Selim Palmgren: Kevätyö (Night in May) Op.27 No. 4

[TjurenProductions]

A turkish name? How come? :O

[PSearPianist]

@TjurenProductions That's interesting. The Finnish title is exactly as it appeared in the score. Do you know what the the word means in Turkish?

[tinkermanful]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for your "Lost causes" policy. There are countless pieces of exquisite music that rarely get a hearing. I first heard music from Finland 40 years ago and it made me realise that popular does not always mean great. We live in a fickle world and need to explore rather than wait for something to fall into our hands. I adore the music of Kantele which is unheard of here in UK.

Thank you again and more power to your talented fingers.

[PSearPianist]

@tinkermanful Thank you very much indeed. I don't know anything by Kantele myself, but will look him out!

[rebeccasmay1]

Where is your studio? I am a piano teacher in Texas. I can give you lots of suggestions for piece. Try some Debussy. :-)

[PSearPianist]

@rebeccasmay1 I am in the UK. I am not sure that Debussy would suit my piano or current recording capabilities. I tend to leave standard repertoire to others, and focus here mainly on (classical) 'lost causes' which would not be economically viable for commercial recordings.

[Noshirm]

@PSearPianist Beautifully played, Mr. Sear! (:-o) 

[PSearPianist]

@Noshirm Thank you!

[Noshirm]

@PSearPianist Anytime! Play on, Sir. (:-D)

[rebeccasmay1]

Nice performance. I just don't happen to like this piece that much. Keep on recording!

[PSearPianist]

@rebeccasmay1 Thank you. I hope you will find a piece that you really like on my channel!

[gerardbedecarter]

Another piece I don't know [among the other million or so {chuckles}] Thanks for presenting this piece for us, Phillip. I used to play Selim Palmgren's "Refrain de Berceau" but it's never played these days perhaps because it's too melodious ,,,,, we musn't actually enjoy ourselves, must we? [chuckles drily three times!]

[PSearPianist]

@gerardbedecarter Thank you for that. I should try and play the 'Refrain de Berceau', although I am not sure I have a copy.

[lilmisscatty]

Just found this piece today flipping through one of my books. I love it so much. New favorite composer.

[PSearPianist]

@lilmisscatty Thank you. And you have certainly chosen the right time of year to discover this piece! Having said that, in UK where I live, most 'Nights in May' so far have been more like 'Nights in January'!

[Ynot1666]

This was great. Thank you so much. I have always loved this piece. I learned about it because of that one notorious bar that was illustrated in Charles Cooke`s book "Playing the piano for pleasure" about 40 years ago. He advocated practising that and then you could play the piece. I did that, but I don`t play it as well as you do.

I firmly believe in never doing scales and drudge exercises but instead practising real bits of real pieces you want to play as a means of improving your technique.

[PSearPianist]

Thank you for your most interesting comment. I don't actually know Charles Cooke's book. This is by no means an easy piece musically. Re scales and excercises, I don't practise scales 'per se', but I have in the past used excercises (Pischna, Joseffy and Dohnanyi). They are very good for building a basic finger strength and independence that you can then apply to pieces. However, I have a limited stretch between 2nd and 5th fingers that makes some exercises and pieces hard for me!

[Ynot1666]

@PSearPianist

Only tiny reply allowed so I will do this in stages:

I was trained on Hanon and Czerny myself! Guaranteed to turn off most amateurs, but to give them their due they are quite musical studies.

I am seriously diminished by the decision to quit practising. Now that I am retired I just haven't gotten back into the habit. I wish I could, and talking to you may be the spur.

All power to you.

Have you made a record?

[PSearPianist]

Thanks for your interesting reply. I've not made a record - I am still awaiting the major label approach!!!

[bumcakeavenger6]

I found this tune laying about in my house the other day and thought i better give it a go but I don't think I could match that playing, after all i'm only 15! Very well played! Thank you for the upload!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you for your kind comment - and I hope you have enjoyed working on the piece. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to spot your comment and respond to it!

[rondrich05]

Very beautiful and interesting piece, you really play very good! I was wonder if you play de piano sonata in D minor by this great composer. Thanks and congratulations!

[PSearPianist]

Thanks very much for your kind comment. I do not play the sonata, and do not have the score. Even if I did, it would probably be too long to fit into a video.

[Ynot1666]

@PSearPianist

The sonata in D minor was the first piece by Palmgren I ever knew. I fell in love with it in the 1950s and I borrowed it from my piano teacher. I now have a recording of it - and I THINK I now have the score after 30 years of searching - now where did I put it?!

[PSearPianist]

I have to say I don't know it.  Irritatingly, Palmgren is still in copyright here in the EU for a long time to come, so one can't legitimately download and perform his scores.

[chadaniels]

Beautiful colours.

[PSearPianist]

Thank you!

[chadaniels]

Would you like to listen to some of my music? In my channel Drawings 10 and 11 are recorded improvisations about two minutes long. If you like them I could send you some of my piano scores.

[PSearPianist]

I will have a look and get back to you.

[Babejuda]

This piece has beautiful and delicate-sad harmonies. It is a shame that the composer was neglected. Thanks for uploading this piece and others by the same composer.

[PSearPianist]

That's a pleasure.  I did this recording because a YouTube viewer had asked me for it a while ago - but I had mislaid my score, which I found again the other day!