Les pianistes is a group of ardent Hong Kong pianists who have been working with one another for years. The gathering and consolidation of the group are based on one common ideal: to break the invisible barrier of the so-called canon of the piano literature by sharing music which is rarely performed, seldom heard, not frequently recorded, newly written, miserably overlooked and neglected in oblivion, etc., in scrupulously and creatively organized live concerts.
Though only founded in 2012, members of Les pianistes have started this unique musical practice since long ago and critical acclaims have been yielded on these pianists for bringing not less than this illuminous list of composers, namely Godowsky, Blancafort, Bortkiewicz, Medtner, Mompou, Ropartz, Alexandrov, Ponce, Gnattali, Mignone, Guastavino, Earl Wild, de Severac, Vladigerov, Jongen, etc. to light in the relatively conservative musical environment in Hong Kong. We also promote the music of such living composers (with some of whom we even have personal contacts) as Alexander Rosenblatt, Vyacheslav Gryaznov, Kyoko Yamamoto, Nikolai Kapustin, Marcela Fiorillo, Federico Ruiz, to name but a few, extensively.
With the launch of this blog, we are happy to present some of our best live recordings or home-made recordings either from our concerts or from various private occasions. We would also like to introduce interesting and highly recommendable recordings, music, scores, in other words, any fascinating stuff about music, from the unique perspective of Les pianistes, here.
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once declared that "Without music, life would be an error". To live a less erroneous life, come join us for some better music.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Playing Rach 2nd on a solo piano?


http://soundcloud.com/scriabinoff/grainger-rachmaninov-piano
Have you ever thought of playing Rach 2nd on a solo piano?  Percy Grainger (1882 – 1961, Australian born pianist-composer) entertained this idea for all Rach fans by arranging a solo version for the 3rd movement of this probably most played and loved piano concerto in history.  It is, however, quite mythical that this arrangement has not aroused much attention, recording or performance.  Still, it is quite moving when playing on one’s piano toward the end when the sound of the famous tutti fills up your living room or studio, just by your two hands.  Do give it a try!

More fun with concertos by Grainger: though cliché (sorry, no offence) as they are, still many people would like to play these over-played concertos without the aid of an orchestra or a second piano: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 (what a pity that only the opening episode of the 1st movement was arranged), Grieg Piano Concerto (1st movement again, and abridged but enough for gaining some satisfactions) and Schumann Piano Concerto (1stmovement, quite substantial with less abridgment this time).
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