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40 Piece Challenge 2016

 

The 40 Piece Challenge is back by popular demand! In September 2016, we were invited to again participate in a 40 Piece Challenge (developed by Elissa Milne). Why would I do it again? I thought about all the stuff I have on my plate this year, and really pondered about why I should do it again. I think about my life philosophy, and it can probably be summed up in the following motto: KEEP LEARNING – KEEP GROWING. So here I am.

I gained so much from doing the 40 Piece Challenge last year, and I have some ideas for the direction I want to go this year. So follow along, subscribe to my YouTube channel, enjoy the journey along with me.

The 40 Piece Challenge Videos 2016 – 2017

40 Piece Challenge #40: Six Variations on “Land of the Silver Birch” by Pierre Gallant

Six Variations on “Land of the Silver Birch”, by Pierre Gallant, can be found as a contemporary repertoire choice in the Level 10 Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

With this being the final video this year, and us being so close to Canada Day (Happy 150th Canada!!), I wanted to finish with this classic Canadian folk song. The lyrics to Land of the Silver Birch were based on a poem by E. Pauline Johnson of English and Aboriginal heritage. We grew up singing this song at campfires and while canoeing in Girl Guides (it’s used to keep the rhythm of the paddling!).

Pierre Gallant worked at Royal Conservatory of Music as a teacher, performer, arranger, and composer for 25 years. The variations are beautiful and challenging.

40 Piece Challenge #39: Jazz Fantasy on Mozart by Fazil Say

Jazz Fantasy on Mozart is by pianist and composer Fazil Say.

I have always been fascinated by the line drawn between classical and jazz music. I appreciate pieces where the line may be a little blurry! I think this piece is a very clever adaptation of Mozart’s Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca) where Mozart seems to be taken over by a Jazz enthusiast who can’t resist sporadic interjections of jazz commentary!

Mr. Say plays this piece at a blistering tempo. With the 40 piece challenge winding time, I had to sacrifice a little bit of the speed in order to play the piece more accurately.

40 Piece Challenge #38: Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen, arranged by George Shearing

Over the Rainbow is a classic song from the Wizard of Oz. Written by Harold Arlen, this arrangement is by George Shearing and can be found as a List D Repertoire choice in the Level 9 Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

Last year, my first ever 40 piece challenge piece was also Over the Rainbow, arranged by Keith Jarrett. It was fun to revisit this song and try a completely different arrangement. This arrangement has some chromatic countermelodies and some difficult chords. Lots of accidentals make it tricky to read, but Harold Arlen’s beautiful melody is still inspiring.

40 Piece Challenge #37: Ocean Vista by Ruth Watson Henderson

Ocean Vista, by Ruth Watson Henderson, is one of the List D repertoire requirements for Level 9 of the Royal Conservatory of Music.

I’ve been lucky enough to see both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, so I was able to draw on inspiration to perform this piece. Ocean Vista is full of augmented chords, and difficult passages. I found it hard because often the right hand has different accidentals than the left hand–something I haven’t experienced in many songs other than contemporary jazz ones.

The piece paints a powerful picture of the Ocean and the life and mystery that it contains. The augmented chords add a different kind of harmony than what you would normally hear in classical pieces.

40 Piece Challenge #36: Koi Pond by Barbara Arens

Koi Pond, by Barbara Arens is a lovely piece that was inspired by her visit to the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow.

Barbara kindly sent me this piece when we started the 40 Piece Challenge and I was so happy that she let me play it! Thanks for letting me hang out vicariously at the pond with you! I can’t decide which fish is my favourite!!

There are three fish in this pond that are illustrated by the different melodic themes. Barbara has captured their characters perfectly!

40 Piece Challenge #35: Disco-Visit by Mike Schoenmehl

Disco-Visit by Mike Schoenmehl is a Level 8 Etude in the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

This etude is fun! My 7-year-old says it makes him want to dance. Certainly not an easy etude for those with small hands though–it has a lot of octave work, fast passages, and huge chords. The ending is epic!

40 Piece Challenge #34: To The Lute by Heinrich Hofmann

To the Lute, Opus 37, Book 2, Number 1, is by Heinrich Hofmann. It can be found in the Level 9 Etude Book in the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

To the Lute is an etude in 6/8 time that contains a beautiful melody that is played over open broken chords split between the hands. It makes use of the sustain pedal and also the soft pedal.

