The Yamaha Avant Grande N3X arrived yesterday morning on time, and the moving went smoothly. The old U1 left the building, and in came the new grand. After lunch Paula arrived for duet practice, so we gave it a good workout. She also played a solo piece by Gershwin, so I got to hear the piano from a distance. Good stuff!
There are two things I do not like about it. The first is that the music stand does not move forward and back like on an acoustic grand. It also has very limited angle choice (it is down for the photo). The second thing is that the main lid only has an open or closed position. On an acoustic grand there is a partial opening which I would use a lot. But there are lots of advantages, too. For one, I can use headphones, handy when Deb is working on sound in her films. Also handy when learning pieces by Bartok, etc, so that I don't drive her crazy with the noise levels. And of course the volume itself can be turned down, so that I can practice quietly without headphones. Also, I can record simply by inserting a USB stick and pressing a button. All of the control buttons are on a sliding tray beneath the right side of the piano. There are ten different keyboards to choose from, including two harpsichord ones. And many adjustments can be made to the sound, including different tunings. Even individual notes can be fiddled with. So lots of learning ahead to get the full potential of this wonderful new instrument.
In film news, Deb's final two festival choices remain to be discussed. Everybody Loves Jeanne is a French film from 2022 directed by Celine Devaux. It is a romantic comedy involving a woman whose big rise to the top has just ended. Her project to collect plastic from the ocean fails when the collector is lost at sea. Professionally, she is through. Her mother has recently committed suicide, and she and her brother are responsible for selling her apartment there. On her flight to Lisbon she meets a zany old school friend (who she doesn't remember), and slowly becomes involved with him. One of the funnier things about the film is her inner voice, represented on film by crude but hilarious animated figures. Her subconscious is brought to life, and really adds to the film. Very well done, and recommended.
Lastly comes Chico and Rita, a Spanish animated film from 2010. The animation is beautiful and totally amazing, and the story, about two Cuban musicians, a singer and a piano player, hits a home run as well. The music is terrific, too! Don't miss! Not for kids.
Lastly, a butterfly snapshot by Deb from our day trip last week. It was in a garden behind The Country Market in Kent Bridge. That is all. Signing off for now.
Mapman Mike
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