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Showing posts from May, 2021

Bach, Chopin and Poland - Leipzig online Bachfest 2021 - Bach's 'Messiah'

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  Bach, Chopin and Poland Bach's personal seal designed by him when appointed  Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer Why is the Bach Leipzig Festival important for Poland and the music of Fryderyk Chopin?  Bach was the composer Chopin admired above all others save Mozart. He practised  Das wohltemperierte Klavier  for two weeks before concerts of his own music rather than the pieces of his own composition he would actually play. The important polyphonic strands and counterpoint within his own music were all derived from his adoration of J.S.Bach. Bach was always chosen during his teaching as indispensable to deeper musical understanding and meaning. It is also instructive  to remember  other aspects of Bach's life and professional career were closely associated with Poland at the time. He always wished to be associated with court circles despite the small extent of some of these princely states.  Bach was appointed  Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer  in

For the first time, a musical expedition through the complete solo piano works of Fryderyk Chopin played on an 'Erard' instrument of 1849 by Tatiana Shebanova

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 I am happy to bring to your attention that this set of recordings has been awarded this most prestigious of recording awards. It comes as no surprise to me given my almost universal detailed praise (below) when I reviewed the set three months ago.   The excellent French review can be read in 'automatic' English   https://nifc.pl/en/home/aktualnosci/muzyka/72/ This journey I am taking through Chopin with the Russian pianist Tatiana Shebanova and her intimate relationship with the 1849  Erard is a truly memorable musical experience. I sincerely suggest you 'push the boat out', purchase the set and accompany me on this remarkable musical expedition, a voyage written in the mind and engraved on the soul.  A chronological portrait of Chopin is laid out before us, a landscape to relive the flowering of his genius from innocent boyhood to fraught maturity. I am a literary travel author and assure you this is one of the greatest journeys I have undertaken - not physically of c