V = I·R

Another wonderful piece from Gonzales. Despite somewhat noisy recording, it is a very nice clip; very strong performance.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/CT6z1o2Iv4U?fs=1&hl=en_US]

I love duels! And I love piano music. So, here goes:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/S7RmjQE5LT0?fs=1&hl=en_US]

More by one of the two pianists (Gonzales) — a singalong:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/H6v508p4f5Q?fs=1&hl=en_US]

Besides the fact that I really like this music, I like the above because in the age when the music listened to by the majority (Jews and non-Jews alike) is not only bad music but in many cases not music at all (in that it fails to stand on its own feet and convey emotions successfully), this guy is doing propaganda of good music in general and piano music in particular.

[via Ilya Birman’s blog]

Damn, this is fine (another piece that I liked from the same album here):

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/4gWV1mlCaF4?fs=1&hl=en_US]

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/5y9Wiqsd9xY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

Adapted for piano.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1024966500604883306&hl=en&fs=true]

This melody is […] divided into four sections, symbolizing the four rungs on the ladder of approach and devotion of man to G-dliness.

The Tzemach Tzedek explained that the purpose of the orchestra which played on certain occasions for his father-in-law, the Mitteler Rebbe, was to prevent him from reaching the state of termination of earthly existence (kelos ha’nefesh). In his supreme [earning for] the Almighty, the Rebbe could have literally expired unto G-dliness.

Another version of the Kapelyeh, with notes.

Chapters 10, 18 and 32 from Mittler Rebbe’s Sha’ar HaYichud.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2qd0iub.jpg

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/DNjOan7TB9A&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

The original:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/Qnla_5zrHAE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

Well, the original original (skip to 3:45 if you have to):

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/DQTUSgB1LWI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

“When a Lubavitcher davens, he whispers.”

Look at this man’s hands.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/L6_SbflSwAg&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

Or, a little more energetic:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/pPTe1xMB9Uk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

From the article “Which Vodka is the Best?”

Grey Goose
29ドル.99 for 750 milliliters; 80 proof
French; distilled from wheat, rye, and barley

Made in Cognac but owned by the American Bacardi Corp., Grey Goose was introduced in the United States in 1997 and has since won a great many industry awards.

We were underwhelmed: Grey Goose is sweet and smoky, with hints of anise and citrus in the finish, but it all adds up to only a sort of smooth, uninteresting neutrality. And so, while the more generous half of our panel praised Grey Goose's "long, silky aftertaste" and "pleasing burn," detractors found it "bland," "spineless," and "vaguely medicinal."

In the end, seven tasters agreed that the vodka's softness and subtlety made it a solid, if unremarkable, choice. Four found it to be too unremarkable and lacking the bite or character they expected from a self-described "ultra-premium" spirit.

Final Verdict: "Leaves a bit too much to the imagination."
Grade: Three Shot Glasses

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/ZUoI8nHeuJk&hl=en&fs=1]

I still find it remarkable (not Grey Goose). Absolutely amazing.

Isarusa d’leila — inspiration from above. When Hashem inspires you as a favor; you suddenly have energy for your avoida. Amazing, but is not earned, so it doesn’t stay.

Isarusa d’lesata — inspiration from below. When you work hard, and Hashem sends inspiration to you proportional to your work. Less abundant in energy, but more internalized.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/vvlCu1_noTc&hl=en&fs=1]

There is a famous Chassidic principle that each Light needs a proper vessel. In the case of music, apparently sometimes you need a proper instrument for playing.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/ifKKlhYF53w&hl=en&fs=1]

And, of course, I just couldn’t avoid posting this video. A nod to Motherland.

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/Xui7x_KF7bY&hl=en&fs=1]

Reiterating an idea mentioned before that sometimes it’s OK to just disagree — from Wikipedia entry about the famous pianist Glenn Gould:

Gould also recorded works by many other prominent piano composers, though he was outspoken in his criticism of some of them, apparently not caring for Frédéric Chopin, for example. In a radio interview, when asked if he didn't find himself wanting to play Chopin, he replied: “No, I don’t. I play it in a weak moment — maybe once a year or twice a year for myself. But it doesn’t convince me.”

Although Gould recorded all of Mozart’s sonatas and admitted enjoying the “actual playing” of them, he was a harsh critic of Mozart’s music to the extent of arguing (perhaps a little puckishly) that Mozart died too late rather than too early.

This is a man in love with his work (some would call him a fundamentalist):

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/qB76jxBq_gQ&hl=en&fs=1]
By the way, from what I remember, Einstein too seemed to think that after Bach there was very little good music written.

Meanwhile, coming back to the frum society, a very interesting discussion on the topic of contemporary Jewish music — or lack of thereof (scroll down to read what Der Shygetz had to say).

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/wyOf_L4cNHc&hl=en&fs=1]

“Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/RUAPf_ccobc&hl=en&fs=1]

And a little improvisation (I am hiding video because of some past nisht imagery — but music, starting ~0:47, is unbelievable):

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/R0INlumRpL8&hl=en&fs=1]

I’ve first met Greg Anderson and his unbelievable talent six years ago during one award night.

And now for something completely different — from the Motherland:

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.youtube.com/v/8CQ0TG6A75c&hl=en&fs=1]

[埋込みオブジェクト:http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k2U4Rgjl5tbk264kDl&related=1]

From the web-site with the clip:

Richter was admired by many, including the late Glenn Gould, as “one of the most powerful musical communicators of our time”, and rightly so. Here, from the film “Richter: The Enigma”, he plays Chopin’s Etude No. 4, Op. 10 — a piece he became known for after he set a record for the fastest performance of it, in London, at a time of 1:32. [In this clip he's a tad on the slower side, clocking in at about 1:35… ;)] Some criticize him for the speed at which he often plays, feeling it detracts from the lyricism of the music. But to all but the least discriminating ear, Richter possesses both amazing technical and artistic abilities; even here, at this speed, his tone is clear, the integrity of the phrasing is preserved, and his passion is palpable.

Chopin was probably rolling in his grave. “To play my music as if I was some… Beethoven!”

Can you imagine this guy playing a Chabad niggun — e.g., “Shamil” or “Poltava niggun”?