40 Piece Challenge #33: Dance of the Elves by Genari Karganov

Dance of the Elves, Op. 21, No. 3 by Genari Karganov is a Level 8 Etude in the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

This is a magical piece that is aptly named. I love contemporary pieces that have titles that give you a clue on how to interpret the piece. I’ve played this piece at various speeds–when it’s slower, you have more time to create with dynamics and phrasing. At a faster speed, I think the leggiero (light) touch is a little more apparent.

40 Piece Challenge #32: Cassandra’s Dream by James Domine

Cassandra’s Dream by James Domine is a beautiful contemporary piece that has really interesting sections that inspire vivid imagery. It can be found in Level 10 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series.

The piece reminds me of a really good film score! The second page has some time changes that are really interesting. I took an informal poll at work on how other musicians would have tackled them. Ultimately, I tracked down the composer through the Internet! The composer kindly responded to my e-mail and gave me some suggestions as to the interpretation of the tempo changes. Thanks, Professor Domine!

40 Piece Challenge #31: Feeling Blue by Christopher Norton

Feeling Blue, by Christopher Norton is a beautiful exploration of the blues genre. The song can be found in the Conservatory Canada: New Millenium Series Level 7 book.

Christopher Norton is a prolific composer–many of his compositions are featured in the Canadian curriculum and his Microjazz series (among others) is enjoyed by lots of students. This song can also be found in the American Popular Piano level 7 Repertoire book. I liked this song because of it’s many expressive possibilities. The phrasing, tempo, and feeling changes every time I play it and the harmonies are very beautiful.

40 Piece Challenge #30: Fiesta by Joaquin Turina

Fiesta, by Joaquin Turina, is found in the Level 8 Royal Conservatory 2015 Celebration series.

This contemporary piece lives up to it’s name. It is a fiery celebration of sound, rapid repeated notes, and crazy passages that cover the expanse of the keyboard. The song is challenging to play at speed!

40 Piece Challenge #29: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore by Duke Ellington

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore is a jazz swing standard by Duke Ellington. This song has been on my mind recently. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore is my tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of my non-existent social life as I try my hardest to get this done before June! Hah!

This version (aside from my personalized ending) is taken from the Conservatory Canada: New Millenium Series Level 7 book. Why is it that every jazz song requires crazy hand span and lightning jumps from one end of the keyboard to the other?! Or maybe it just seems that way. The walking bass with the octave leaps is challenging to hit correctly, and the parallel chords in the right hand are tricky to play when you have small hands.

40 Piece Challenge #28: In the Evening by Heinrich Hofmann

In the Evening (Op. 88, No. 2) is an etude by Heinrich Hofmann. It can be found in the Royal Conservatory Celebration Series Level 8 Etudes book (2015 Edition).

This etude works on right hand cantabile playing and balance. This means playing the right hand melody with phrasing that imitates a singing style. In the piece, you will hear the melody, triplet chords, and a bass line. What makes this etude tricky is being able to make sure that these three things are heard in balance–with the melody always heard above the other voices.

40 Piece Challenge #27: Study in D Major by Felix Swinstead

Study in D Major is an etude written for left hand alone. The study, by Felix Swinstead is found in the Royal Conservatory Celebration Series Level 8 Etudes book (2015 Edition).

This etude is excellent for practising using only one hand, while balancing the different voices, practising cantabile (singing style) melody, and legato (smooth) pedaling. The challenge with this piece is to have your audience close their eyes and be able to imagine that it is being played with two hands!

40 Piece Challenge #26: Come, Come Ye Saints by William Clayson

This video is a departure from my usual 40 piece challenge pieces. First of all, this is not a piano solo–it is a piece written for choir and piano accompaniment.

So this was something of an experiment with recording. I recorded the accompaniment part as usual and then recorded the choir part on top (which is why in the video, you’ll hear music but won’t see my hands moving in some places!) Tricky to do for recording because when you are playing this “live” you have a conductor, and you can hear the choir parts and make sure that your part synchronizes with theirs–when you are recording the parts separately, there is some guesswork involved!

The hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints” is written by William Clayson. This arrangement was written by Ann Kapp Andersen for SATB choir and piano.

40 Piece Challenge #25: Page d’Album (Album Leaf) by Claude Debussy

Page d’album (Album Leaf) by Claude Debussy, is a List D selection in Level 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series Repertoire.

Debussy’s music is always a gorgeous wash of sound. In this particular piece, he experiments with an elastic tempo. Every few bars, there is an instruction to change the tempo in some way. The piece also explores unusual harmonies and is fun to play and learn.

