New Piano Pieces, One Month In

The first month of learning new pieces is like cutting through a jungle with a dull machete.  In this case, the jungle is the formidable array of unfamiliar notes staring at me from the page.  The dull machete is, of course, my brain.  Going from a pianist that can actually play a full program reasonably well to a stumbling and bumbling beginner is always a humbling experience.  Since I limit myself to two hours a day of practice, time is always in critical shortage at the beginning.  Take my first hour: 7 short pieces that have only 50 minutes total time (5 minutes of each hour is used for technical warmup).  Divided evenly that is 7 minutes per piece. Not bad, you say.  Try it some time.  With 14 pages to learn, that's now down to 31/2 minutes per page.

 

Surprisingly, after one month, things begin to slowly fall together.  It will be another 6-8 weeks before I can really play any of them well and then begin to memorize them (another entire basket of troubles).  My program will open with two Scarlatti sonatas, one of which I have learned a very long time ago.  Neither piece is difficult, but they are oh so fine!  I love Scarlatti and have been ignoring his music of late.  Next come five pieces by Couperin, all new to me.

 

My second half is still not fully settled.  Currently I am working on three preludes Op 11 by Scriabin, all new to me.  Then I am reviving a favourite set by Bartok, his 6 Roumanian Folk Dances.  The last two are difficult and must be played at a furious tempo, but having learned them many years ago will help with the muscle memory motions.  Currently those 9 pieces take up my entire second hour of practice.  I'm hoping there will soon be room to add in another Philip Glass Etude, as well as a previously learned Debussy Prelude (to be determined).  We will see where I am in another month.

 

In further piano news, Deb has been painstakingly attempting to rescue all my previous recordings.  From 1994 to about 1999 I routinely recorded all my programs, and had them copied to cassettes at Aldon Studio in Windsor.  Those tapes are seriously degrading, and Deb is using software to try and save at least some of the pieces.  If she is able to do that I will try and post them somewhere on line, perhaps here on a separate music blog.

 

In film watching news we managed to last through ten episodes of a 2019 Japanese TV show called The Real Thing.  Due to the weakness and uncertainty of the two main characters the show can be very frustrating to watch most of the time.  A young man saves a young woman's life at a train crossing, and from then on their lives keep crossing and causing interference.  Though things more or less work out okay in the end, so many bad decisions by the characters are being made throughout the series that one wonders just how the writers figured that a happy ending could actually work.  It's difficult for Westerners to deal with Japanese ways of thinking, and this series highlights this fact.  If you enjoy watching a series that frustrates you, I can recommend this one.

 

The series leaves Mubi May 31st. 

 

 

Mifune is a Danish/Swedish film from 1999.  Here is the capsule from Criterion:

 

Directed by Søren Kragh-Jacobsen • 1999 • Denmark, Sweden

Starring Iben Hjejle, Anders W. Berthelsen, Jesper Asholt

The third film made in accordance with the Dogme 95 movement’s so-called “vows of chastity” is an offbeat, darkly comic romance in which Kresten (Anders W. Berthelsen), a successful, newly married businessman in Copenhagen, finds his life turned upside down after his father dies and he must return to his rural hometown to help care for his childlike, UFO-obsessed brother (Jesper Asholt). As he struggles to adjust to the not-so-simple-life in the country, a budding relationship with his new housekeeper (Iben Hjejle), who is actually a call girl on the run, forces Kresten to reexamine everything. 

The film is a brilliant look at a city boy returning home to the farm where he grew up.  When he was young he found his mother hanging from a tree.  Since then, and as his father aged and cared for his simple-minded brother, the farm and house gradually fell apart.  He wants to keep his family a secret from his wife.  The scene of their wedding night together is one of the funniest sex episodes I have ever seen on film.  From there on the marriage quickly runs downhill.  When the wife pays a surprise visit to the farm, she stays about 30 seconds before deciding to get a divorce.  The highlight of the film is the simple-minded brother, brilliantly acted by Jesper Asholt.  He steals virtually every scene he is in.  A lot of screwball material is inserted at times, but the picture is best in its quieter moments.  It won a Silver Bear in Berlin.

 

Leaving Criterion May 31st. 

 

Lastly comes Witches, a 2024 documentary by Elizabeth Sankey.  Using interviews with women who had suffered from post-partum mental health issues, as well as relating her own harrowing experiences after giving birth to her son, the film offers a new take on the burning and hanging of witches over the past 5 centuries.  With its generous use of clips from Hollywood and other films showing women with mental health issues, a strong case is made for exploring an issue which most women never talk about, to their detriment.  Broken into five chapters, the film has hair raising moments when the women reveal their actual feelings at the time.  They tell their stories through tears, some of them expressing feelings on camera that they have never shared before with anyone.  This is a film that should be required viewing for all family and ER doctors, not to mention pregnant women.  Harrowing and fascinating, and at times almost unbelievable, the film should create a lot of discussion and hopefully some healing.  Required viewing.

 

Now showing on Criterion. 

 

May reading summary coming this weekend!  

