gig in Benidorm - not been since before Covid.
It`s gonna be terrific - it always is.

https://www.swedishnomad.com/wp-content/images/2020/11/Things-to-do-in-Calpe.jpg

 

[JDL]

Love the Rach 3 - Mum was a concert pianist in the Halle Orchestra - I just play sax.
My fave is Beethoven fur Elise - and his 6th pastoral - it`s good for my soul and calms me down - heaven.
Usually I have to go out when the builders are busy - Thank goodness I`m going to Calpe, Spain to see my auntie and uncle -( they`re both musicians too and sing in harmony) Calpe is like a mini Gibraltar - I love it there - can`t wait for sax on the beach - and the cocktail - haha!

Yes I personally believe that Rachmaninoff is one of the absolute most talented composers that ever graced this World with his presence. When I read about his life and how he had descended into a terrible depression and total lack of confidence in in his ability as a composer, because of what the press critics of the day had written about his work, I thought that was very sad and outrageous. I also think that critics generally tend to be saying more about themselves, than they are about those they rip into.
I believe his body of work may well have been much larger had they not destroyed his self confidence for several years.
However, disregarding that, his work is so amazing it speaks to my soul like no other.
And you're going to Spain to visit Family members who live there and to play your Saxophone on a beach.....you lucky thing you! I hope you have wonderful time....God Speed!

 

[JDL]

Yes I personally believe that Rachmaninoff is one of the absolute most talented composers that ever graced this World with his presence. When I read about his life and how he had descended into a terrible depression and total lack of confidence in in his ability as a composer, because of what the press critics of the day had written about his work, I thought that was very sad and outrageous. I also think that critics generally tend to be saying more about themselves, than they are about those they rip into.
I believe his body of work may well have been much larger had they not destroyed his self confidence for several years.
However, disregarding that, his work is so amazing it speaks to my soul like no other.
And you're going to Spain to visit Family members who live there and to play your Saxophone on a beach.....you lucky thing you! I hope you have wonderful time....God Speed!

And of course the great LVB, what can be said of his greatness, that hasn't been said already.

 

[roaduck]

Yes I personally believe that Rachmaninoff is one of the absolute most talented composers that ever graced this World with his presence. When I read about his life and how he had descended into a terrible depression and total lack of confidence in in his ability as a composer, because of what the press critics of the day had written about his work, I thought that was very sad and outrageous. I also think that critics generally tend to be saying more about themselves, than they are about those they rip into.
I believe his body of work may well have been much larger had they not destroyed his self confidence for several years.
However, disregarding that, his work is so amazing it speaks to my soul like no other.
And you're going to Spain to visit Family members who live there and to play your Saxophone on a beach.....you lucky thing you! I hope you have wonderful time....God Speed!

Oh thank you for the illuminating reply John DL - I`m Johnny too.
It`s so sad about Rachmaninoff -- I totally identify with him because I get the blues really bad sometimes and it`s hard to get my mojo back.
As they say there`s never been a statue erected to a critic; but some people are sensitive - bless them.I am too but have to be tough to survive.
Unfortunately a lot of people are jealous, selfish, narcissistic, immature and narrow-minded - those sorts of people are toxic and have none or few real friends - especially when they`re older.
I don`t take pills for my head - I`m a medical herbalist which helps with various afflictions.We all have our cross to bear.
I love a lot of Russian composers and Ludwig of course.
My family is small but we`re from all over the place - from Poland, Wales, Russia, Ukraine, China and North and South England and my kids are in Bordeaux.
If it brightens up this weekend I`m going to cram some mad neighbours and musicians in my back garden - might recharge the battery karaoke - that`ll be fun.Plus I do crazy Chinese, French, Lebanese, Russian, Indian, Tex-Mex fusion creations - I`ve been cooking since `72.

 

[JDL]

Oh thank you so much and your most welcome . Isle of the Dead, A symphonic Poem Opus 29, is one of my all time favourites. Rachmaninoff of course.
Your Garden life, neighbours, gatherings sounds completely wonderful. Amazing.
I live in a secluded Welsh Valley, just me and my 59 year old identical twin brother Simon. His children grew up and moved out years ago and our women also left us, not at the same, time years ago.
I'm a born again virgin....hehehe.
We can listen to what we like, when we like, as loud as we like. We're very lucky.

 

[roaduck]

Oh wonderful - lucky you John DL - love Wales with a passion.
I need live and piped music to cheer me and the neighbours up - a lot of them are really, ill, skint and depressed so I do live comedy sketches and charades - good therapy.
I sympathise - I lost my fiance in a car crash in France `86 - was a single dad overnight in Bordeaux.Won`t get married now but looking for a tolerant older soulmate - not on the web though - haha!
I`m nearly your age - I`m 58 in October - but heh age is just a number.
I hope you and your brother have a wonderful musical summer.