40 Piece Challenge #24: Andante Sostenuto, Op. 72, No. 2, by Felix Mendelssohn

Andante Sostenuto, Op. 72, No. 2, by Felix Mendelssohn, is from Sechs Kinderstucke. It is a List C selection in Level 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series Repertoire.

This romantic selection is a beautiful piece by Felix Mendelssohn. I haven’t played a lot of Mendelssohn before, but I’ve always thought he wrote beautiful melodies. His style is very conservative–he was a great admirer of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart and I hear the influence of these masters in this piece.

‘Andante’ is a tempo marking that is often described as “at a walking pace”. ‘Sostenuto’ refers to a style of playing where the notes are sustained, played smoothly, and held for as long or beyond a note’s full value.

40 Piece Challenge #23: With Sweet Lavender by Edward MacDowell

With Sweet Lavender (Op. 62, No. 4) by Edward MacDowell, is a List C selection in Level 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series Repertoire.

This romantic selection has surprisingly modern sounding harmony to me. Chromaticism is evident by the accidentals that are in every bar of this piece. Sometimes difficult to keep track of, but luckily I attempted Oscar Peterson before this!

‘With Sweet Lavender’ is from MacDowell’s collection ‘New England Idyls’. While the melody is certainly delicate like the flower, the middle section has an interesting darker side to it.

40 Piece Challenge #22: Passage of Time by Rachel Portman

Passage of Time by Rachel Portman is from the movie “Chocolat”.

This video covers two of my most favourite things: music and chocolate!! How can you go wrong?!!

I loved the Chocolat trilogy by Joanne Harris. The story of Vianne Rocher is equal parts magic, mystery, chocolate, and fun! Rachel Portman’s soundtrack goes perfectly with the movie and with how I imagined the characters to be.

40 Piece Challenge #21: La mendiga (The Beggar Woman) by Enrique Granados

La mendiga (The Beggar Woman), op.1 no. 2, by Enrique Granados, is a List D selection in Level 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series Repertoire.

I have always loved Enrique Granados’ music! His pieces offer a wonderful slice of culture and character–an imagination vacation! This little piece is a lovely musical character sketch and has lots of interesting parts to it. Two musical ideas are presented in contrast: first a slow, almost sad melody and then a light, rapid, hurrying little melody.

40 Piece Challenge #20: Anne’s Theme by Hagwood Hardy

Anne’s Theme by Hagwood Hardy is from the television presentation of a well-loved Canadian classic: Anne of Green Gables.

Anne (spelled with an e!!) is the heroine of the series of books by Louisa May Alcott about the little red-haired orphan who grows up in Prince Edward Island. Many Canadians have grown up reading the books and have seen the television series.

Hagwood Hardy’s beautiful melody is simple, lyrical, and full of sweeping arpeggios!

40 Piece Challenge #19: Changes by Alexina Louie

Changes, by Alexina Louie, is a List D selection in Level 9 of the Royal Conservatory of Music 2015 Celebration Series Repertoire.

Alexina Louie is a composer that is important to me. She is of Chinese descent and was born in Vancouver, B.C. and now lives in Toronto, Ontario. She composes music for film, orchestra, solo piano and has written commissions for the Art Gallery of Ontario, and for the opening of Expo 86 in Vancouver.

Changes is a really interesting composition. Most pianists would balk at attempting the composition–the pages are almost solid sixteenth notes. What makes the composition interesting is the strategic placement of accents. Bringing out the correct accents makes it really challenging for pianists and fools the listener into thinking that the time has shifted when the pianist is still playing sixteenth notes.

The accents took a lot of hard work–especially a couple of tricky bars where the accent is every three sixteenth notes instead of the usual four. I am grateful for those years of practising accent etudes on snare drum–it prepared me to play this!!

 

40 Piece Challenge #18: Land of the Misty Giants by Oscar Peterson

Land of the Misty Giants is the last piece from the Canadiana Suite by Oscar Peterson. It is a piece from the repertoire requirements for Level 10 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Syllabus.

Oscar Peterson was a Canadian composer and jazz pianist. Earlier in this year’s challenge, I posted the Ballad to the East (Challenge #16), the first piece in this collection. Oscar Peterson’s music is complex, challenging to learn, and requires the hand span of a giant! I have to content myself with re-distributing chords or rolling them.

