Piano Diana Blog

"Perfection itself is imperfection."

"Played percussively, the piano is a bore. If I go to a concert and someone plays like that I have two choices: go home or go to sleep. The goal is to make the piano sing, sing, sing."

-- Vladimir Horowitz

Horowitz's performing style frequently involved vast dynamic contrasts, with overwhelming double-fortissimos followed by sudden delicate pianissimos. He was able to produce an extraordinary volume of sound from the piano, without producing a harsh tone. Horowitz could also elicit an exceptionally wide range of tonal color from the piano, and his taut, precise attack was noticeable even in his renditions of technically undemanding pieces such as the Chopin Mazurkas. He is also famous for his octave technique; he could play precise passages in octaves extraordinarily fast.

Did You Know?

Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa is the official march of the United States of America. the famous Russian pianist Vladimir Horowitz transcribed (rewrote) the piece for piano to celebrate when he became a U.S. citizen.

From this Monday's Music Quote, I thought of this song:

"Sing, Sing, Sing"

"Sing, Sing, Sing" is probably the most famous tune associated with Goodman, if not the entire Swing Era. However, it was originally a tune written by Louis Prima.

You'll find a lead sheet that you can transpose and it's free here

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"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

(Title: All The Things You Are) (Music by Jerome Kern) (Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II) (1939) Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7 You are the promised kiss of springtime Dbmaj7 G7 Cmaj7 That makes the lonely winter seem long. Cm7 Fm7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 You are the breathless hush of evening Abmaj7 Am7b5 D7 That trembles on the brink of a lovely Gmaj7 song. Gmaj7 Am7 You are the angel glow D7 Gmaj7 That lights a star. Cmaj7 F#m7b The dearest things I know B7 E C+ Are what you are. Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7 One day my happy arms will hold you Dbmaj7 Dbm7 Abmaj7 Bdim7 And someday I'll know that moment divine Bbm7 Eb7 Abmaj7 When All The Things You Are are mine.