The Pianist

Nina Simone Biography Nina Simone was a powerful black singer in the 1960s and 70s. She became famous for her amazing talent and the way she put her feelings and emotion into words through song. She wrote a lot of music about civil rights and was admired by many other influential people of her time. Many people respected her for her unapologetic attitude and her amazing voice. Her songs are still sung today because of the amount of raw emotion flowing through them. Originally named…

I have always loved listening to different kinds of music, from country, to pop, and even classical. Before this concert, however, I had never seen a Jazz concert performed by other musicians. In approximately the 6th grade, however, I preformed a blues piece in the exact room the Introduction to jazz class takes place. This had been my foundation for Jazz up until this point in time. One could say that I had no experience when it came to the concepts of Jazz in its entirety. This meant that not…

people who will have worked their entire lives will be able to catch up or even surpass those same talents. Thinking about it in a mathematical way always made more sense to me; if some talented pianist was ranked 90th around the world and moved up a rank every 2 years, compared to a really hard-working pianist was ranked 600th world wide and moved 20 spots each year, eventually the latter would outperform the former. Although, it is not just about who becomes better than who, because in…

The New York Times described Corea as “a luminary, ebullient and eternally youthful.” He is one of the most versatile contemporary jazz pianists and composers in the America’s classical music. The first LP under Corea's own name, “Tones for Joan's Bones”, recorded in 1966, has a combination of Latin, Bop, and Free Styles. More Bebop oriented tunes are recorded on his 1968 classic, “Now He…

her.”(Chopin 33-4) Just like the sea, the music spoke to her soul and empowered Edna. As Showalter points out “the pianist first plays a Chopin prelude.”(Showalter 316) This reference to Chopin the great muse and the author hints toward a strong empowerment of Edna’s artistic side, which is not supported by her society. This experience with Mademoiselle Reisz influences Edna. The pianist stands for the life Edna can pursue: a life that is unconventional but would bring happiness to her.…

the theater was open on September 4th 1916, D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” was one of the first films that were publically shown that weekend. For shorts, there would always be musical accompaniment from a professional pianist, but for feature films, they would be played by the pianist and some musical accompaniment such as strings and horns, depending on the movie. Epics will be played by featured orchestra, who would be playing at the bottom part of the…

However, for the last 20 years, she has been our main pianist, a paid staff position, and she is deeply loved by this church community. Recently, Michelle asked that we begin the process of returning the sanctuary piano back to her. She asked that we make the change by this coming spring. This of course triggers another conversation about a replacement piano. Michelle has suggested that we utilize her relationship with a world renowned pianist, who would gladly do several free concerts.…

Scott Hicks is an Australian film director and screenwriter. He’s best known as the author and director of Shine. Is a 1996 Australian biographical drama film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions. It stars Geoffrey Rush, Lynn Redgrave, Noah Taylor, John Gielgud, Goodie Withers, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd, Nicholas Bell, Chris Haywood and Alex Rafalowicz. The screenplay was written by Jan Sardi, and then directed by Scott…

FLETCHER HENDERSON James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black musical arrangers and his influence was vast. He was often known as Smack Henderson (apparently due to his college baseball hitting skills) .Fletcher is ranked along with Duke Elington as one of the most influential arrangers and band leaders…

In the Slosberg Music Center the music was electrifying and it resurrected long gone composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven and César Franck. While it also invoked Louis Gordon’s work, who it is the only out of the three composers whose work was presented that night and remains alive. On Oct. 3th, during Brandeis University’s concert series, named Primary Motivations, these three composers were very much alive and present thanks to the duo of Joshua Gordon, cello and Randall Hodgkinson, piano.…