Land of the Misty Giants is inspired by the beautiful West Coast of Canada. The song makes me miss British Columbia: the land of tall trees, mountains, greenery, and misty rain.

 

40 Piece Challenge #17: Deserted Plantation by William Gillock

Deserted Plantation by William Gillock is found in Level 9 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book (2015 edition).

William Gillock’s beautiful music can be found throughout the levels of the new RCM etude and repertoire books. His music always has beautiful melodies and this one is no exception.

The title ‘Deserted Plantation‘ brings to mind old southern charm with a tinge of sadness or loneliness, but the melody is actually quite beautiful, with the lush harmonies that I’ve come to associate with Gillock’s RCM selections.

 

40 Piece Challenge #16: Ballad to the East by Oscar Peterson

Ballad to the East is from the Canadiana Suite by Oscar Peterson. It was actually a 1964 album that was recorded by the Oscar Peterson Trio and contains tracks that take you on a musical journey from the East Coast to the West Coast of Canada. Ballad to the East is the first number on the CD.

Oscar Peterson is a composer that I studied quite frequently in last year’s challenge. I ordered the Canadiana Suite as a treat after I finished. The music is quite challenging to learn, but most definitely worthwhile and satisfying to play!

40 Piece Challenge #15: Little Prelude in E Major (BWV 937) by Johann Sebastian Bach

Little Prelude in E Major (BWV937) by Johann Sebastian Bach is found in Level 8 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book (2015 edition).

Playing Bach is always a challenge–the never-ending notes, the rapid sixteenths, executing ornaments, coordinating the hands together, and bringing out themes and melodies. I really like this delicate Prelude–it is an excellent intermediate Bach piece to study in preparation for the Inventions, Sinfonias, and of course Prelude and Fugues.

40 Piece Challenge #14: El viaje (The Journey) by Astor Piazzolla

El viaje (The Journey) by Astor Piazzolla is a List D selection found in Level 9 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book (2015 edition).

I wanted to make sure I explored more of Piazzolla’s wonderful music after trying his Milonga del Angel last year. Astor Piazzolla, an Argentine composer and performer, was a virtuoso on the bandoneon–a large button accordion. Much of his work is labelled as “neuvo tango”–a heady, passionate mix of musical elements from classical, jazz, and folk music.

 

40 Piece Challenge #13: Vendetta by Elissa Milne

Vendetta by Elissa Milne is found in the collection Pepperbox Jazz, Volume II.

Whoever thought up the idea that “Revenge is a dish best served cold” had no idea. Revenge should be served hot, and spicy, with a dash of tango!

You have to resist the urge to turn the piece Vendetta into a love song. There are beautiful melodies that come out in the middle section, but there should be no doubt that while there is passion in this tango, it is most definitely NOT a love song. Check out the background story on Elissa Milne’s blog!

40 Piece Challenge #12: Dreamtime by Elissa Milne

Dreamtime by Elissa Milne is found in the collection Pepperbox Jazz, Volume II.

The collection of pieces found in Pepperbox Jazz are beautiful little pieces in a variety of jazz styles. They are written for the intermediate to early advanced pianist. Last year, I finished the challenge with another piece from this collection, Indigo Moon. I wanted to make sure that I included some in this year’s challenge as well.

Dreamtime is a beautiful piece that has interesting harmonies and lots of emotion-filled passages.

 

40 Piece Challenge #11: No Worries by Elissa Milne

No Worries by Elissa Milne is found in Level 5 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This buoyant piece is a favourite with my piano students. This song travels all over the keyboard, which makes it challenging to play at speed. One of the things I like best about Elissa’s music: her attention to notation! Every phrase is spelled out, accents, staccatos, dynamics, sforzandos, even a sforzando piano thrown in!

40 Piece Challenge #10: Sunset in Rio by Mike Springer

Sunset in Rio by Mike Springer is found in Level 5 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This piece is so fun and lively! It brings to mind vacation, beaches, hot sun, and latin rhythms.

The smooth melody and rhythmic bass line just makes you want to dance. Even though I have two left feet on the dance floor, at least my hands get the chance to do a dance of their own!

 

40 Piece Challenge #9: When the Planets Are Aligned by Nancy Telfer

When the Planets Are Aligned by Nancy Telfer is found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This piece is an exercise in changing time meters: the tune undergoes ten time changes in total, making it a challenge to count correctly and play fluidly.

