New Era Rag - Adam Swanson

http://member.tripod.com/~oldtimepiano/
Highlights of the 2007 Old-Time Piano Championship held Memorial Day weekend at the Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria, IL. 15 year-old Adam Swanson of Borger, Texas playing The New Era Rag by James Scott. Although only 15 years old, Adam is no longer eligible to compete in the Junior Division, having won that competition for the last 3 years in a row. So Adam competed in the Regular Division this year where he placed 5th.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 2007
• Old-Time
• Piano
• Championship
• New
• Era
• Rag
• James
• Scott

[aardvaark069]

Oh and sorry......This is a great performance!

[rtpress]

Keep in mind that the video is from an Old-Time Piano contest where all competitors are required to perform on the same piano. Which in the tradition of the era, is a vintage upright. The event is sponsored by OMPA: the Old-Time Music Preservation Association.

Howard

[idasynco]

Adam, that was a FANTASTIC ending! I especially liked your glance at the audience, connecting with them after your embellishments, and of course, the spin off the stool...hehe

[slipknot555133]

haha if had a dollar for everytime ive heard him play this song in homeroom onthe piano

[1ragtimer]

Great

[bimbo4746]

you go adam from 80 year old fan

[celebrei]

@cara2010 so Adam Swanson goes to ur school? does he have a girlfriend?

[cbkidder]

I think I love you Adam Swanson

[KingRat355]

Gees!

He must have been one of the best 15 year olds out there and he is getting better each year. He was already fantastic at that age.

[Porterchrille]

Beautiful piece and playing!

Can anyone help me with the fingering of the grace notes triplet of the F-harmony?

I'm playing it with 1 (f), 2 (g), 3 (gis), --> that are the grace notes, the first 16th note (a) I'm playing also with the third finger, but that is a problem in a faster tempo.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Kind regards Christian

[JamesPriceJohnson]

sheesh what with ya all and pianos that have to be tuned. this piano should stay exactly how it is. the tone is beautiful. keep it this way, its gorgeous

[countrymuscle87]

This video makes the hairs on my neck and arms stand up. I can only imagine what it was like sitting in the room with him. I want to hear him live someday.

[countrymuscle87]

I had a conversation about this with a gentleman who used to tune/rebuild pianos in my hometown. According to him, from a purely economic standpoint, the older uprights are not worth it (exception: Steinways. A 1908 Steinway was the only upright I ever saw him tackle). People just aren't going to pay for an upright what they'd pay for a grand. This is due mostly I think to the size and awkwardness and difficulty in moving (what my friend called) "the monsters".

[KawhackitaRag]

Before I go, I would just like to add one thing: whoever worked on this piano did the best that they could do, and it shows. The piano LOOKS great, and is currently in a LOT better shape than most upright pianos I've heard or played, and in any other situation it would be a pleasure to play.

However, as the contest piano in a national contest, it should really be in the best shape possible, and that's when the rather nit-picky things like action springs, tone and fine tuning come into play.