 

[JDL]

Oh wonderful - lucky you John DL - love Wales with a passion.
I need live and piped music to cheer me and the neighbours up - a lot of them are really, ill, skint and depressed so I do live comedy sketches and charades - good therapy.
I sympathise - I lost my fiance in a car crash in France `86 - was a single dad overnight in Bordeaux.Won`t get married now but looking for a tolerant older soulmate - not on the web though - haha!
I`m nearly your age - I`m 58 in October - but heh age is just a number.
I hope you and your brother have a wonderful musical summer.

Thanks Jonny. 1986 must have been a horrible and difficult year for you to put it mildly. I know it's a long time ago now, but I'm real sorry to know that buddy. I hope you meet the lady that's right for you both.
I'm lucky being a twin and we get on good with each other. It helps both of us not to feel lonely and we rarely argue or fight anymore. Not like when we were young.
We definitely will have a lovely musical summer. I have a lovely HiFi, some great CDs and as soon as the builders have gone my Bass Guitar comes out, with it's amp and Simon's Drum Kit gets set back up.
Really looking forward to that.
✌🏻

 

[roaduck]

Thanks Jonny. 1986 must have been a horrible and difficult year for you to put it mildly. I know it's a long time ago now, but I'm real sorry to know that buddy. I hope you meet the lady that's right for you both.
I'm lucky being a twin and we get on good with each other. It helps both of us not to feel lonely and we rarely argue or fight anymore. Not like when we were young.
We definitely will have a lovely musical summer. I have a lovely HiFi, some great CDs and as soon as the builders have gone my Bass Guitar comes out, with it's amp and Simon's Drum Kit gets set back up.
Really looking forward to that.
✌🏻

Oh Thanks so much John DL - losing my lady, my sister, my grandmother and my mother all before I was 35 really devastated me - it knocked the family right off kilter.
I became the best dad I could - emigrated to France -- that was a massive challenge and it had to happen literally over night - my children needed me there immediately.

As regards a significant other, I don`t want a head-gamer or gold digger - life`s too short.
A tolerant, balanced, stable broadminded partner would be bliss.
I hope you both find someone special - they say it`s never too late to fall in love and there`s someone for everyone out there - somewhere - haha!

My brother, Tony and I used to fight like cat and dog as kids but now we get on like a house on fire.He`s a rotund short-haired hippy bus driver - I`m a thin and hirsute hippy herbalist and ex- journalist / hifi R&D/salesman.haha.
It`s useful to have a few strings to one`s bow.
I`m so glad you can play lovely music together with your brother.I`d love another musician in the house - we could bounce off each other.
Hope it`sunny in Wales for you both.
all the best

 

[matthewpianist]

Love the Rach 3 - Mum was a concert pianist in the Halle Orchestra - I just play sax...

Would you mind sharing your Mum's name? I would be interested to know.

Usually I have to go out when the builders are busy - Thank goodness I`m going to Calpe, Spain to see my auntie and uncle -( they`re both musicians too and sing in harmony) Calpe is like a mini Gibraltar - I love it there - can`t wait for sax and sex on the beach - and the cocktail too - haha!
I`m not taking my laptop, my Dali Katch or anything electrical - I want to totally unplug.
There is loads of trumpets, clarinets, oboes, tin whistles, violins, double bass, trombones, French horns, Hammond 3`s, guitars, mandolins, ouds etc.His house is full of music and he knows a lot of musicians and singers there , as do I.
Can`t wait to gig in Benidorm - not been since before Covid.
It`s gonna be terrific - it always is.

https://www.swedishnomad.com/wp-content/images/2020/11/Things-to-do-in-Calpe.jpg

Sounds like a wonderful escape - enjoy every moment!

 

[roaduck]

Would you mind sharing your Mum's name? I would be interested to know.



Sounds like a wonderful escape - enjoy every moment!

Yes of course my mother was Polish - Stefania Zofia Senyszyn - of course she worked with Sir John Barbirolli in the Halle in Manchester in the mid-sixties up until his death in 1970.
My whole family is musical - my cousin Katia also plays tenor sax in Sturry, Kent and my other cousin Adam who plays guitar and piano and sings in Spanish and Mandarin/Cantonese with his wife in Guangzhou, SE China.
I worked in Hong Kong and Macau in the 1990`s flogging British, Japanese, American, Swiss, German, French and Chinese bespoke high-end hi-fi kit - mostly active systems.