40 Piece Challenge #8: Foggy Day Blues by Mike Springer

Foggy Day Blues by Mike Springer is found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

Since I live along the Ottawa River, when I’m driving home late at night, the fog steals in and shrouds the highway in a dense, misty (and sometimes spooky!) fog in the Autumn evenings. Since this piece takes place during the ‘Day’, I imagine a lighter version of this fog.

The blues are fun to play, especially with a laid-back, swing eighths feel. This piece in particular is relaxed, and the fog has a curvy and insiduous feel to it that permeates the whole tune!

40 Piece Challenge #7: Dreamcatcher by Anne Crosby Gaudet

Dreamcatcher by Anne Crosby Gaudet is found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This delicate song has a rhythmic ostinato in the left hand that underscores a lovely little melody that allows the player to create waves of sound through crescendos and dimenuendos and features two arpeggios played with the hands crossing.

40 Piece Challenge #6: Creole Lullaby by Italo Taranta

Here is the sixth video in the 40 Piece Challenge (2016-2017). Creole Lullaby by Italo Taranta is found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This lullaby has a hint of unusual harmonies that make it strangely beautiful. I can easily picture a lovely Creole ‘maman’ crooning it in a smooth alto voice to her little baby.

Mr. Taranta taught theory and composition for over 25 years in Philadelphia

40 Piece Challenge #5: Positively Swinging by Christopher Norton

The fifth video in the challenge is ‘Positively Swinging’ by Christopher Norton, found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

This cheerful and energetic piece teaches elements of jazz in a fun way: a smoothly elegant walking bass, syncopated offbeat rhythms, grace-note-decorated blues patterns and a lively, swinging melody played with swinging eighths.

 

40 Piece Challenge #4: You and I by Tom Gerou

You and I, by Tom Gerou, is a beautiful contemporary piece found in Level 5 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

The instructions given by Tom Gerou are to play this piece “very slow and hesitant, with rubato”. Rubato is the elastic bending of time: expressively speeding up or slowing down without changing the overall pace of the music. Many pauses are built into the piece, to allow the listener to experience the interesting vertical towers of dense harmony.

It is a thoughtful piece, that may be challenging for some to read–it contains contemporary harmonies that may be unfamiliar to classical players.

 

40 Piece Challenge #3: When Rivers Flowed on Mars by Nancy Telfer

When Rivers Flowed on Mars, by Nancy Telfer, is found in Level 5 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

I love the descriptive title of “When Rivers Flowed on Mars”! The “river” ripples through the piece and provides a constant undercurrent that flows under a strange, barren melody. The piece has interesting textures and layers: low, held bass notes, the rippling river (divided between both hands), and a slow melody that kind of soars over both lower voices, but sometimes gets lost in the river.

This song is challenging to voice properly, and is another good one to practice legato pedaling.

 

40 Piece Challenge #2: Reflections by Dennis Alexander

Reflections, by Dennis Alexander, is found in Level 4 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series Piano Repertoire book.

Dennis Alexander is a prolific composer, and his compositions are featured throughout the Celebration Series. This particular piece, Reflections, is a lyrical, romantic piece. It requires some skill at pedaling, as well as being able to play smooth (legato) passages that pass from hand to hand. This is one of my favourites from the Level 4 repertoire!

 

40 Piece Challenge #1: Melancholy Reflections by Mike Schoenmehl

Mike Schoenmehl’s piece, Melancholy Reflections, can be found in the Level 5 Royal Conservatory of Music Celebration Series. The 2015 Edition saw an injection of new, contemporary music by composers that are still active (alive!) today.

Whenever I preview this piece with a new student, there is an instant connection to this song. It is a lovely piece and is challenging to express properly. Melancholy Reflections is ALWAYS chosen by students to love and learn and I am happy to introduce it as my first piece.

What’s new this year:

This year, I plan to learn a little more about video and audio editing, recording, etc. I decided to record the audio directly into my computer while still relying on my tablet to capture video. The sound quality is much nicer and my family doesn’t have to “Keep it down!” all the time. It makes for a much less stressful environment to record and hopefully that comes out in my music.

I am grateful for google and all the information the internet offers about ways to record and edit. Probably the most challenging thing about making the videos this way is syncing the video with the audio. But it’s a learning process that I am enjoying!

 

If you are curious about my personal journey with the 40 Piece Challenge and the challenges and lessons I’ve learned, please click here to read 40 Piece Challenge – The Journey. You can also see the previous 40 Piece Challenge–done in 2015-2016 here.

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