 

Mapman Mike 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Recital

I had a 2nd opportunity to perform my latest recital pieces today.  Thank you to Randy, Kate, and Peter for coming by to hear what I've been up to since last July.  The chance to perform is always a welcome one, and twice in one week is even better.  When Paula and Jenn are back from their travels I will run through the pieces again.  All went pretty well, with occasional slips and lapses.  The first Bach piece went really well, and overall the Haydn was quite fresh and zippy.  The Chopin Prelude, on its own, is a powerful little piece.  The Gnossienne also went really well, as did the Debussy and Glass.  So not a lot to complain about, though I know it could have been even better.  Such is life, and such is live performance.  Here is the program:

 

Michael Ethier

Piano Recital April 2025

"Simple Ingredients"

2-part Invention #9 in f minor

3-part Invention #9 in f minor..........................................J S Bach

Sonata in C major (HOB. XVI/35; L.48)

Allegro con brio

Adagio

Finale: Allegro.........................................................F J Haydn

***********************************************

Prelude #20 in c minor.....................................................F Chopin

Third Gymnopedie

Third Gnossienne.............................................................E Satie

Prelude #6 Bk 1 (..Des pas sur la neige)........................C Debussy

Etude #20.........................................................................P Glass

Mysterious Barricades.....................................................F Couperin

 

The only piece here that I have ever performed before this month was the Couperin.  When I begin working on the new program, the first half will be all Couperin, and on the harpsichord.

 

Deb is still feeling poorly, and likely will be until the concluding half of her medical procedure is undertaken.  Next week the stent will be removed, and hopefully that will end months of pain and infections.  In the meantime, she just has to hang in there, and take a happy pill as needed.

 

As full moon approaches, we have a perfect night tonight, with clear, dry skies.  Useless, though, as far as observing with a telescope goes, thanks to the brightness of the moon.  It's been a bad year so far, with only two usable nights to date.  I have so much work I would love to accomplish before I'm too old to lift the telescope and set it up and take it down.

 

In movie news, there are two to report, as well as Season Two of Picard.  Try to imagine a scenario where Wesley Crusher, Q and the Borg come out looking okay.  All this and more, folks, believe it or not.  Crusher, Q, and the Borg provided some of the most tropy and unwanted moments in Next Generation, and the writers stretched themselves to the limit in Picard to make them come out looking pretty clean and decent.  Unfortunately, there was overuse in Season Two of Picard's childhood background, with his insane mother who ended up killing herself.  There are so many flashback scenes to his boyhood that they ended up dragging down the series.  We get to see Data's creator, and he is evil in Season Two.  I imagine he will return, but hopefully not.  One more season to go, though we will wait awhile before viewing it.  We are still also immersed in Dark Winds and Monsieur Spade.

 

L'Innocente is a costumer by Visconti from 1976.  The main reason to watch the film is to view the parade of women's dresses on display.  Most of the film's budget must have been spent on costumes.  Here is the blurb from MUBI:

In late-19th century Italy, Tullio, an insatiable aristocrat, grows bored with his wife Giuliana and neglects her for his more exciting mistress, the wealthy widow Countess Teresa Raffo. After learning that Giuliana is having an affair of her own, he becomes tormented and descends into madness. 

It's quite a long film, mostly watchable but not always.  High society shows itself, yet again, for what it really is; empty.  Tullio is a hideous character, another less than fine male role model to follow.  To make matters worse, Giannini wears one expression throughout the entire movie, his grim face.  The camera work is excellent, as are the sets, lighting, and mise-en-scene, also spot on.  Visconti is a master director, and all of his skills and artistry are on display in this extravagant film.  I won't say it's the most engaging film I've ever seen, but it's certainly one of the better looking films.  Recommended if you enjoy beautiful women in incredible clothing.

 

The film was showing on Mubi, but has now departed. 

 

The Love Witch, written, directed, and produced by Anna Biller, is a 2016 murder/horror film that tries to emulate films from the 1960s.  Drenched in rich colours, mostly reds, and filmed with humourous parodies of Hammer films and such, the movie is great fun to watch.  A beautiful female California witch uses magic potions and rituals to try to land a faithful and loving boyfriend/husband.  Her spells are successful, but she tends to overdo them, driving the male crazy after a time.  Once she realizes that he is not the guy for her after all, there is only one way to rid herself of them.  The film succeeds on many levels, and its 125 minutes running time passes quickly.  The visuals are stunning, and the lead actress is both beautiful and funny, even though she acts the sincere part, playing it pretty straight.  A must view for fans of early 60s colour horror films!  My only complaint is that she should have been a redhead.

 

Leaving Mubi in three days. 

 

Mapman Mike

 

 

 

 

Dog Days of Summer

Though it has not been an exceptionally hot summer, there have been many uncomfortable days.  Today is one, where heat and humidity (and pollution) make it difficult to breathe outdoors.  Green things are going brown, as they often do this time of year, due to burning sun and infrequent rain.  We are considering a day trip to Detroit on Thursday.  We shall see.

6 pm Update:  We just had a deluge of rain!  Looks like grass cutting is on for tomorrow.

 

I have embarked on my 2nd week of piano on the newest pieces.  These works, two of which I have previously learned (decades ago), should come up fairly fast.  The program will open with Bach's 2-Part Invention in F Minor.  He wrote 15 of these pieces, each one in a different key.  When I graduated from university one of the first piano projects I undertook was learning all 15 inventions.  These works provide a wide variety of 2-part writing, and remain among my favouite keyboard works to this day.  The 2nd piece on the program is a big step up in difficulty, Bach's 3-Part Invention (Sinfonia) in F Minor.  Simply put, this is one of Bach's greatest works, and until now I have always put off learning it.  It is quite daunting in its minimalist manner, with three notes essentially repeating and being varied throughout the entire work.  Unlike the 2-part one in the same key, it is not really an audience pleaser.  Rather, it is a meditation for the performer.

 

Concluding the first half of the program is Haydn's Sonata in C (#35), probably his happiest and most joyful work.  It's a piece someone in the practice room at university is always learning (at least the first movement), but I have never wanted to play it until now.  It will provide the major contrast in mood between the Bach pieces, which are somber, and the 2ndf half, which are very somber.  There are three movements.  The 2nd movement is slow, very melodic, and exceedingly well written and beautiful.  The final movement is moderately quick, and quite short.

 

The 2nd half of the program contains (so far) only three works: Gnossienne #3 by Satie, Footprints in the Snow by Debussy, and Etude #20 by Philip Glass.  The Satie piece is inspired by the mythology and art of Knossos, and is slow and reflective.  The Debussy piece, like the Bach 3-Part Invention, is pure minimalism, this time toned down to mostly two notes that hold the piece together.  The Glass etude is the most difficult piece on the program, mostly due to its large stretch requirements.  It is my favourite of the 20 etudes, and I look forward to performing it.

 

In film news, here's the latest report.  Chinese Odyssey 2002 is a Chinese wuxia film, one of the best we have seen.  It is ridiculously funny, and whoever did the translations from Chinese to English did a great job.  With its cross-dressing heroine disguised as a man, the Shakespearean element is noted and admired.  A restless young emperor and his sister want to head out into the world and seek adventure, but escaping the palace and the Empress Dowager is no easy task.  Meanwhile, in a village far from the palace lives 'Bully the Kid" and his sister.  He has been away causing mischief, but has returned, much to the chagrin of the locals who fear him.  This is an irresistible film, and great fun from start to finish.  There is very little fighting, but plenty of action and laughs.  Highly recommended.  It is part of a series, but stands alone just fine.

Showing on Criterion. 

 

Death In the Garden is from 1956, an overlooked gem by Luis Bunuel.  A group of miners in South America are being bullied and run off the land by government soldiers, and a bloody and deadly dispute carries the first half of the picture.  Filmed in Eastmancolor.  There are a lot of major characters stirring up the pot, and once we know who they are they are on the run from the law.  They hijack a boat and head for the border with Brazil, and freedom from capture.  One of the men was accused of murdering a soldier, and despite his innocence he is forced to flee with his deaf-mute daughter.  Along comes the local priest, also in trouble; a rogue of an adventurer; and a local sex worker.  Their time in the jungle, once they leave their boat, is like no other walk through the jungle we have ever seen.  The ending is a surprise, along with a few other surprises along the way.  A memorable and pretty great film, actually, that virtually no one has heard of, let alone seen.  Thank you Mubi!

 

Leaving Mubi soon. 

 

In the 1970s American TV was saturated by really bad TV movies, from all genres.  Inspector Ike, from 2020, is a spoof of the Columbo type of mystery of the week TV movie.  There is bad music, bad acting, a bad plot, and the great detective Ike.  Ike is a great character, and can somehow appear at just the right moment to remove all tension from a scene, making viewers feel that they are being looked after, as well as the innocent people threatened by the murderer.  This is a laugh-out-loud film, and sure to please fans of earlier TV dramas.  Anyone feel like having some chile con carne tonight?

 

Now showing on Mubi.  This is a great poster! 

 

The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales is a Mexican film from 1960.  It has all the makings and trimmings of a cult classic, as a tormented husband finally does the deed, killing his wacko and puritanical wife.  She is surrounded by friends and a priest who believe it is she who is being tortured and beaten by her husband.  The husband is a taxidermist, and is well prepared to handle the aftermath of the killing.  Even the killing is done using a tool of the trade, so to speak.  This is definitely one of those pictures where you hope that the husband will get away with murder.  There are several very funny moments of dark humour.  One example is when the wife goes out, leaving her husband alone with the young maid.  As soon as she is gone he sneaks up to the maid's room, where she awaits him with big smiles.  Just when you think the worst of him, it turns out that he wants her to cook him a big thick steak.  His eating meat disgusts his wife, and when she is gone he can indulge in a big meal.  Another is after he has killed her and is preparing to get rid of the body.  She always insisted on him washing his hands with alcohol before he touched his food, or came near her.  At the last second he remembers her wishes and washes his hands.  In black and white, this is a one of a kind film.  Recommended for gothic horror fans.

Showing on Mubi.  It got a screening one year at Tiff! 

 

Next time, a look at the first season of Picard.  See you then.

 

Mapman Mike.